Virginia's Scenic Parks and Gardens
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Virginia’s scenic parks and gardens range from woodland trails and mountain overlooks to carefully cultivated arboretums and historic estate grounds. Virginia Tourism’s guide highlights gardens and arboretums across the state, alongside landscapes where a walk, a view, or a day outdoors is the main attraction.[1] Use this guide to choose a setting that fits your trip, then check the destination’s official site for current visiting details before you go.
Choose your kind of escape
A botanical garden or arboretum is a good fit for a slower visit focused on designed landscapes and plant collections. For a more active day, consider a regional park, state park, or mountain destination with trails and open scenery. Virginia’s offerings also include historic estates, where gardens and grounds add an outdoor dimension to a visit centered on history.[2]
Botanical gardens and arboretums
The statewide guide features a mix of public gardens and arboretums, including Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in the Richmond area, the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, and Appalachian Power Arboretum in Lynchburg.[3]
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden — A Richmond-area garden described by Virginia Tourism as offering year-round beauty.
- State Arboretum of Virginia — Located at Blandy Experimental Farm, a University of Virginia research field station.
- Norfolk Botanical Garden — A Coastal Virginia garden included in the state’s parks-and-gardens guide.
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens — A Fairfax County regional park with gardens and a Korean Bell.
- Appalachian Power Park and Gardens — A Lynchburg arboretum listed in Virginia Tourism’s guide.[4]
Gardens with history
Some Virginia gardens are part of larger historic places. Virginia Tourism’s guide includes grounds associated with Agecroft Hall and Gardens, Monticello, George Washington's Mount Vernon, and Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum, among others. These sites let visitors pair time outdoors with architecture, local history, or interpretation of the people connected to each place.[5]
Parks for landscapes and trails
For a broader landscape, Virginia’s national and state parks offer a different kind of scenic outing. Shenandoah National Park combines mountain scenery, overlooks along Skyline Drive, and trails; the route and park experience can be affected by weather and closures, so check current conditions before traveling.[6] Browse Virginia's State Parks for more options around the Commonwealth, from lakeside recreation to forest walks.
Planning a visit
- Decide whether you want a cultivated garden, a historic landscape, or a park with trails and wide views; the pace and facilities can differ substantially.
- Check the destination’s official website for current hours, admission, seasonal programming, accessibility information, and any closures. These details may change.
- For parks with roads or outdoor trails, check weather and operating conditions before setting out. Virginia Tourism notes that Skyline Drive can close during bad weather.[7]
Related books: Browse related Virginia books on Amazon
References
- ↑ Scenic Parks and Gardens, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Scenic Parks and Gardens, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Scenic Parks and Gardens, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Scenic Parks and Gardens, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Scenic Parks and Gardens, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- ↑ Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2026.