Things to do in Virginia

You are in for a special day on a Spirit of Norfolk Lunch Cruise. Dine and delight in breathtaking views of the Norfolk skyline bathed in sunshine and the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet of Ships. Your 2-hour cruise begins as a Shipmate escorts you to your candlelit table. Order drinks, then feel free to explore the ship as the crew cast off on the Elizabeth River. The Shipmates invite you to an attended grand lunch buffet, freshly prepared on-board. Take as much or as little as you like and savor your selections as the sights of Norfolk glide by. After lunch, take your drinks topside and relax on the best outdoor patio deck in the city.  After you have relaxed over coffee and dessert, take a refreshing stroll around the ship's decks and listen to relaxing background music as you take in everything Norfolk has to offer.  Create unforgettable memories on a Spirit of Norfolk Lunch Cruise. SAMPLE MENU Salads Caesar Salad Romain Lettuce | Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Herb Croutons Bow Tie Pasta Salad Scallions | English Cucumbers | Roma Tomatoes | Dill & Mustard Vinaigrette Vegetables, Potatoes & Pasta Roasted Broccoli Florets Toasted Garlic | Chili Flakes Creamed Corn & Cheddar Cheese Casserole Green Chilies | Scallions | Fresh Cilantro Baked Ziti Pasta Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Mozzarella | Cheese Spinach Sauce Mashed Potatoes Idaho Potatoes | Roasted Garlic Entrées Oven Baked Flounder Filet Tomato, Shallot & Caper Sauce Honey & Sesame Chicken Scallions | Fresno Chilies Italian Beef Meatballs Creamy Mushroom Sauce | Italian Parsley Spirit Seasonal Dessert Display *Menu subject to change. Please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy.

Enjoy a cruise down the Elizabeth River over drinks and dinner. Make your selections from the buffet and eat at a candlelit table while enjoying relaxing background music and marveling at views of Navy vessels. Board the vessel and begin your special evening being escorted to your candlelit table. Order drinks, then feel free to explore the ship while the crew casts off on the Elizabeth River. Be invited by your waiter to the attended Grande Dinner Buffet, with all food freshly prepared. Take as little or as much as you like. Savor your culinary selections over perfectly-paced dinner music and a never-ending view of Norfolk’s breathtaking skyline. See the cruises route and relax over coffee and dessert. Listen to relaxing background music, providing the backdrop for your dinner experience. Stroll under the stars as you take your drinks topside and relax on the largest outdoor patio deck in the city. At the end of your fabulous cruise return to dock. Sample Dinner Menu: Salads Caesar Salad Romain Lettuce | Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Herb Croutons Bow Tie Pasta Salad Scallions | English Cucumbers | Roma Tomatoes | Dill & Mustard Vinaigrette Vegetables, Potatoes & Pasta Roasted Broccoli Florets Toasted Garlic | Chili Flakes Creamed Corn & Cheddar Cheese Casserole Green Chilies | Scallions | Fresh Cilantro Baked Ziti Pasta Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Mozzarella | Cheese Spinach Sauce Mashed Potatoes Idaho Potatoes | Roasted Garlic Entrées Oven Baked Flounder Filet Tomato, Shallot & Caper Sauce Honey & Sesame Chicken Scallions | Fresno Chilies Italian Beef Meatballs Creamy Mushroom Sauce | Italian Parsley Braised Beef Short Ribs Baby Carrots | Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce Spirit Seasonal Dessert Display

See the sights of Washington DC from onboard the Spirit of Washington with a lunch or dinner cruise on the Potomac River. Enjoy a buffet dining experience as you sail, and delight in panoramic views. Board your vessel and receive a personal greeting. Have your photo taken by the ship's photographer to capture the memory before being seated at your private table. Once there, gorge on your lunch or dinner buffet consisting of creative entrees prepared fresh daily and listen to the onboard music. After your meal, visit any of the three climate-controlled decks as you glide by the sights. LUNCH/DINNER BUFFET SAMPLE MENU SALADS FIELD GREEN SALAD (G*)(VG)Tomatoes | Cucumbers | Carrots | Ranch Dressing | Balsamic Dressing KALE QUINOA SALAD (G*)(VG)(V)Quinoa | Roasted Red Pepper | Spinach | Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette GREEN GODDESS PASTA SALAD (V)Sweet Peas | White Beans | Scallions MAIN HONEY SESAME CHICKEN (G*)Scallions | Fresno Chillies OVEN ROASTED WHITEFISH (G*)Spicy Tomato | White Bean Ragu BAKED ZITI PASTA (V)Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Mozzarella Cheese | Spinach Cream Sauce ROOT VEGETABLE FRICASSEE (G*)(VG)(V)Idaho Potatoes | Broccoli | Grape Tomatoes | Gremolata | Cauliflower Coconut Cream Sauce COMPLEMENTSROASTED BROCCOLI (G*)(VG)(V)Toasted Garlic | Chili Flakes GARLIC MASHED POTATOES (G*)(V)Idaho Potatoes | Roasted Garlic DESSERTSIGNATURE DESSERT STATION (V)Cakes | Brownies | Seasonal Fruit | *May Contain Nuts *Menus subject to change

