Virginia is an amazing holiday destination. From the Atlantic Ocean shore to the top of the mountains, it offers many attractions. In this blog post, we focused on our favorite free thing to do in Virginia. We separate our list into 2 categories. In outdoor activities, you will find our favorite things to do for free in Virginia Beach. Furthermore, in indoor activities, you will find 3 must-visit museums in Virginia – from the State Capitol to traveling to Space, to mummies, Virginia has it all. As a result, Virginia is a perfect holiday destination for everyone on a low budget.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
There is nothing better than spending a gorgeous sunny day outdoors. There are so many things you can see, from walking in the city center to going hiking. Here in Virginia, we are blessed to have Virginia Beach where we can enjoy the sunshine and the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Beach is a magical place that offers so many things to do. We gathered our favorite activities and created a short guide for you. All activities on the list are free and perfect for traveling on a low budget in Virginia.
VIRGINIA BEACH
One of the most famous places in Virginia is Virginia Beach. It is a part of Virginia that is next to the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Beach offers so many things to do there. You can swim, sunbathe, hike, visit museums, enjoy local food, and many more things. We created a short guide of Virginia Beach, and how to enjoy it there on a low budget.
Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a long path next to the Atlantic Ocean. It has a path for bicycles and a path for walking. As a result, it is perfect for a stroll. There you can see many places that sell coffee, drinks, and food. One of the most popular things on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a huge statue of King Neptune. It is free to see King Neptune and take a photo.
ViBe Creative District is one of the neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. It is an artistic neighborhood, full of positive vibes, murals, paintings, and craftsmanship. Artists are inspiring each other, and everyone who is visiting. The whole neighborhood is filled with gorgeous murals, and it is free to see them.
Hollywood has a Walk of Fame, and it is one of the most famous attractions in the world. However, it is not the only Walk of Fame in the USA. Virginia Beach has its own Walk of Fame. It is called Legends Walk. They are celebrating the famous citizens of Virginia. Walk around, and learn more about Edgar Allen Poe, Ella Fitzgerald, Thomas Jefferson, and other famous citizens of Virginia. It is free to enter, and it is always open.
If you are a sports enthusiast, then the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is a place for you. There you will find famous and successful athletes from Virginia and popular sports. Furthermore, they have a section dedicated to golf.
Did you know that Virginia Beach is home to the 4th oldest lighthouse in the USA? The original Cape Henry Lighthouse is the first lighthouse approved by the US government. To see the Cape Henry Lighthouse, you will have to enter through an active military base, therefore you will need to present a valid ID, and you will have to be +16.
Virginia Beach is one of the most famous and most visited places in Virginia. Although it offers many attractions, happily, not all of them require you to purchase a ticket or pay an entrance fee. Here we portrayed a few of our favorite free attractions in Virginia Beach that are must-be visited. They are the perfect holiday destination for everyone traveling on a low budget in Virginia.
INDOORS
Virginia offers a lot of indoor places. From museums, and national monuments, to musical halls. There are so many things to do in Virginia when the weather is bad, and those attractions are wonderful. We gathered our favorite activities and created a short guide for you. All activities on the list are free. They are perfect when you need a short holiday, or you only have one day off from work. Virginia State Capitol, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are must-visit places in Virginia, and they offer free entrance.
VIRGINIA STATE CAPITOL
Did you know that 3rd American president Tomas Jefferson designed the Virginia State Capitol? He was working together with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau, and they together made a model in France.
Virginia State Capitol is the first American State Capitol designed after the Revolutionary War. Furthermore, it is one of 12 State Capitals that doesn’t have an external dome.
In the past, the Virginia State Capitol served as a place where political decisions were made. However, they decided to change it. The Virginia State Capitol is now open to the public. Because they moved government offices to different buildings, the Virginia State Capitol become a visitor center.
Virginia State Capitol offers guided tours of the Capitol, and there you can learn about the history of the Virginia State Capitol. Besides guided tours, Virginia State Capitol offers self-guided tours for everyone who loves wandering on their own.
What’s more, Virginia State Capitol is home to an original life-size marble statue of the first American president -George Washington. Would you like to know how tall President Washington was? How do you compare? How would it feel to stand next to our first President? Find out for free!
The Virginia State Capitol is a historically very important place. There you will find out how America got independence, and how the building was built. Also, you can enjoy paintings and statues. The Virginia State Capitol is free to enter, and it’s one of the best places to visit for everyone who is traveling on a low budget in Virginia.
STEVEN F. UDVAR HAZY CENTER
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is one of the best museums for everyone who is interested in space and flying. It is part of the National Air and Space Museum.
The museum wouldn’t be open if it wasn’t for Ferenc István Udvarházy, known as Steven F. Udvar-Hazy. He is a Hungarian American businessman who loves flying and space. He donated 65 million USD to the Smithsonian Institution to build the museum.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is an extremely interactive museum that offers so many exhibits related to flying and space exploration that you won’t be able to see them all in one day. From the first planes from the Wright brothers to today’s aircraft. The museum is divided into a few sections.
Early Flight exhibitions cover how people develop planes. The first plane was constructed by the Wright brothers in 1903, and ever since then, people are trying to make them better, faster, and safer. This exhibition portrays the development of the early planes.
America By Air exhibition is about commercial planes in America and their history. There you will find how much commercial aviation changed, and in addition how airlines were implementing new findings.
The Destination Moon exhibition is all about the Moon, and traveling to the Moon. There you will find out what is needed to travel to the Moon, what equipment astronauts use, and why people are returning to the Moon. Moreover, they even showcase artifacts from Apollo.
Nation Of Speed is a place for everyone who is in love with fast cars, and speed. This exhibition portrays how humans were researching speed and in addition, ways how to be faster. Furthermore, this pursuit of searching for speed shaped American culture.
The Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery is a place to see the planets of the Solar System. There you will find out about planets, how we explore the planets, and what scientists find there. It also showcases the current exploration missions.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the home of 9 world-known space and air artifacts. You can see Space Shuttle Discovery, Boeing 367-80 Jet Transport, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, and other famous planes and space shuttles.
If you are interested in the aircraft restoration process, then Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar is a place for you. There you can see the process of restoring the aircraft, and see all the types of equipment needed.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is a perfect place to explore the history of aircraft and travel to space. It is extremely interactive, and perfect for kids and adults. The museum is free to enter, but you have to reserve your spot in advance. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is one of the best places to visit when you are traveling on a low budget in Virginia.
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is one of the biggest art museums in Virginia. Furthermore, it showcases art from Ancient Egypt to today’s time.
In the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, you can meet Tjeby the mummy. It is one of 2 mummified people that are located in Virginia. Furthermore, you can explore ancient Egyptian art, and get to know what their life looked like. Besides Ancient Egypt, you can learn more about Ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has one of the most extensive collections of African art in the USA. Furthermore, they are portraying African culture and history over the artifacts like ritual masks, figurines, and ritual objects.
Photography is also a type of art, therefore the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts created a permanent exhibition related to photography. There you will find photos of the most important moments that shaped the America that we know today.
In The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, you will find the largest public collection of Fabergé eggs. Besides gorgeous Fabergé eggs, you can explore more items that Fabergé created.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts believes that art should be available for everyone, no matter how old they are. Because of that, they have numerous programs for different children ages, from infants to teenagers. They want to provide quality family time to families, and as a result, they created a gallery hunt. It is similar to a treasure hunt, but instead of searching for treasure, you are exploring items in the museum.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers many different types of art from many different places. It is a perfect place for individuals, couples, or the whole family. There is no entrance fee for a permanent exhibition, and as a result, it is a perfect destination for everyone who is traveling on a low budget in Virginia.
To summarize our ultimate low-budget guide of Virginia, we choose our favorite attractions in Virginia Beach that are free. We also choose 3 of the must-visit museums in Virginia. All of them are offering a unique experience, and they have free entrance. Explore the past of the forming of the USA at the Virginia State Capitol. Get to know how space was explored, and how aircraft are made at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Lastly, hang around with Tjeby the mummy, and get to know more about Ancient Egypt and art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
No matter which destination you choose from our list, we are sure that you will create unforgettable memories. Ride Rental Cars offer the most affordable car rental rates in Southern Virginia so that you can spend more on creating memories, not a car rental. With our low car rental prices, and our guide of free things to do in Virginia, we are sure that everyone will enjoy their vacation.
