Virginia Beach to Williamsburg train

While boasting a suburban atmosphere that will make anyone jealous of an East Coast life, Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia by population and one of the state's best destinations. Positioned at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, its primary focus has always been its oceanfront location.

In the record books as having the longest pleasure beach in the world, the soft golden sands of Virginia Beach stretch for miles. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to take a stroll or bike along the three-mile boardwalk lined with cafés.

A block back, Atlantic Avenue plays host to Virginia Beach's dining scene, which incorporates everything from well-known names to family-run restaurants specializing in the bay's seafood.

But for all the glitz and glamour of Atlantic Avenue, it's Virginia Beach's natural splendors that will have you coming back again and again. As it twists with the coastline to become Shore Drive, you'll reach First Landing State Park. It preserves the spot at which English colonists first arrived on U.S. soil in 1607 after a five-month voyage. Meanwhile, out to sea, there's a chance to spot humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins.

The city’s central location on the Atlantic coastline means there are many destinations you can visit from Virginia Beach for very cheap. The busiest terminus in Virginia Beach is on Northampton Boulevard. It sees buses reach New York City in around eight hours. Head to Norfolk, and you can also jump on Amtrak's Northeast Regional train service to Boston.

Colonial Williamsburg, one of America's most well-known living history towns, is not a replica or a collection of structures from other locations. Instead, from 1705 until 1779, this was the capital of the colony (and eventually the state) of Virginia. It's now a museum that recreates bygone periods in their original setting and includes many of the historic buildings. Others have been painstakingly reconstructed or repaired at their original locations. Actors (or maybe time travelers?) wander around the reconstructed area dressed in 18th-century garb and going about their daily lives.

But Williamsburg isn't only for history nerds, and the Revolution isn't the only thing to see. The city's tourist attractions are two renowned museums of art, Busch Gardens theme park, and a water park.

In terms of transport, buses, trains, and airports are available. Buses come from major cities like Newark, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, New York, and even Houston via Greyhound. For train tickets, the Amtrak Northeast Regional connects from Washington D.C., Richmond, St Louis, and more. The main train and bus station is Williamsburg Transportation Center. Williamsburg International Airport is only 17 miles away from downtown Williamsburg. Other airports, such as Norfolk International Airport and Richmond International Airport, are options but a bit further away.