More interested in shopping? Small towns can be charming, but not when they are dangerous. Categories Virginia (VA) 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in Virginia: Abingdon, Virginia; Bristol, Virginia; Culpeper, Virginia; Farmville, Virginia; Damascus, Virginia; Gordonsville, Virginia; Lexington, Virginia; Manassas, Virginia; Occoquan, Virginia; Onancock, Virginia; Orange, Virginia; Chincoteague, Virginia; Washington, Virginia; Woodstock, Virginia; Wytheville, Virginia Of course, the same is true for nearly every place in Virginia. The town has an artful flare, with live theater at the restored Roseland Theatre, music, and visual arts. 3,180) Hampden-Sydney (Pop. And it’s no wonder. Roanoke. Even many of the restaurants focus on using locally sourced food for their menus. Centrally located on the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore, Onancock is an inviting small town that was founded in 1680. There are towns and then there are small towns. One of the best ways to enjoy Tazewell is by car or motorcycle along the 32 miles of Route 16 . Considered one of the. From the beautiful corners of Southwest Virginia to the far Eastern Shore, you’ll find some of the most beautiful small towns in Virginia. Great small town life, the only downside is the drug/homeless people problem, but that is only really an issue in the downtown area. Plan a weekend outdoors hiking, biking, or horseback riding. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. Learn more about Fairhope, Alabama. Where to Stay: Since Virginia is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Blue Ridge Mountains, your lodging options can complement the kind of vacation you are planning, from camping in a national forest to staying in one of the luxury resorts in the state. The charming seaside town of Onancock on Virginia's eastern shore is a relaxing getaway and one of the oldest towns in Virginia. Check out this road trip that will take you to 6 of the most scenic small towns in Virginia. There are towns and then there are small towns. The town was historically a bustling port town, with steamboats traveling between Baltimore and Norfolk stopping in the waterfront community for supplies and rest. Plan a visit to Ker Place or the Waterman's Museum to learn about the history of the area. Recognized by CitiesJournal as one of Virginia’s Best Small Towns and surrounded by natural beauty. CT757fan. Coeburn is pleasant to visit even if you do not take in the fantastic outdoor recreation that the area has to offer. When it comes to the best small towns in Virginia, Occoquan certainly fits the bill. The five cities that follow are not necessarily the cheapest cities in Virginia, but are carefully chosen based upon budget-friendly and quality-of-life data points, in order to offer residents the best possible combination of livability and affordability.. 5. One of the best ways to enjoy this coastal town is without a time schedule. Founded in 1732, this lovely little town in the Shenandoah Valley offers historic architecture, culture, and a friendly down-home atmosphere that makes its place in the rankings well-deserved. If you are traveling with children, you may want to plan some time at the Adventure Links at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park with outdoor ropes adventures. Visit former Native American villages, kayak to local wineries, and go sailing. Abingdon, named after Martha Washington’s ancestral home in England, became a town in 1778 and today its historic downtown is home to a thriving arts and culture scene, featuring venues like the historic Barter Theatre, as well as galleries, museums, and markets. Wooden trestle bridge on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Cool Wave WashPlex Is A Roller Coaster-Themed Car Wash In Virginia That Will Make Running Your Errands A Blast, A Remarkable Bridge In Virginia, The James River Bridge Is A Historic Work Of Art, These 25 Towns In Virginia Have The Best Main Streets You Gotta Visit, Here Are The 11 Best Cities In Virginia To Retire, Staunton, Virginia Was Recently Named A Top Mountain Town By Southern Living Magazine, You’ll Want To Spend More Time In This Historic Crabbing Town In Virginia, Greg Vassilakos (Own work) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons. The charming town of Chantilly in Fairfax County is home to just under 24,000 people, all of whom can expect low crime rates, a smorgasbord of local attractions (including the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, the Sully Plantation, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center), great schools, an above-average median household income, and an almost permanent place on any compilation … Founded in 1680 as Port Scarborough, it has been called the Coolest Town in the South by Budget Travel and #1 Small Town in Virginia by CitiesJournal.com. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Casanova, VA. Middleburg in Loudoun County has been listed at the top of Frommer’s Best Small Towns in Virginia. It’s worth mentioning that every small town in Virginia is worth a visit, so while we’ve provided a list of some of the best towns in Virginia, it’s by no means an exhaustive list. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Staunton provides culture a-plenty with sites like the American Shakespeare Center and The Frontier Culture Museum and offers no shortage of sensational specialty shopping, dining, and night life opportunities. Every May, the town hosts the Heart of Virginia Festival, a festival where local businesses like Buffalo Creek Guitars come together with vendors and musicians from around the country to provide arts and crafts, traditional foods, music, and fireworks. The town is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, covered with a network of trails for which more than one-thousand bicycles are rented each year to use. Today, th… Tazewell, located in Southwest Virginia is one of the oldest and most scenic small towns in the region. The town is situated between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Seaford. Named from an Algonquian Indian word meaning "at the end of the water,” the town was founded in 1765 with the construction of grist mills and tobacco warehouses. After all, you know how great you have it. The region offers more than 100 golf courses within 30 miles. Here are five of our favorite affordable places to live in Virginia. Some of the best hiking and biking in the area is along the Rails-to-Trails Guest River Gorge Trail, which follows the river. Americans Have Ranked Five Guys, A Virginia-Based Chain, As One Of The Best Burger Spots In The U.S. You can take a tour to see the ponies in their natural environment and stop in the town to visit the Museum of Chincoteague, which tells more about the area and explains the stories behind these wild horses. How we determined the worst small towns to live in Virginia for 2020 We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. However, many people tend to agree that one of the most scenic towns in the state is Crozet. To add to the historical experience, you can stay at The Martha Washington Inn & Spa, an elegant lodging option in Abingdon dating from 1832 and designated as a Historic Hotel of America. While you can get in some quality beach time during your visit, you will also notice some of the most pristine wetlands along the mid-Atlantic region. When it comes to the most unique towns in Virginia, you’ll want to visit Hot Springs, Sperryville, Culpeper, Tangier, Ashland, Bedford, Bridgestone Gap, Bristol, Damascus, Gordonsville, Kilmarnock, Troutville, and Wytheville. One of the nice places to stay in Lynchburg is in the historic Craddock Terry Hotel, an old shoe factory turned boutique hotel. Need further convincing? Follow our next 8 posts as Virginia’s River Realm showcases each towns unique piece of … Just over 50 percent identify as religious. This was followed by a coveted #8 spot in USA Today and 10 Best’s Readers’ Choice for Best Coastal Small Towns. A unique way to learn more about the region is by visiting Sandy Head Ostrich Farms to see sustainable farming in practice. Lynchburg is also known for its bluegrass and music festivals at local parks. You will find towns with historical significance, and beach communities that embrace a simple coastal lifestyle. Although it only takes up 6 blocks, this town is packed with history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse country anywhere in the nation. The historic downtown offers an array of specialty shops, boutiques, art galleries, antiques, and more, along with a surprisingly large selection of local restaurants and cafes. oldest continuously operating inns in the U.S. Lexington, Virginia and the Rockbridge Area Tourism / Facebook, Town of Onancock via Visit Onancock / Facebook, these charming towns in Virginia where everybody knows your name, 6 of the most scenic small towns in Virginia, 11 of the most beautiful places to see in Virginia, 17 reasons you should never, ever move to Virginia. 1/25 ... 4,607 Rounding out our list of the best small towns in America is the town named in … A Favorite of: U.S. News & World Report . From the architecturally stunning Fruit and Nut District to locally owned shops and restaurants and abundant fresh seafood, Fairhope has everything you could want in a small coastal town. 8 Great Small Towns in Virginia’s River Realm Virginia’s River Realm is home to 8 incredible towns, each with their own unique characteristics. The downtown is charming and artistic. Add in a great cost of living and tons of southern charm and. What are the most unique towns in Virginia? A less aggressive scenic drive is along the Mountain Heritage Loop, which takes you through the Appalachian Mountains and a popular spot called Burke's Garden, where a mountain collapsed leaving a massive bowl shape in the earth. And if you do need to live in a city for work, living in a small town can be problematic. We’d love to hear from you! You will discover some of the oldest antique stores, traditional comfort food, and the warmth of that uncompromising Southern charm in these small towns and villages. Whether you are relocating for college or a career, retiring, or are simply trying to find the best places in West Virginia to live, you are in luck. In town, you can stroll along the Historic District's cobblestone sidewalks. 219) Washington (Pop. Relax and enjoy music in the historic Lays Building downtown, where you are likely to hear the music that celebrates the Appalachian region. With a live theater, award-winning restaurants, local artists, craftsmen, sculptors, actors, dancers, musicians, and glass blowers, there's no shortage of things to see and do. Other popular trails in the area are the High Knob Lake Trail and the Little Stony National Recreation Trail. One of the reasons Norton feels like a small town is because of its humble presence, with family-owned restaurants, serving daily specials, like The Country Cabin, where you can enjoy local live music. Incorporated in 1810 and named for Revolutionary War hero, General Joseph Warren, this town of less than 10,000 in Fauquier County was listed as the 8th highest-income county in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A hiker rests in the grass near Damascus, VA. Damascus might be small but it earned its nickname of "Trail Town USA" for the hiking, biking, and water trails that run through it. If you are considering relocation to the state and but you are not sure where the best places to live in Virginia are, check out our list. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, and bless our hearts, lots of southern charm. But one of the best features of Virginia is the abundance of small towns and communities throughout the state. 