About Virginia
From the hip northern towns near Washington, DC, to the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, and the seaside city of Virginia beach, there's always something to do in the "Old Dominion."
Origin of State Name: Possibly named by Sir Walter Raleigh
Area: 42774 sq mi
Population: 7,769,089
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Virginia offers visitors a wide variety of areas to explore and things to discover. From the hip northern towns near Washington, DC, to the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, and the seaside city of Virginia beach, there's always something to do in the "Old Dominion."
Virginia Beach, located on the southeastern coast of the state, is a thriving beach resort area with an always-entertaining boardwalk. The Virginia Beach hostel is just one block from the beach and in the middle of it all. One of Virginia Beach’s most popular destinations is the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, which features hands-on exhibits and its famous 70,000-gallon sea turtle habitat and egg hatchery. The aquarium sponsors several cruise expeditions, including a salt marsh cruise, dolphin watching, and whale watching. The aquarium’s Harbor Seal Splash program is the only program in the U.S. that allows visitors to interact with harbor seals. Another popular Virginia Beach destination is Mount Trashmore Park, a former abandoned landfill that has been converted into a city park with walking trails, picnic areas, recreational areas, fishing, and a world-class state park.
