train station

December can bring with it a landscape of seasonal greenery and twinkling lights.  And you don’t even have to travel very far to take in the sights!  We’re fortunate to have so many beautiful, drivable destinations right here in the Commonwealth.

To start at the center of the state – or Center of the Universe as it’s often called – Ashland is the place to visit!  It’s a charming train town all year round, but it is especially beautiful during December.  The train station, downtown stores, and century homes are lit up like a mile-long Christmas card!  There are historic walking tours, a vintage movie theater, and plenty of local shopping, delicious food, and craft brews to enjoy.  Check out their “Light Up the Tracks” event calendar!

Or you can head west to Roanoke for its Dickens of a Christmas! There’ll be crafts for children, free family photos, and plenty of entertainment and local shopping.  You won’t be able to miss the Roanoke Star, towering 1,045 feet above the City with its 2,000 feet of neon tubes outlining three stars.  Or, if you want to do a little armchair traveling, check out the livestream StarCam all year round for a birds-eye view of the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you’re more interested in exploring nature, head for Luminary Nights and Carriage Rides at Natural Bridge State Park!  Enjoy an after-dark stroll along the illuminated Cedar Creek Trail, and the Natural Bridge will be lit up to show the crags and clefts of the monolith in festive colors.   The Friends of the Natural Bridge State Park will be serving refreshments, and you can warm up around one of the campfires.

And remember, if you’d like a free one-day parking pass to any Virginia State Park, we still have some to give anyone who makes a donation to Keep Virginia Beautiful in any amount!