I Love Virginia — But These 5 Places Are a Hard ‘No’ for Me

Some places don't live up to your expectations and are a bit underwhelming—and that’s okay! The point of travel is to discover new places, and you’re not going to like them all. After all, everyone has their own travel interests and what they’re looking for in an adventure. I've grown up visiting family in Virginia, and have had my fair share of visits to various spots around the state. With that being said, these overhyped destinations in Virginia leave much to be desired and aren’t on my "travel to again" list.

1. Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns is objectively an impressive cavern system. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by shimmering stalactites hanging from the ceiling, calcite formations everywhere you look, and hearing the natural phenomenon of the “world’s largest musical organ” called The Great Stalacpipe Organ. Luray Caverns is definitely a geologist’s dream for these very reasons.

Personally, I found that this destination is a bit more touristy than I thought, and sometimes I felt like I was being herded through the cave with everyone else. The caverns offer other attractions like the Shenandoah Heritage Village and Toy Town Junction, which sort of takes away from the grandeur of the caverns by diverting visitors’ attention to different attractions.

While Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the eastern U.S., there are seven other caverns to choose from, such as Grand Caverns, which are more secluded and hold historical importance of being a location where Confederate and Union soldiers visited during the Civil War.

2. Lynchburg

Lynchburg is arguably one of those small cities that you pass through on your way to Washington, D.C., that isn't quite able to withstand being a destination in itself. Although Lynchburg is situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is in proximity to sites such as the American Civil War Museum in Appomattox and Natural Bridge State Park, the city doesn't quite have as many historical or innovative cuisine offerings to check out. In fact, Lynchburg's fast food establishments seem to fill the city so much that it starts to become an eyesore. Lynchburg looks promising as you drive in with the impressive buildings of Liberty University greeting you, but it's deceiving when you realize that it might not be much more than a university city. However, if you're an outdoors lover, you'll appreciate Lynchburg's proximity to the mountains, as there are plenty of opportunities to get out in nature and explore.

3. Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and is undoubtedly the go-to beach destination for many Virginians. Online, it seems as though Virginia Beach is one of the locations where spring breakers go for a fun-filled getaway. However, if you’re looking for a quaint beach town, this is not it in the summer months. I found that the Oceanfront area is a bit touristy and has been heavily commercialized.

Also, high prices and parking become big issues in the summer months, which can cause some frustration. However, if you know where to look, a Virginia Beach day trip can be affordable, but it takes a bit of extra planning.

4. King's Dominion

Sure, King’s Dominion is full of your typical theme park offerings, but that’s about it in my book. Located in Doswell, Virginia, King’s Dominion is one of the most visited amusement parks in the state, and it’s where plenty of Virginia students take a school field trip for an exciting outing. The theme park contains more than 60 rides, including some of the East Coast’s largest roller coasters, and even has a 20-acre amusement park called Soak City. 

However, King’s Dominion doesn’t really have that “wow” factor that I’m looking for in a theme park. Kings Dominion opened to the public in 1975, and most of the rides are on the older side. You can say that the park has “passed its prime” and has arguably been slow to add new mega roller coasters, and many of the rides can be seen as outdated. Not to mention, there can be long wait times for rides, which can feel exhausting in the heat of the summer, and the price of concessions can make your pockets run dry. 

5. Newport News

I had high expectations when I visited Newport News for a tour of Christopher Newport University, but I was ultimately disappointed.  For a city that’s along the coast, it feels very suburban and lacking in character. While the city does have a rich maritime history and is situated along the James River, it doesn’t seem to have many attractions for those looking to learn more about that history, except for The Mariner’s Museum and Park. 

Newport News is a car-centric city, and it feels like it’s having an identity crisis of being too large for a small town feel, and too small for a big city feel. For these reasons, I felt as though Newport News wasn’t living up to its potential for its ideal Coastal Virginia location. 

Do you feel the same about these Virginia picks? If you have some other overhyped destinations in Virginia in mind, what are they? For top-tier Virginia recommendations, visit the Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner.