Looking to get away this holiday season? Virginia offers an array of hotspots for all interests!

Virginia is located midway between New York and Florida and is often referred to as the gateway to the South. D.C. the nation’s capital, Maryland, the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky border this great state.

And it’s a great place to head for the holidays with its "Goldilocks Climate". The five distinct climate regions of Virginia are: the Tidewater, Piedmont, Northern Virginia, Western Mountain and Southwestern Mountain. The different regions welcome Virginia visitors to a wide range of outdoor activities, such as snowskiing in the mountains and playing golf in the valley both in the same day! Golfing, hiking, bicycling and camping are year-around activities in Virginia, and the coastal regions provide plenty of opportunity for year-round water sports.

No matter which region you head to this holiday season, make sure to try to check out at least one of these holiday hot spots:

1. Busch Gardens Christmas Town!

• 3 full nights of Christmas fun that will fill you and your family with the holiday spirit

• Santa Claus is out each evening

• Carolers

• Tree-lighting ceremonies

• Access to some Busch Garden roller coasters

• Great food including turkey, honey baked ham, chicken and dumplings, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole

• Explore Colonial Williamsburg while you wait for Christmas Town to start the festivities - explore historic streets with candles in windows, pineapple decorations, and 18th century gifts, or stop in one of the four taverns for a late lunch

• Jamestown Settlement - A Colonial Christmas introduces guests to 17th and 18th century versions of Christmas celebrations

• Powhatan Indian village is a great place to witness festivities

• Yorktown Victory Center shows what Christmas was like for American Revolutionary soldiers

2. Virginia's 100 Miles of Lights

• Come see the millions of lights that stretch from Virginia's capital city to the Atlantic Ocean

• Holiday events and activities accompanying the light show take place in Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

Richmond:

• Nov 29-Jan 6 - Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a spectacular not-to-be-missed tour featuring more than 700,000 lights.  

• Dec 6 - Holiday Illumination - Polegreen kicks off the holiday season with its grand illumination of the silhouette structure. Join us for the lighting of the church, as well as a performance by Colonial fife and drums, a sing-along with holiday carolers, hot cider and more!

• Dec 26-27 - Holiday Glitter: Monument Avenue After Dark - Enjoy the lights and glitter of Monument Avenue while it’s decked out for the holidays. This early evening stroll combines history with a touch of glitz!

Williamsburg

• Nov 22-24, 29-30 & Dec 1, 6-8, 13-24, 26-31 - Busch Gardens Christmas Town - More than two million lights bring Christmas to Busch Gardens! Join in the fun of holiday traditions, dazzling shows, signature peppermint fudge hot chocolate, and of course, the 50' tall light-animated Christmas tree!

Newport News

• Nov 28-Jan 1 - Celebration in Lights is a two-mile drive-through of spectacular holiday light displays in Newport News Regional Park. The park's lakes become magical mirrors reflecting sailing ships and blooming trees. Other displays include animated arches, multi-colored snowflakes and leaping reindeer.

• Dec 6 -Hollydazzle - This unique holiday event combines fireworks, special effects and music in a spectacular show presented "in the round" on the five-acre Fountain Plaza. Free children's activities and holiday performances throughout the City Center at Oyster Point area, plus great shopping all along Merchant's Walk.

Hampton

• Dec 7 - Annual Lighted Boat Parade - It's a beautiful parade on the water as 20 boats or more glide along the Hampton River, reflecting their shimmering lights.

Norfolk

• Nov 23 - Downtown Norfolk Grand Illumination Parade - Festivities begin with the Grand Illumination of the Downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne Portsmouth skylines, and 100,000 voices take part in a community countdown. The illumination signals the start of the parade filled with festive and lighted floats, marching bands, giant balloons, decorated vehicles, dancers, and, of course, Santa Claus!

Virginia Beach

• Nov 15 - Jan 1 - Drive along the boardwalk in Virginia Beach to take in the spectacle of the McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach. Festive fish and jumping dolphins – all in bright, colored lights against the clear night-time sky at the Oceanfront! This is the only time cars are ever allowed on the boardwalk!

Yorktown

• Dec 6 - Illumination and Christmas Tree Lighting - The holiday lights go on and the festive season begins at 7 pm with entertainment at the Victory Monument followed by the Procession of Lights through historic Yorktown to Riverwalk Landing. The tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa, begins at 7:30 pm.

• Dec 7 - Lighted Boat Parade - Decorated in holiday spirit, area boaters parade the York River in competition for "Best of Show." Waterfront events begin at 6 pm. Enjoy hot cider and musical performances in the glow of a beach bonfire while awaiting the magnificent parade of lights. Sponsored by the Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade Committee and Wormley Creek Marina.

3. Virginia's Mountain Resorts

• Adrenaline Junkie Approved

• Visit Bryce, The Omni Homestead Resort, Massanutten, Primland and Wintergreen -Virginia's mountain resorts

• Four-season havens offer a plethora of outdoor activities for the whole family

• The snow sports resorts (all but Primland) offer these great activities during the winter months:

• 100% snowmaking

• Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snow-tubing, snowmobiling, winter zip line

• Ski schools for adults and children

• Spas, indoor swimming pools, and indoor tennis

• Fall, spring, and summer at Virginia’s mountain resorts offer fun for the whole family as well, including:

• ATV Tours

• Horseback Rides

• Spas / Pools / Waterparks

• Golfing

• Rock Climbing

• Zip Lines

• Tennis

• Fishing

• Canoeing / Kayaking

• Hiking Trails

• Falconry

• Shooting Clays / Guided Hunts

No matter where you decide to head to in Virginia, the mild climate and wide array of holiday events and activities is bound to leave you impressed. Remember, be sure to check out one of these holiday hotspots to get the most out of your visit!

For more information about visiting Virginia this holiday season, check out this page!