Here, a tired Robert E. Lee tied his famed horse, Traveller, to an ancient locust tree, which is still standing on the property, and worshipped during the heat of the Civil War in 1863-64. In the heart of Virginia's Civil War battlefields is the Exchange Hotel and Civil War Museum, nine miles from Orange in Gordonsville. Once an inn on the Virginia Central Railroad, it was converted to a hospital during the Civil War. You can view uniforms, operating rooms and the tools of a bloody war. WHEN YOU GO The ideal time to visit Virginia is from mid-April when wild flowers are ablaze, through October, when the dazzling fall foliage colorama is topped with fall festivals.
Summers are hot and humid.
When school is in session, it seems as if you have the state to yourself. Virginia's road-signing is not ideal. Often signs are placed too near the turn-off. Drive with a designated navigator and a detailed Virginia map.