8 Virginia Towns With A Slower Pace Of Life
Everyone needs to slow down and take in the sublimity and loveliness that life offers. Fortunately for many, you can relax and rejuvenate when visiting some of the many Virginia towns with a slower pace of life. In destinations like Farmville and Fredericksburg, which earned their freedom and independence during both the American Civil War and American Revolutionary War, visitors will be smitten by the serene quietude and lively culture and attractions worthwhile of these small Virginia towns. More importantly, you can get away from much of the hustle and bustle of everyday living when vacationing in carefree and comfortable retreats like Chincoteague and Smithfield. Everyone needs to unwind from time to time, and these Virginia towns are the perfect places for you to simply relax and be tranquil amidst the beauty and wonder of Virginia.
Chincoteague
Lounging on the charming and lackadaisical island of Chincoteague, which neighbors the wild and windswept Assateague Island, newcomers will be smitten by the quaint town that shares its name. Known for its proximity to Wallops Island, Chincoteague is home to a NASA launch site that regularly sends cargo to the International Space Station.
Additionally, the town and the island are famous for their thriving oyster trade, where visitors can find a surprising mix of attractions to savor the delicious delicacies and seafood cuisines. While you cannot hop on a wild pony for a ride through the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge without proper authorization, watching these small, spirited horses roam freely is a delight in itself.
Meanwhile, those with a desire to delve deep into the past can do so when visiting both the Assateague Lighthouse and the Museum of Chincoteague Island, both offering deep insights into the region’s heritage. To soak in more of Chincoteague’s seaside wonders, consider staying at one of the area’s inviting accommodations, such as the Anchor Inn, Marina Bay Hotel & Suites, or The Reef.
Smithfield
Set along the tranquil Pagan River and located roughly 28 miles from both Norfolk and Chesapeake, the splendid small town of Smithfield assures newcomers with its peaceful atmosphere and its amicable attractions. Visitors to this laidback and easygoing town can step back into the past when touring the 18th- and 19th-century edifices and landmarks within the beautifully maintained Windsor Castle Park. At the Isle of Wight County Museum, meanwhile, several exhibits and artifacts explore the town’s roots and even spotlight the world’s oldest ham, which has been on display since 1902.
Also worth a visit is Saint Luke’s Historic Church, the oldest brick church still standing in the state of Virginia. As you explore the town, newcomers to Smithfield should keep an eye out for the impressive bronze sculptures of renowned artist George Lundeen scattered throughout different areas in town. Additionally, you should be mindful of several historic markers near the river that recount key American Civil War skirmishes. When it is time to rest, you will find plenty of welcoming accommodations at lodgings like the Smithfield Inn or the Mansion at Main.
Lexington
When settlers from Scotland, Ireland, and Germany journeyed to Virginia in search of a new beginning, they founded the small town of Lexington as their foothold in the New World, far away from Europe. Stretching from the scenic Shenandoah Valley to the flowing Maury River, this land and the town on it were once homes to the Saponis, Monacans, and Tutelos, the Indigenous peoples whose artifacts and cultural traces can still be found throughout the region. For a truly grand arrival into Lexington, you should not miss the awe-inspiring Natural Bridge, a towering 215-foot limestone arch that serves as a natural and pleasant gateway into the town.
Those with a passion for the past can consider visiting the McCormick Farm, where a prototype of the original mechanical reaper is on display. Other destinations, such as the Miller’s House Museum, Sam Houston Wayside, and Goshen Pass Wayside, also provide a wealth of insights into the area’s notable figures and historical epochs. Finally, if ever you need a good night’s rest in this breezy and easy town, you can find plenty of accommodations at either the Abigail Inn, The Georges, or Grace House.
Staunton
Roughly 36 miles from Lexington, the carefree and caring town of Staunton promises visitors a variety of relaxed and enjoyable experiences. On the historic Virginia Scenic Railway, travelers can roll through the arboreal and bucolic landscapes of Virginia aboard a historic locomotive of their choosing. Adventurers who prefer walking on foot, on the other hand, can experience a slower pace of life when venturing along the many scenic trails and treks crisscrossing the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley around Staunton.
Newcomers coming from Philadelphia or along the Great Road should consider taking the Heritage Migration Route for a more picturesque journey. