8 Towns in Virginia that Are Ideal for Seniors
"Virginia is for lovers," claims the state's official travel motto. That is not only a clever slogan to help draw out-of-state tourists but a celebration of the real attributes and rare opportunities that Virginia holds for its senior and not-yet-senior residents. The state's official boundaries gather the best of the Atlantic seaside, the mountains, and the proximity to major cities like Washington, DC — the nation's capital and a friendly rival to the state known colloquially as the "Old Dominion." Virginia's healthcare choices make the state a very compelling choice for seniors who may want or need diverse types of specialty health support. With so much to appreciate between the Virginia mountains and the sea, Virginia has long been making lovers of its retirees, too.
Abingdon
Abingdon, population 8,300, is a mountain town in Viriginia's southwesternmost corner between Tennessee and Kentucky. The town has been celebrated for its award-winning food scene, a sure delight for seniors who enjoy meals out on the town. Those who like a touch of history will find it in Abingdon's historic district, parts of which date to the Independence period of the late 1700s. The Barter Theatre may be more appropriate for seniors who lack full mobility, and the playhouse is another reason for local pride: Barter, built in 1933, is Virginia's official state theater. Seniors may recall the Hollywood film icon Gregory Peck, who graced Barter's stage in 1946 before becoming a major cinema star. Though Abingdon is small, its five senior care sites offer a wealth of coverage for seniors with particular health needs.
Chincoteague
Chincoteague, with 3,300 residents, offers a quieter retirement for lovers of the open sea. The town, located among the barrier islands of the Delmarva Peninsula, typifies the waterside lifestyle around the Chesapeake Bay. The site is also famous for its local wild horse breed, the Chincoteague pony, which (according to legend) descended from shipwrecked Spanish ponies and adapted to the local environment. If the romance of horses and the seaside is not enough, the town sustains a robust tourism economy, with many retirees choosing to open bed and breakfasts in the area. While Chincoteague is too petite to keep up a retirement community of its own, the nearby town of Salisbury, Maryland, and surrounding towns, offer more than two-dozen senior care and living options.
Charlottesville
Charlottesville, with 45,400 inhabitants, is famous at the home of the University of Virginia — and the home of Thomas Jefferson, the founding father who established the school. Jefferson's vision was to create an "academic village," as he called it, and today, Charlottesville combines a studious atmosphere with history and culture galore. Visiting friends and family can make the drive from Washington, DC, or other cities in the region; the Amtrak rail service also stops in town. Given Charlottesville's charms, it should be no surprise that the town boasts eighteen senior care sites — half of them at low cost, according to the website Senior Housing Net. Active seniors and fresh-air lovers will treasure the town's position along the Rivanna River in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Luray
Luray, population 4,800, lies in Virginia’s utterly beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The town lies near the West Virginia border, between the larger towns of Front Royal and Harrisonburg. A great place to seek out natural splendor, the town is close to the George Washington National Forest as well as Shenandoah National Park. Luray Caverns, a popular site among Virginia schoolchildren for its underground wonders, is a great place to take younger grandkids. Though the town is modest in size, it offers four senior-focused care sites, including Whispering Pines Assisted Living, which offers the full spectrum of service, including intensive-care and Alzheimer's specializations.
Culpeper
Culpeper, with 20,800 inhabitants, blends a small-town feel with proximity to the much larger cities of Alexandria and Washington, DC. Tucked between Charlottesville and Washington, the town owes its original layout to a teenage surveyor whose name would mark American history: George Washington. The town generates frequent buzz among travelers as the "prettiest town in Virginia," and who would not like to retire in a town with a reputation like that? More recent local history includes the Battle of Cedar Mountain, a Civil War battle from 1862, located not from town and within Culpeper County. The town offers a half-dozen senior care locations, and most are marked as affordable for low-income budgets, per Senior Housing Net.
Leesburg
Leesburg, with 49,000 residents, lies west of Washington, DC, and is synonymous with old-style Virginia charm. It sits inside the fast-growing Loudoun County. Given its pedigree, home and service prices are often high, which budget-minded seniors should consider as they scout the town and beautiful surrounding area. Seated along the Potomac River, a mere 45-minute drive from the capital, the town also features a vibrant downtown with landmarks such as the Dodona Manor, home of the celebrated World War II general and peacemaker George C. Marshall. Marshall was the architect of the famous Marshall Plan that revived the economies of postwar Europe — for which he won a Nobel Prize in 1953. With seven senior facilities in town, including specialty and Alzheimer's care available, Leesburg will top the lists of many planning out their silver years.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg, population 15,900, is for many Virginians, symbolic of the state's dramatic colonial and revolutionary pasts. The town, anchored on the Virginia Peninsula near the Chesapeake Bay, offers a unique view of life centuries ago. The Colonial Williamsburg complex, a meticulously restored historic area, features walking tours, guides in period dress, and demonstrations of colonial craft-making such as dipping candles and blowing glass. The town is also a classic Virginia college town: William and Mary, founded long before independence in 1693, now has 6,800 students and is the proud alma mater of famous graduates like television personality John Stewart. Williamsburg has fourteen senior care sites, and seven more in the area, giving the town a strong capacity to provide any and all necessary care as seniors grow older.
Blacksburg
Blacksburg, with 45,600 people, sits up in the Blue Ridge Highlands of southwest Virginia, in the same part of the state as Abingdon. The town is famous as the home of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — better known as Virginia Tech. For able seniors who love the outdoors, the town provides easy access to the picturesque trails of Jefferson National Forest, especially as the area's leaves change colors each autumn. In addition, nearby McAfee Knob is called the most photographed point along the Appalachian Trail, a great outing for visiting friends or family. Blacksburg's care sites include several at the affordable-care level, while one site, English Meadows Blacksburg, offers a full complement of senior-focused services.
Conclusion: Virginia, a state seniors will find easy to love
Virginia's long list of offerings should make the state a clear choice for seniors who have recently retired or will soon. For some seniors, it may become the only choice. The state's access to major cities and roadways, not to mention travel connections through Amtrak and otherwise, provide a mix of options for retirees who still travel or who want their loved ones to come to them for visits and holidays. Suburban Leesburg offers a balance of city-style living and pastoral countryside, while college towns like Charlottesville and Blacksburg make seniors feel young at heart. The Appalachian and Shenandoah mountains and the coastal draws of Chincoteague and Williamsburg offer something extra to retirees who want to smell salt in the air every day. Whatever a senior may want, it is there for discovery in the state of Virginia.
