Rather than taking the standard Christmas card photo in front of the tree at home, mix it up this year and plan a trip to a Virginia destination to take your holiday pictures. You’ll get awe-inspiring snapshots while also having the unforgettable experiences that come with the magic of the holiday season in Virginia!
1. A Mountain Resort
Pictured: The Omni Homestead
Plan to take your holiday photos at a Virginia Mountain Resort, then stay for an entire weekend for a getaway absolutely filled with fun. With on-site luxury spas, excellent restaurants within the grounds, and endless activities, including ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, you’ll find that two or three days aren’t close to long enough to explore a mountain resort in Virginia.
A Few Suggestions:
- Wintergreen Resort—Wintergreen
- The Omni Homestead—Hot Springs
- Massanutten Resort—Massanutten
- Bryce Resort—Basye
2. A Decorated Main Street
Pictured: Old Town Alexandria
Virginia’s towns and cities all decorate their Main Streets for the holidays to some extent, with some going simple and sticking to lights and a few strands of garlands while others cover practically every square inch with tinsel, wreaths, and ornaments. Many Main Streets have a centerpiece tree, illuminated with thousands of lights and covered in ornaments with themes tied to the local area.
A Few Suggestions:
- Lexington
- Kilmarnock
- Cape Charles
- Alexandria
- Charlottesville
- Front Royal
- Richmond
- Fredericksburg
3. At a Scenic Mountain Vista
Pictured: Mount Rogers
The storied rolling landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains make for an awe-inspiring backdrop. Pro-tip: Although you’ll have to plan carefully to get the timing right, the pictures will come out best if taken around sunrise or sunset.
A Few Suggestions:
- The Roanoke Star—Roanoke
- Humpback Rocks—Waynesboro
- McAfee Knob—Catawba
- The Priest—Lovingston
- Old Rag—Nethers
- Big Schloss—Edinburg
- Bearfence Mountain—Elkton
4. A Hotel Lobby Decked Out for the Holidays
Pictured: The Jefferson
Hotels anticipate lots of travel around the holidays, so it comes as no surprise that they take their lobby and grounds decorations seriously. Giant illuminated trees, countless wreathes, and unique holiday surprises are a few of the decorative touches you can expect with a visit to Virginia’s hotels.
A Few Suggestions:
- The Jefferson—Richmond
- Founders Inn & Spa—Virginia Beach
- Salamander Resort & Spa—Middleburg
- Boar’s Head Inn—Charlottesville
- The Craddock Terry Hotel—Lynchburg
- The Bolling Wilson Hotel—Wytheville
- Hotel Roanoke—Roanoke
5. An Elegant Virginia Winery
Pictured: Pollak Vineyards
In addition to splendid holiday décor and world-class Virginia wine, you’ll find tons of seasonal events happening at wineries around the Commonwealth. Take your photo inside the tasting room in front of a roaring fireplace, or brave the cold for a few minutes to get a breathtaking background for your Christmas cards.
A Few Suggestions:
- Veritas Vineyard & Winery—Afton
- Casanel Vineyards & Winery—Leesburg
- Pollak Vineyards—Greenwood
- General’s Ridge Vineyard—Hague
- Barrel Oak Winery—Delaplane
- Early Mountain Vineyards—Madison
- CrossKeys Vineyards & Winery—Mt. Crawford
6. In Front of a Decorated LOVEwork
Pictured: Manassas LOVEwork
There are now almost 100 LOVEworks located in every corner of Virginia and some of these are decorated for the holidays. If you’re road tripping through the Commonwealth in the upcoming month, take a look at the LOVEwork map and add a short detour to take your holiday photos!
A Few Suggestions:
- Virginia’s Welcome Centers
- LOVEwork in Bristol
- Cape Charles LOVEwork
- Chincoteague LOVEwork
- LOVEwork at Humpback Bridge—Covington
- Culpeper Depot LOVEwork
- Market at Grelen LOVEwork—Somerset
- Liberty Mills Farm LOVEwork—Somerset
- Manassas LOVEwork
- Craddock Terry Hotel LOVEwork—Lynchburg
7. At Your Local Christmas Tree Farm
Pictured: Claybrook Farm
Get two items checked off your holiday checklist when you head to a Virginia Christmas tree farm this season. First, pick out the perfect tree for you and your family, and then take a picture in front of it to make a fun holiday memory last forever. Many tree farms even offer free hot chocolate, cider, visits with Santa, or other extra perks for the kids.
A Few Suggestions:
- Boys’ Home Christmas Tree Farm—West Augusta
- Reed Island Farm Christmas Trees—Hillsville
- Joe’s Trees—Newport
- Santa’s Forest & Nursery—Suffolk
- Claybrook Farm Christmas Trees—Mineral
- Snead’s Farm Christmas Trees—Fredericksburg
- Evergreen Acres—Nokesville
8. An Impressive Holiday Lights Display
Pictured: Lewis Ginter Gardenfest of Lights
Something about the twinkle of lights makes a holiday photo absolutely beautiful, and there are plenty of places around Virginia that offer this luminous addition. You’ll discover endless lights at tacky lights tours around the state, streetside setups at local businesses, historic sites, and even botanical gardens. For a family-friendly light display, visit Busch Gardens Christmas Town, which is the biggest holiday light display in all of North America!
A Few Suggestions:
- The Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Dominion Energy Gardenfest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens—Richmond
- Christmas Town at Busch Gardens
9. At a Historic Virginia Destination
Pictured: Shirley Plantation
You can’t go a few miles in Virginia without coming across a notable historic site, and most go all out for the holidays, with classic (and often historically relevant) traditions and decorations. Stop by a historic site, plantation, or presidential home for a blend of history and holiday.
A Few Suggestions:
- The Historic Streets of Old Town Alexandria
- Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson—Charlottesville
- Colonial Williamsburg
- James Madison’s Montpelier—Montpelier Station
- Shirley Plantation—Charles City
- Berkeley Plantation—Charles City
- James Monroe’s Highland—Charlottesville
- Jamestown Settlement—Williamsburg
10. A Holiday Performance
Pictured: Barter Theatre
If you plan on taking the family to a theater or music performance during the holidays, use the opportunity to take your holiday photos as well; the kids will already be dressed up in their holiday best, and that is not always an easy feat! Plus, the decorations add a festive backdrop that will make a gorgeous Christmas card.
A Few Suggestions:
- Barter Theatre’s Rudolph—Abingdon
- Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker—Richmond
- Hollydazzle—Newport News
- Washington Symphonic Brass, Home for the Holidays at Wolf Trap—Vienna
- A Christmas Carol at Wells Theatre—Norfolk