Natural Bridge State Park Featured on 2021 Virginia Travel Guide Cover

NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (March 9, 2021) – The Virginia Tourism Corporation announced today that Natural Bridge State Park will be featured on the cover of the 2021 Virginia Travel Guide. The guide, published annually, is produced by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and Roanoke-based Leisure Media 360, and is available for free on virginia.org and at Virginia Welcome Centers around the state.

The 2021 Virginia Travel Guide features a curated collection of personal recommendations and heartfelt narratives from talented writers, local enthusiasts and passionate travelers. Readers will get the insider’s perspective on the best ways to experience Virginia safely – from lesser-known road trips and dining destinations, to sustainable travel tips, and even a personal exploration of Virginia’s complex history.

Natural Bridge State Park will be one of three different covers for this year’s Travel Guide.

When traveling through Rockbridge County, visitors often seek its iconic namesake: Natural Bridge. The 215-foot tall limestone arch is the centerpiece of Natural Bridge State Park, a 2016 addition to the Virginia State Parks collection. It is a National Historic Landmark and its history includes that of Native American Monacan tribes as well as ownership by Thomas Jefferson.

Visiting Natural Bridge State Park includes a walk along Cedar Creek, passing beneath the bridge to discover places like Salt Peter Cave, the Lost River, and the 30-foot cascade of Lace Falls. It also includes fishing, picnicking, dark night skies for star gazing, and a new Children’s Discovery Area where kids can explore the outdoors within the Nature Explore Outdoor Play Area and the 0.6-mile Kids in Parks Track Trail.

“It is very exciting to see our iconic Natural Bridge State Park grace the cover of the 2021 Virginia Travel Guide,” said Rockbridge Regional Tourism Marketing Director Patty Williams. “Since the late 1700s visitors from all over the world have sought out our most well-known landmark. Natural Bridge is truly a place you must visit in person, enjoying its beauty as the seasons change. Pictures can’t express the awe-inspiring breadth of its presence—its massive arch soaring above your head, how sounds echo through the archway, or the way the sun illuminates the limestone cliff walls. If the Natural Bridge isn’t on your Shenandoah Valley Bucket List, it should be!”

“We are thrilled and delighted to feature these destinations as the covers of this year’s Virginia Travel Guide,” said Virginia Tourism President and CEO Rita McClenny. “Showcasing everything Virginia has to offer with personal insights and breathtaking photography, this guide will highlight for travelers just how special the Commonwealth is as a destination and attraction.”

Please visit virginia.org/travelguide to request a free copy of the 2021 Virginia Travel Guide.

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About Natural Bridge State Park
The Natural Bridge was privately owned from 1774 when Thomas Jefferson purchased it until it entered the Virginia State Parks system in 2016. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, and has been a tourist attraction for more than two hundred years. Natural Bridge State Park is open daily except for Christmas Day. To learn more, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-bridge.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation
Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. In 2019, visitors to Virginia spent $27 billion, which supported 237,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more, visit virginia.org.