1,633) Haymarket (Pop. When it comes to the most unique towns in Virginia, you’ll want to visit Hot Springs, Sperryville, Culpeper, Tangier, Ashland, Bedford, Bridgestone Gap, Bristol, Damascus, Gordonsville, Kilmarnock, Troutville, and Wytheville. 10 Best Places to Live in Virginia for Democrats and Republicans. In fact, it is considered the cabin capital of the state because of the hundreds of cabin rentals available in this natural area. Check out this article that highlights 11 of the most beautiful places to see in Virginia. While Charlottesville got top billing for a town, Middleburg in Loudoun County was listed at the top of Frommer’s Best Small Towns in Virginia. Cities in Virginia: If you want bigger cities to explore in Virginia, you might want to consider the Chesapeake Bay city of Norfolk, the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, or scenic Roanoke. This riverside town may have a population of less than 1,000, but it does not fall short on charm. Historic buildings in Tazewell, Virginia | Doug Kerr / photo modified. Best Towns To Live In Virginia. With a population of just over 8,000, this charming small town is surrounded by natural beauty, including the start (or finish, depending on your direction) of the. And if you’re looking for more of Virginia’s lovely small towns, check out these charming towns in Virginia where everybody knows your name. The 20-square block area is packed with culture and history excursions. One of the best ways to enjoy Tazewell is by car or motorcycle along the 32 miles of Route 16. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land. If you are looking for hotels in Virginia Beach there are plenty, as it is one of the top vacation destinations in the state. With no shortage of museums and historic sites, this charming Virginia town is a truly unique place to live. Visited by Captain John Smith in the early 1600s, he wrote that the land was the “Gem of the Eastern Shore”. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! In fact, in a CNN report, BudgetTravel named Chincoteague as the #2 Coolest Small Town in America. The historic town square may only cover six square blocks, but it is home to over 100 shops and restaurants, making Occoquan a small town with big town convenience. Virginia is for lovers, and everyone loves Virginia. You can take an educational farm tour at Whitehall Farm and Market and buy fresh produce, or you can enjoy the rolling hills in the region at one of several golf courses. Be sure to share your thoughts with us and join in on the conversation by leaving a comment below. You can also plan to paddle your way along the Shenandoah River, or learn fly fishing with one of several guide services in Luray. Although it’s home to two colleges, VMI and W&L, Lexington is much more than “just” a college town. What are your thoughts on our list of the 10 best small towns in Virginia? Pantops (Pop. You might also enjoy stopping into the Virginia Horse Center, where you are likely to catch an equine competition in progress. Nearly two-thirds of Seaford residents are Republican, and about half are pro-life. What makes Virginia such a lovely home state is that there is truly something for everyone here. Its main highway is I-81, which gives you easy access to neighboring cities and Washington, D.C., itself. This is especially true in the Shenandoah Valley, where I-81 and U.S. 11 follow the route of the Colonial-era Valley Pike, thus continuing to string together Winchester, Strasburg, Staunton, and Lexington, all possessed of 18th- and 19th-century brick and stone buildings. Planning Your Trip to Virginia: Visiting some of the small towns in Virginia is just one idea for a great experience. Tazewell, located in Southwest Virginia is one of the oldest and most scenic small towns in the region. Therefore, you can enjoy kayaking, skiing, tubing, fishing, hiking and bi… With its low cost of living, beautiful scenery, and proximity to major metropolitan areas, West Virginia is an excellent place to live. Locals can point you in the right direction when you get here because the route is also called the "Back of the Dragon" for its 300 curves along that stretch of highway. While the word “literally” is often used incorrectly, in this case, Farmville sits just south of the geographic center of the state, meaning that it is “literally” in the heart of Virginia. Its backdrop is the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the entire town is supported by its natural surroundings. Stop into the boutique shops and small dining establishments that make up the community. A must-visit while you are in Norton is the Flag Rock Recreation Area, which has 25 acres of outdoor trails and activities. Add to your Onancock visit by taking a kayak trip through local waters, or plan to take the ferry to Tangier Island and spend a day with a different view. From beach towns to cities to small mountain towns, there's a place for everyone in Virginia. For ideas on the best places to visit, read our list of the best small towns in Virginia. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! It is home to Washington Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute, which make up a large portion of the social and cultural aspects of the town. Staunton is no stranger to praise. In Casanova, Virginia, residents can enjoy perks of living in this small town, such as access to plenty of home health care providers and an average life expectancy that is even higher than the country's average. Emporia has the 11th highest crime rate in Virginia. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, this quiet little haven offers charm and history in abundance. Known as the crossroads of Virginia, Wytheville is home to a regionally known dinner theatre , wineries, scenic drives, a butterfly house , historic B&Bs, museums, and First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson , wife of President Woodrow Wilson. Wyoming: Jackson. You often see the same people every day (so if you dislike them, tough luck). 1,600) Ravensworth (Pop. As is the trend with the small towns on this list, Mineral Point's art scene is a pretty nifty reason to visit as well. 3. You will notice pedestrian bridges, brick sidewalks to local restaurants, and antique lamp fixtures along the streets. Readers voted this Alabama treasure on Mobile Bay one of the South’s best small towns in 2019, and it’s still a favorite. Virginia has so many remarkable small towns that singling out one as the most scenic is a bit of a challenge and largely depends on whether or not you’re more partial to farmland, mountains, or the coast. The list of top 12 best small towns for preppers to live in given below is simply intended as a guideline to get you thinking about the areas and towns you may want to consider. We may earn a commission from affiliate links (). If you are up for a cabin getaway as you explore small towns in Virginia then Luray in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley should be on your list. The small town of Abingdon in Western Virginia is great for an outdoor or historic getaway. Visit the restored 1870 railroad station, which is now The Arts Depot, and the Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum, which showcases early 19th-century life. Categories Virginia (VA) 15 Best Places to Live in Virginia: Arlington; Falls Church; Virginia Beach; Chantilly; Williamsburg; Vienna; Lorton; Leesburg; Richmond; Bon Air; Poquoson; Tyson’s Corner; Herndon; Charlottesville; Centreville 1,826) Laymantown (Pop. 140) Settled in: Early 1880s. Be sure to stop for an ice-cream cone at the Island Creamery, which has national recognition for its frozen treats. Learn more about the, Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon has been listed as #5 on CitiesJournal’s Top 14 Small Towns in Virginia, #5 on Frommer’s Top Small Towns and Villages in Virginia and one of USA Today’s Best Southern Small Towns in the U.S. nominees. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. And like most of the best places to retire in Virginia, Vienna provides several opportunities to bask in nature and stay active. You can also plan time into your visit to go to the nearby Mount Roger National Recreation Area, which has the highest peak in Virginia. It is Virginia's smallest city, so it is a nice place to visit if you are looking for a little of both. While so many regions in Virginia cater to the outdoor experience, outdoor enthusiasts should put Damascus high on the list to visit. Located at the intersection of Interstates 77 and 81, WYTHEVILLE provides the best in small town living and natural beauty. Getting outdoors in Lexington can take you to the Laurel Run Trail for hiking, Devil's Marbleyard for boulder-climbing, and Goshen Pass for biking. Plus, small towns, are, well, small. Some of the best hiking and biking trails in Damascus are the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is one of the top biking trails in the United States. The city’s downtown area also provides easy access to … Sport fishing is one of the top reasons that people visit Wachapreague, and you can book a charter and head to the Atlantic waters for marlin or tuna. Thank you! You can catch the trailhead of the Virginia Creeper Trail in the middle of town, which is a Rails-to-Trails route extending for 34 miles. All across America, small towns have become art havens, fine dining meccas, and top travel destinations. One of the closest lodging options to outdoor activities is the Wachapreague Inn, which offers daily and weekly rentals. In fact, when you visit Crozet, you won’t be far from the countless hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park. The Victorian-era town is eco-friendly, and you can take kayak tours through the local waters or plan an ecotour. Love Virginia? This town has all the spirit of an old-west town, but its heart is German, making it the place to be for good beer, good wine and some amazing German food. If you love the outdoors, you will enjoy visiting Damascus in May during the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, when upwards of 30 thousand hikers fill area trails. For the time being, here are a few of the most charming towns in Virginia that have garnered national and statewide praise for their community, beauty, and all-around livability. Whether you’re a history buff, art collector, wine enthusiast, beer aficionado, hiking lover, ghost hunter, bargain shopper, or anything in between, you’ll find that Virginia has exactly what you’re looking for. Discover the 25 best small towns to live in. Also a haven for horse enthusiasts, the Warrenton Hunt began in 1883, the Warrenton Horse Show in 1900, and The Virginia Gold Cup Race in 1922. When it comes to recognition, few things could be nicer than to be named one of “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns.” But that’s exactly what Coastal Living called Smithfield in 2015. More than 175 colleges and universities are in the Commonwealth. Population: 10,532. 3,688) Belmont Estates (Pop. Your cabin getaway lets you plan day trips to visit the Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, and Luray Caverns. Spend some time at the beach, and when you need a break from the sun visit the Assateague Lighthouse on the adjacent Assateague Island for the best views of the area. There is a walking, hiking, and biking trail that follows the James River and is a popular way to enjoy the area. With its impressive variety of landscapes, countless activities, adventures to be had, food to be eaten, and memories to be made, Virginia is without a doubt one of the best places to live.