Take a journey through historic Alexandria’s most spine-chilling haunted locations on this walking tour by US Ghost Adventures. Listen to tales of betrayal, murder, and magic as you wind through the shadowy streets of Old Town. Upgrade to an extended tour for even more ghost stories. Meet your guide at the meeting point, then set off on your ghostly walk, armed with a lantern. As you go, hear chilling, first-hand accounts of paranormal activity dating as far back as the 1800s. You might even capture your own evidence. Stand at the gates of the harrowing Carlyle House, where an ancient Scottish tradition has been warding off evil spirits for the last 100 years. Investigate a 19th-century murder in the Wilkes Tunnel, and gather clues about the mysterious dead stranger hanging around Gadsby’s Tavern. At the Schafer House, follow young lovers from their first meeting to their tragic deaths and beyond. Wander the same paths as George Washington, mingle with the ghosts of Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, and gain insight into the darker side of American history. At the end of the tour, circle back to the meeting point with plenty of spooky tales to entertain friends and family. This isn’t your average tour of Old Town Alexandria: are you brave enough to step into the shadows?

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the world’s most beautiful theme park, as voted year after year since 1990. Wander through the classic European themed and artfully landscaped villages, resembling the Parisian streets of France, the hamlets of Scotland and the Oktoberfest celebrations of Germany. Explore all nine villages centered around six countries. Kids can sing with Elmo, feed a lorikeet and ride between mom and dad on a thrilling kid coaster all in the same day! After catching one of the many entertaining shows, head over to award-winning roller coasters inspired by Old World legends like the Apollo, the Griffin, and the Loch Ness monster. From virtual reality to carousels, everyone one in the family will find an activity they love and create cherished memories to think back on for years to come! Animal Exhibits: Spend some time at Highland Stables and take part in a celebration of centuries-old Scottish traditions. Interact with blackface sheep and their border collie guardians. Enjoy demonstrations of traditional herding and hunting methods. Visit Eagle Ridge to meet some gutsy American Bald Eagles, each one a survivor of injuries that left them unable to live on their own in the wild. Hear their inspiring stories and feel the sense of awe that travels with these majestic birds. Stroll through Lorikeet Glen and make a bunch of new friends as colorful birds glide down to greet you from the branches of a fascinating, free-flight aviary. Go beyond the haunting calls and piercing eyes of the mysterious gray wolf in Wolf Valley. Learn what you can do to help these important ancestors of modern-day canines survive and thrive. Theme Park Rides: Take a ride on Alpengeist, one of the tallest, fastest and most insane roller coasters in the world. Before you can say "boo" the floor drops beneath your feet, so get ready for what many coaster enthusiasts still call the ride of a lifetime. Experience the mind-bending climbs and weightless wonder of floating airtime at Apollo's Chariot, one of the mightiest coasters of all time. Hop on the classic Loch Ness monster which hurls its passengers along 3,240 feet of steel track into the air, over water, and through a dark cave. Join the bravest of ride warriors and challenge yourself to the 205-foot, 90-degree, 75 mph free fall of Griffon, a heart-pounding, tour de force roller coaster.

Hear the stories of the ghosts who inhabit the town of Williamsburg. Follow your ghostly guide down eerie streets and experience 13 haunted locations on this tour of the most haunted places in town. Discover the 17 spirits of the Peyton Randolph House, known as the most haunted place in Virginia. Learn what happened in the oak panel bedroom and hear what is waiting for you in your jail cell. Learn about the Wagon of Death, the gallows, and what happened to Lucy Ludwell, George Wythe, Ida Jones, and many more. Learn the outcome of the witch trials here and what happened to Williamsburg's most famous witch. Guests often see and hear strange, unexplainable sights and sounds, so you will not want to attend without a camera in hand.

