12 Iconic Sites for Virginia’s Fall Beauty

These historic destinations are stunning in their own right, but couple them with the colors of fall and you have a real winner.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Charlottesville

Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Come visit the home of Thomas Jefferson – third president, author of the Declaration of Independence, and self-taught architect. This is the only U.S. presidential and private home on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. After touring the home, walk the four-mile Saunders-Monticello Trail, which is handicapped-accessible and includes unique features, like an elevated boardwalk and pond. (MAP)

James Monroe’s Highland , Charlottesville

James Monroe, the fifth president, Governor of Virginia, and negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase, was the owner of Highland, a 500+ acre estate just down the road from Monticello. See the “witness tree,” a white oak yet standing from Monroe’s time on his Highland plantation. Virtual Tour

Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Estate and Gardens , Mount Vernon

Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson

Another spot for gorgeous fall foliage is Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first president of the United States and commander of the Continental Army. Originally, the estate was more than 8,000 acres, but as of today, an estimated 500 acres have been preserved. Interactive Map

James Madison’s Montpelier , Montpelier Station

photo credit: Big Orange Frame

Montpelier was the estate of James Madison, the fourth president and the Father of the Constitution. The 2,650-acre estate includes the 200-acre Landmark Forest, a National Natural Landmark. Google Trails Map

George Washington’s Ferry Farm, Fredericksburg

Washington’s family moved to Ferry Farm when he was six. This home site sits on the Rappahannock River and the museum has an archaeology lab that allows visitors to see artifacts discovered on the property.

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest

Archaeology and restoration are always in progress at Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat, Poplar Forest, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site Nominee. Buy Tickets Online

George Mason’s Gunston Hall, Lorton

George Mason, Author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, after which the United States Bill of Rights was modeled, owned Gunston Hall, an estate that includes 550 acres on the Potomac River. Learn about the Grounds

Stratford Hall, Stratford

Robert E. Lee’s Birthplace, Stratford Hall, was also Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee’s boyhood home. Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee were the only brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence. Stratford Hall sits on 1,900 acres overlooking the Potomac River.

Crab Orchard Museum, Tazewell

The exhibits at the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell look at distinctive periods of American history, including Native American, Pioneer, Revolutionary War, and Civil War history. This museum has fifteen log cabins and stone structures that date to the 1800s, and visitors can also attend special tours and a pioneer summer camp.

America’s Historic Triangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, & Yorktown

Jamestown was settled by the English in 1607 as the first permanent English colony in the Americas. Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the country, and was the first English capitol/seat of government in the Americas, while Yorktown is where the American Revolutionary War was won on October 19, 1781. These historic locations are all stunning during the fall, but take the Colonial Parkway for a scenic drive to all three.

Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, Leesburg

Oatlands Historic House & Gardens is Federal-style mansion was built over five years, beginning in 1804 and further embellished into the 1830s. The original grounds were 3,408 acres; today, the estate is 261 acres. The English Oak and European Larch trees are from the original 1800s gardens.

John Tyler’s Sherwood Forest Plantation, Charles City

photo credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

Sherwood Forest Plantation belonged to John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States and America’s first vice president to ascend to the presidency upon the death of the sitting president. It is the longest frame house in America, and has been continuously occupied by the Tyler family since 1842. The estate is home to America’s first Ginkgo tree, and nearby historic plantations include Shirley (Virginia’s first plantation; 1613) and Berkeley (site of the first official Thanksgiving; 1619).