If you believed it was only airports drawing a crowd, reconsider! One surprising U.S. state saw nearly 1.5 million train passengers for the — a new record mainly driven by a pair of unsuspecting cities.
At Travel Off Course, we always have our eyes peeled for the latest trends, deals, and breaking news. Well, not literally– we blink like anyone else.
The point is, even our team of travel experts was stunned that tourists are deciding to hit the rails over trip, particularly for a place infamous for stunning mountain roadways and seeing record
air traffic too. However, that holds true for Virginia.
Amtrak Virginia is the most popular train ticket right now, even as America’s most popular rail operator launches their most amazing new route in years along the Gulf Coast.
Sure, Washington D.C., plays an essential role in Virginia’s newfound success, however do not sleep on the “Old Dominion’s” underrated trips, ranging from mountain hideaways to bayside retreats.
Newport News: Not Your Morning Paper
Does anybody check out papers anymore? If they did, Newport News seems like a publication covering all the latest happenings across the Chesapeake Bay, but it’s in truth the name of a rather large city of nearly 200,000 individuals.
It might have an odd name, but it’s probably this side of Virginia’s leading hidden gem as it’s teeming with historical attractions like the Virginia War Museum, practically unidentified beaches because popular Virginia Beach is nearby, and a significant quantity of natural beauty to take pleasure in, such as Newport News Park, offering over 7,000 acres for treking, cycling, camping, and paddle-boating.
It appears most tourists traversing Virginia may not understand Newport News, however it’s one of the state’s finest family-friendly cities.
See the Abbitt Planetarium, the Peninsula SPCA & Barnyard(basically a petting zoo ), and most notably the al fresco Virginia Living Museum, offering a mix of everything– a zoo, arboretum,’Dinosaur Discovery Path’, and aforementioned planetarium, reasonably priced at $21.95 for admission.
Nearly 400,000 people have hopped aboard Amtrak Virginia to visit Newport News, cueing up the concern if it’s Virginia’s next hotspot considering that the next city we’ll talk about currently holds the crown …
Norfolk: Virginia’s Trending Summer Destination
With roughly half a million travelers taking a trip to Norfolk by air in June alone, plus a separate 542,743 Amtrak riders visiting over the previous year, Norfolk is undoubtedly Virginia’s trendiest summer destination.
< img width="1200 "height="1200 "src="https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Norfolk-VA-skyline-at-night.jpg.webp"alt="Norfolk
, VA skyline at night”/ > Perhaps some visitors have actually crossed streams, but it’s safe to state Norfolk is welcoming millions this year. This underrated Chesapeake city is all the rage right now, providing calm beaches, a buzzing waterside, and a thriving arts and culinary scene.
New flights have actually certainly assisted offer Norfolk an increase, however it’s also a simple springboard to Virginia’s most widely known destination nearby, Virginia Beach.
While Amtrak Virginia does not use a direct route, pass-through service is offered by linking buses.
If you plan to check out Virginia Beach in the coming months, there’s a shopping list of amazing occasions set for fall:
- Neptune Festival( Sep 26– 28)
MOCA Boardwalk Art Program(Oct 10 -12)Mural Festival( Oct 3 -12)Harvest Fair(Sep 27– Nov 2)Plus, Virginia Beach still offers dolphin enjoying tours past summer, often with fewer crowds– simply bring a coat!
Skewed Numbers? Amtrak Virginia Is Top Gateway To The Capitol
Offered the renowned status of DC and the unexplored appeal of much of Virginia, it would be a stretch to say some of Amtrak Virginia’s record numbers don’t cross the state
line. Virginia is home to lots of federal government workplaces and military installations, making it simple and, some would state, necessary at times to go to DC not simply for tourism, however occupational matters.
Tourists can reach DC directly from Norfolk, and there are strategies being discussed to reduce travel times and increase frequency (though no schedules were supplied).
Whether for service or pleasure, visiting the country’s capital is a real pleasure during the fall as some of America’s a lot of stunning architectural marvels are lined with rows of rustic tree lines and typically sees less crowds compared to summer season.
Although school expedition from surrounding states remain in full force, perhaps pack earplugs? Sam Sears Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist based in San Diego has gone to 36 nations and written over 1000 short articles with a concentrate on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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