Journey through the early days of America on this 90-120 minute walking tour of historic Williamsburg, Virginia. Equipped with hours of research, your guide will transport you to the 18th century and regale you with tales of love, war, brotherhood, and the costly fight for freedom. While Colonial Williamsburg is a true museum of living history, many storytellers shy away from the details that made it real and avoid unpopular stories of the great, and terrible, men and women who lived, loved, laughed, killed, and died here. On this tour experience, instead of stepping carefully around those stories, expert tour guides will dive headfirst into unflinching accounts and gripping backstories of the famous and infamous figures who called Williamsburg home. Dive in with them as they reveal and showcase America's first conspiracy ring, hidden vaults and crypts throughout the city filled with surprising artifacts and people, events and secret meetings held in seedy taverns filled with less savory characters, and more. They will attempt to paint portraits of historical figures so vivid and true that you'll believe you met them and know them as well as yourself. On this tour, you will visit up to 12-15 locations all tied to famous figures in American History and you will learn the true history of the most iconic places of Colonial Williamsburg as your expert guide takes you through the different pieces of the city and why Colonial Williamsburg was the city that history made and more. Experience the religious, political, and educational epicenters of the city and see where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and other famous figures walked, talked, ate, drank, and had some of the most important discussions and laid the most unforgettable battle plans that would change the nation forever. See the Bruton Parish church, one of Virginia's oldest religious buildings and stand at the gates of the Governor's Palace that housed the Governor of Virginia responsible for the capture of Blackbeard the Pirate. Explore the Gaol (Jail) where Blackbeard's Boys were housed before meeting an untimely fate and the house the George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, and Thomas Jefferson's mentor--George Wythe--planned the final integral battle of the Revolutionary War. It’s one thing to read about history; it’s another to see, hear, smell, and touch it. As you journey through the nation’s largest living history exhibit, you’ll experience a deep connection to America’s earliest settlers. Stand in the shadow of iconic homes like the Peyton-Randolph House and the Governor’s Palace. Hear sobering tales of the black colonial experience - stories that have been glossed over for decades. By the end of the journey, you’ll have new insight into what life was really like 300 years ago, and how America developed into the country it is today. Bring the family along and take a relaxing stroll through this beautiful, historic town.

Experience Richmond’s haunted past and uncover stories of murder, mayhem, and tragedy while discovering the secret histories that hide in the shadows. From the Powhatan Confederacy to present-day grisly murders. Listen to honest accounts from a professional US Ghost Adventures guide of the events that shaped this River City and led to the very real Richmond Ghosts. Take a tour of the darker side of Richmond and visit the most haunted sites around the Shockoe Bottom area, depending on whether you choose to upgrade to an extended tour. Hear of the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe, said to haunt the staircase that was once in his house, and the chilling tales surrounding Lumpkin's Slave Jail and the historic Masonic Lodge and the ghosts said to linger there, along with many other terrifying tales. Learn about the lesser-known history and the hauntings that often accompany it. You're guaranteed to be creeped out, but you'll still be able to sleep.

Join US Ghost Adventures for a journey through one of the most terrifying cities on the East Coast. Walkthrough this seaside town and learn of the horrific history that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Discover some of the most haunting events in history, from the legendary Blackbeard pirate and his murderous crew to the notorious witch of Pungo. Look for the long-lost souls of shipwrecked sailors that roam the waters for all eternity and uncover their sinister history. Hear horrifying tales of betrayal, murder, and heartbreak. Walk in the footsteps of the tortured spirits that still cling to their watery graves. Get a glimpse of the family that lost their lives aboard one of the earliest ships to sail across the Atlantic. Walk past the monuments and statues that decorate the boardwalk along Virginia Beach and hear a plethora of history that comes with one of the oldest colonial cities in America. Find all the hidden secrets behind each iconic monument on this spooky guided walking tour.

Discover the historic Old Town Alexandria on a guided day trip from Washington. Ride along the Potomac River and visit the Mount Vernon Estate, the former residence of George Washington. Enjoy pickup in a luxurious, climate-controlled vehicle while your guide explains the significance of some of the city’s most recognizable monuments. A short drive brings you to the candy-colored architecture of Alexandria, where you can take a tour of some monuments notable to the former president – including the Masonic Temple and Christ Church. Arguably the birthplace of the city itself, George Washington’s former estate is located just 13 miles from the capital’s center. Then, go for an in-depth foray through the mansion, with entrance tickets to the grounds and gardens included. Interactive, historic reenactments bring the founding father’s story to life, while a guided tour of the building helps shine a light on his fascinating story. Next, you'll ride along the Potomac River and visit the Mount Vernon Estate - one of the Washington, DC, area’s premier sightseeing attractions. Explore historic Mount Vernon – from the mansion’s interior where President Washington resided to his beloved gardens, and final resting place.  Take some time for lunch at the Mt Vernon Food Court if you like, then learn more about George Washington’s life and legacy in both the Museum and Education Center – home to more than 700 original objects (including his false teeth) and 25 theaters and galleries. There is even a multi-media theater where it actually snows. After shopping for unique gifts at the Mt Vernon Shops, you will be entertained by your guide as you return back to Washington DC.