Virginia

Virginia calls itself the birthplace of a nation, and the claim holds up: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown all sit within a short drive of each other along the same peninsula.

Richmond, the capital, mixes Civil War history with a growing food and brewery scene along the James River. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs the length of the state's mountains with overlooks every few miles. Virginia Beach, on the coast, adds a straightforward beach town to the mix.

Colonial Williamsburg still runs as a living history museum, staffed by interpreters in period dress.