From its Washington, DC suburbs, Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, to its lush horse country, farmlands, beaches, and mountains, Virginia is the cradle of our nation with the settlement of Jamestown in 1607, now Jamestown Festival Park, historic Williamsburg, and Yorktown, steeped in the Revolutionary War history. In addition to its historical roots with its elegant plantations and battlegrounds from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Virginia is a water wonderland with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay and its rivers including the James, York, and Potomac where George Washington lived at Mount Vernon. Virginia offers the traveler many different terrains from its Eastern Shore accessible by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. While on the Eastern Shore, visitors can tour the wind-ward islands and see the wild ponies at Chincoteague. Before venturing to the Piedmont and Appalachian regions, tourists must visit Virginia Beach with its boardwalk, offering resort enthusiasts complete beach, water-sport, and night-time activities, as well as its famous summer art festival. Travelers seeking unique cultural and historic experiences can visit Newport News and its Mariners' Museum and Charlottesville with the nearby University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello. Along with golfing, bicycling, and horseback riding, adventurers can hike the Appalachian Trail, enjoy the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, or watch NASCAR races near Roanoke. The climate in Virginia is mild and perfect for year-round visits to all its major towns, including its capital Richmond.