If you thought it was only airports drawing a crowd, think again! One surprising U.S. state saw nearly 1.5 million train passengers for the fiscal year — a new record largely driven by a pair of unsuspecting cities.

At Travel Off Path, we always have our eyes peeled for the latest trends, deals, and breaking news. Well, not literally — we blink like anyone else.

The point is, even our team of travel experts was shocked that travelers are opting to hit the rails over road trips, especially for a place notorious for stunning mountain roadways and seeing record air traffic too.

But, that’s the case for Virginia.

Amtrak Virginia is the hottest train ticket right now, even as America’s most popular rail operator launches their most exciting new route in years along the Gulf Coast.

Sure, Washington D.C., plays a key role in Virginia’s newfound success, but don’t sleep on the “Old Dominion’s” underrated getaways, ranging from mountain hideaways to bayside retreats.

Newport News: Not Your Morning Paper

Does anybody read newspapers anymore?

If they did, Newport News sounds like a publication covering all the latest happenings across the Chesapeake Bay, but it’s in fact the name of a rather sizable city of nearly 200,000 people.

It may have an odd name, but it’s arguably this side of Virginia’s top hidden gem as it’s teeming with historical attractions like the Virginia War Museum, practically unknown beaches since popular Virginia Beach is nearby, and a hefty amount of natural beauty to enjoy, such as Newport News Park, offering over 7,000 acres for hiking, biking, camping, and paddle-boating.

It seems most travelers traversing Virginia may not know Newport News, but it’s one of the state’s best family-friendly cities.

Visit the Abbitt Planetarium, the Peninsula SPCA & Barnyard (essentially a petting zoo), and most notably the open-air Virginia Living Museum, offering a mix of everything — a zoo, botanical garden, ‘Dinosaur Discovery Trail’, and aforementioned planetarium, reasonably priced at $21.95 for admission.

Nearly 400,000 people have hopped aboard Amtrak Virginia to visit Newport News, cueing up the question if it’s Virginia’s next hotspot since the next city we’ll discuss currently holds the crown…

Norfolk: Virginia’s Trending Summer Destination

With roughly half a million passengers traveling to Norfolk by air in June alone, plus a separate 542,743 Amtrak riders visiting over the past year, Norfolk is unquestionably Virginia’s trendiest summer destination.

Perhaps some visitors have crossed streams, but it’s safe to say Norfolk is welcoming millions this year.

This underrated Chesapeake city is all the rage right now, offering calm beaches, a buzzing waterfront, and a booming arts and culinary scene.

New flights have certainly helped give Norfolk a boost, but it’s also an easy springboard to Virginia’s most well-known destination nearby, Virginia Beach.

While Amtrak Virginia does not offer a direct route, pass-through service is offered by connecting buses.

If you plan to visit Virginia Beach in the coming months, there’s a laundry list of awesome events set for fall:

• Neptune Festival (Sep 26 – 28)
• MOCA Boardwalk Art Show (Oct 10 -12)
• Mural Festival (Oct 3 -12)
• Harvest Fair (Sep 27 – Nov 2)

Plus, Virginia Beach still offers dolphin watching tours past summer, often with fewer crowds — just bring a jacket!

Skewed Numbers? Amtrak Virginia Is Top Gateway To The Capitol

Given the iconic status of DC and the unexplored appeal of much of Virginia, it would be a stretch to say some of Amtrak Virginia’s record numbers don’t cross the state line.

Virginia is home to many government offices and military installations, making it easy and, some would say, necessary at times to visit DC not just for tourism, but job-related matters.

Travelers can reach DC directly from Norfolk, and there are plans being discussed to shorten travel times and increase frequency (though no timetables were provided).

Whether for business or pleasure, visiting the nation’s capital is a true joy during the fall as some of America’s most beautiful architectural marvels are lined with rows of rustic tree lines and often sees fewer crowds compared to summer.

Although school field trips from neighboring states are in full force, maybe pack earplugs?

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Some of the most beautiful white sand beaches I have ever seen are in Tulum.  

So it’s no wonder that the airport making Tulum even more accessible to global travelers has been a huge success.  

According to new figures released as Tulum International Airport celebrated its first birthday, the airport has already welcomed 1.1 million passengers.  

That’s exceeded expectations (by more than 30%), and Tulum International Airport has become the second busiest airport in the state.  

So why is Tulum so popular?  

Tulum’s Stunning Beaches  

People visit Tulum not just because its airport is convenient; it is also known for its incredible beaches.

When you picture a typical beach in paradise, these are the beaches that come to mind.

I’m a real beach bum, and these are some of the best I’ve seen.  

Although popular (code for crowded), you really shouldn’t miss Playa Paraíso. This is a wide stretch of white sand fringed with warm and shallow turquoise waters.

It was one of our favorite beaches for swimming.  

The beach clubs here looked luxurious and elegant, but as this is a public beach, we didn’t use these, preferring to go it alone (and save a few bucks in the process).  

Perhaps the most famous beach in Tulum is Playa Ruinas, which sits underneath the famous archeological ruins. It’s an amazing beach and an iconic photo spot.  

We looked at this beach from above but didn’t head down to explore the shoreline.

When we visited (in May), the staircase from the ruins to the beach was closed for safety reasons. 

The ruins here are fascinating, although very different from Chichen Itza.

This coastal city’s location means the buildings sit much closer to the ground.

If you want relaxation and calm with fewer visitors, then try Playa Las Palmas.

You won’t find any showy facilities here, but the beach is free to access and the perfect place to lay a towel and read a book while the kids build sandcastles.  

Worth Travelling For

Finally, although it’s slightly further away (around 30 minutes), we loved the beach at Playa Akumal so it deserves a mention

A stunning beach in its own right, this beach is home to a sea turtle nesting ground.

You can only swim with the turtles here if you have a guide and we hired an amazing guide with the Akumal Dive Shop. Their packages start from MXN$750 ($37) per person.  

We opted for the private tour option (which I would recommend because then you aren’t limited by the swimming speed of the slowest swimmer in a larger group) and were amazed by the number and variety of turtles and other ocean life we saw.  

It’s worth noting that there is a fee to access Akumal Beach to cover the cost of conservation in the area. This is MXN$100 ($5) per person and includes access to the showers, lockers, and restrooms.  

Swim In Icy Cold Cenotes  

As beautiful as the beaches are (and the really are) if you’re a water baby like me and you love to swim then you have to experience Tulum’s cenotes.  

Their icy cold water was refreshing break from the heat and the ethereal, otherworldly surroundings only added to the magic.

The heat of Mexico was overwhelming for my British kids (who wear raincoats more than T-shirts), so the cenotes were the perfect tonic for all of us.  

Some of the best in the area include the Gran Cenote, the Cenote Dos Ojos, and the Cenote Carwash.  

The best-known attraction in the area is the Gran Cenote, which can get very busy. Arrive early to beat the crowds, and you can enjoy floating in the blue waters before the tourist coaches arrive.

But even when it’s crowded, that doesn’t detract from the fun.  

There are turtles living in this cenote, and if you’re lucky you might spot one!

Less exciting were the bats that live on the roof of the cave. It’s worth noting that wearing lifejackets is compulsory here, but you can hire these on site. Entry costs MXN$500 ($25) per person.  

We loved the semi-open cenote carwash (named after a carwash that was once located nearby). The official name of this cenote is Aktun-Ha.

The water here is pristine, and during the summer months, algae turns it a vivid green.  

There’s a swing rope to jump into the pool, which is a lot of fun! This is also a great spot for snorkeling. Entry costs MXN£200 ($9.86) per person.  

Further afield but still worth mentioning was the Cenote Hikbuku, which we visited on our way from Tulum to the archeological ruins at Coba.

Core memories were made in this underground cenote as we took turns to take the ‘leap of death’ from the high wall into the icy cold water below.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.