Virginia was the first of the original 13 British colonies founded in the United States. Since its establishment in 1607, Virginia has amassed centuries worth of intrigue. Its borders hold dramatic battlefields, grand plantation homes, and the birthplaces of eight US presidents. A Virginia luxury holiday with Ker & Downey gets to the heart of colonial history in utter exclusivity, granting you access to some of the most important sites in America.

Aside from being the oldest colonized area in America, Virginia is also kept distinct from the other states by retaining its “commonwealth” title from bygone days. It has been the stomping grounds of the nation’s Founding Fathers, and visitors today can still walk in their footsteps, or at the very least through their former homes. See Monticello, the primary plantation home of Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe’s home Ash Lawn-Highland just next door. You can also visit Montpelier, the family home of former president James Madison, and Mount Vernon, the plantation home of the United States’ first president, George Washington.

Lesser known but no less beautiful are the James River Plantations, scattered from Jamestown and Williamsburg between the Chickahominy and James Rivers. These well-kept homes seem totally frozen in time, much like Colonial Williamsburg. Walk through this living museum to experience life in a colonial town. The area is active at all hours of the day and night, complete with residents in period dress utilizing tools of the time, and a few British red coats and colonial militia prowling the cobblestone streets.

Virginia was part of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. There are more than 30 sites to see near Richmond, Virginia, the one-time capital of the Confederate States of America. Richmond National Battlefield Park commemorates the battles that took place around the city, and reenactments are performed amidst the original fortifications that still stand in the area.

Northern Virginia is the gateway to Washington, DC, and the two regions complement each other with their outstanding American history. Plan a Virginia luxury holiday with your Ker & Downey luxury travel consultant—contact us to customize your own journey.