12 Picture-Perfect Towns in Virginia
Virginia, a center of American politics and culture since before the US Revolution, has a great deal to attract domestic and foreign visitors. Its postcard-worthy towns make for great destinations, whether on their own or several done on the same trip. The state's waterfalls, mountain trails, cultural hubs, and green spaces make it one of the most beautiful in the United States, according to many Virginia residents as well as outside visitors. Whatever a tourist's tastes, the beauty of Virginia awaits them in towns like these.
Damascus
Damascus, at just 800 residents, is called the "Friendliest Town on the Trail" — a reference to its place along the multi-state Appalachian Trail, a hiking route along the US east coast. This Damascus should not be confused with the same-named town in neighboring Maryland. The town sits on Virginia's southern border with North Carolina, and boasts another nickname, "Trail Town USA," for its status as the juncture of no fewer than four hiking routes. The Appalachian Trail, US Bicycle Route 76, the Iron Mountain Trail, and the Virginia Creeper Trail all converge here. For a well-earned bite to eat in town, try the Damascus Diner or Mojo's Trailside Cafe.
Damascus likewise lies along the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, named after the iconic American Pioneer, as well as the Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail, which honors the area's folk and roots music styles.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg, population 15,900, is for many Virginians the symbolic center of the state's dynamic histories. Sitting on the Virginia Peninsula not far from the Chesapeake Bay, the town gives visitors a vivid look at life in past centuries. The Colonial Williamsburg complex, a restored historic district, offers a "living history museum," with walking tours with guides in colonial costume and many other displays of Virginia's time before the US Revolution.
Williamsburg is also a historic site in American education. The College of William and Mary has operated there since 1693 — generations prior to American independence. It was America's second university, after Harvard and before Yale. Its alumni include four US presidents and dozens of politicians, celebrities, and other prominent Americans.
Abingdon
Abingdon, with 8,300 souls, sits in Viriginia's southwestern mountains between Tennessee and Kentucky. The town has been celebrated for its award-winning restaurants and historic district, parts of which date to the revolutionary period of the late 1700s. The Barter Theatre, built in 1933, is Virginia's official state theater, has been known to employ upstart actors who later find fame, such as Hollywood icon Gregory Peck.
For fun in town, be sure to walk the quaint Courthose Hill district, known for its coffee shops and clothing stores. Abingdon's commerce emphasizes farm-to-table freshness from the surrounding Virginia countryside.
Culpeper
Culpeper, a place of 20,800 residents, blends a small-town feel while staying close to the Washington, DC, national capital area. Tucked between Charlottesville and Washington, the town, in the northern part of the state, owes its original layout to a native Virginian and first US president, George Washington.
Culpeper boasts nearly 30 entries on the National Register of Historic Places. Given its proximity to Washington, its station on the Amtrak train line makes it an easy ride from the larger city. For local-history fans, or those who are simply short on time, the town's museum operates inside the train station.
Manassas
Manassas, southwest of Washington and with 42,600 people, has a name synonymous with some of the bloodiest moments of the US Civil War. In 1861 and again in 1862, the town became the flashpoint of conflict, and both battles resulted in Confederate victories. Today, the Manassas Museum offers exhibits on the Civil War and local northern Virginia history.
For some more peaceful culture, the Hylton Performing Arts Center stages classic music and dramatic performances of all kinds. The Ben Lomond Historic Site, a former plantation, is a Federal-style house, now with reconstructed quarters from when the home kept enslaved peoples. The estate also features a walkable rose garden.
Luray
Luray, population 4,800, is found in Virginia’s famously scenic Shenandoah Valley. Sitting close to the border with West Virginia, Luray is a natural choice for natural interests: Luray Caverns, a popular site among Virginia schoolchildren, uncovers the natural processes of the site's underground caves, makes a great day out for inquiring minds of all ages.
For history buffs, the Luray Valley Museum offers rebuilt 19th-century buildings. The town's Car and Carriage Caravan Museum exhibits vintage rides from various points of automotive and horse-drawn transportation history. Southeast of town, Lake Arrowhead Park offers a nature trail and a lakeside beach for sun and fresh air. The town is likewise near the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park.
Middleburg
With just 700 inhabitants, the town of Middleburg is not a village in decline — it is one of Virginia's most fashionable addresses. West of Washington, DC, with high home values amid Virginia's wine country, the upscale town may be expensive to live in, but a far more afforable place to visit. The town calls itself the US "horse and hunt capital," as shown by its foxhunting, steeplechase, and other equestrian traditions.
The town's historic district holds appeal for all travelers, and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Red Fox Inn and Tavern will mark 300 years of operation in 2028. For some great reading and a deep dive into Middleburg history, seek out the National Sporting Library, a research center for horse-related pastimes. The library is expanding, and has an art gallery and museum under construction.
Chincoteague
Chincoteague, population 3,300, provides a quaint option for a day trip or longer to Virginia's Atlantic sea coast. Situated among the barrier islands of the Delmarva Peninsula, the town is a timeless example of the bygone water-based lifestyles of fishing and aquaculture around the Chesapeake Bay — one of the world's largest estuaries. For more history, head to the Museum of Chincoteague Island, or Beebe Ranch, a horse farm and museum.
The site is also famous for its local species of wild horses, called the Chincoteague pony. According to local stories, these animals are the descendants of Spanish ponies that were shipwrecked, and survived by adapting to the local coastal environment. Chincoteague has developed a strong tourism-based economy, and quaint bed-and-breakfasts, among other visitor comforts, dot the town and surrounding region.
Charlottesville
Charlottesville, with 45,400 residents, is well-known at the home of the University of Virginia — and a certain Thomas Jefferson, the founding father and third US president, who established the school. Today, Charlottesville blends an academic atmosphere with culture and history in abundance. Art fans should prioritize the expansive University of Virginia Art Museum.
Like in Culpeper, the Amtrak rail service stops here. Fresh-air lovers will treasure the town's position along the Rivanna River in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For a nod to the state's path from slavery to equality, visit the town's Emancipation Park, recently renamed from its original title, Lee Park, which honored the Confederate war leader, Robert E. Lee.
Leesburg
Leesburg, population 49,000, sits to the west of Washington, DC, and is known locally as a place filled with classic Virginia charm. Seated along the Potomac River, a mere 45-minute drive from the nation's capital, the town features a postcard-pretty downtown and landmarks such as the Dodona Manor, home of the celebrated World War II general and peacemaker George C. Marshall.
The nearby Morven Park, an estate with a massive home that resembles the White House, has hosted state governors and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site hosts a number of equestrian competitions each year. For a touch of the outdoors, the Rust Manor House and Nature Sanctuary sits west of downtown.
Blacksburg
Blacksburg, at 45,600 strong, sits in the Blue Ridge Highlands of Virginia's southwest. Most know the town as the home of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — Virginia Tech, for short. Blacksburg is a nature lover's dream, with quick access to Jefferson National Forest, as well as nearby McAfee Knob, a made-for-Instagram spot whose cliffs and vistas are thought to be the most photographed point on the Appalachian Trail.
For some local history and culture, the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation provides high-quality exhibits, children's programs, and a seasonal events calendar. Market Square Park has hosted a farmers market, with varieties of local produce, since 2009.
Staunton
Calling all Shakespeare fans: Staunton, population 25,900, is a Shenandoah Valley town that can boast of a rich history and numerous points of cultural interest. The town's crown jewel is the Blackfriars Playhouse, a replica of Shakespeare's original indoor theater in London. Blackfriars is operated by the American Shakespeare Center, which offers a one-of-a-kind joint degree program in dramatic arts at the nearby Mary Baldwin College.
Travelers can take in Shakespearean plays in a setting that evokes 17th-century England. Staunton’s downtown has attractions of its own, with bookstores, art galleries, and farm-to-table restaurants such as a local favorite called, ironically, The Shack. Staunton's numerous parks include the Betsy Bell and Mary Gray Wilderness Parks, a mountaintop expanse with an observation deck that puts the Shenandoah in full perspective.
Virginia's picture-perfect towns are worth a thousand words
Virginia's photogenic towns show a side of the state that has earned praise from generations of in-state residents and out-of-state tourists. Great Falls features the rushing Potomac River, while Damascus showcases why four trails are just enough to display the local natural beauty. Culture connoisseurs will find their bliss from Williamsburg to Charlottesville to Staunton. From the Appalachian mountains to the Atlantic sea coast, Virginia's beauty is both diverse and impressive. The state draws new and old visitors every year, whether for a first time or for much-repeated visits to the state's prettiest towns.
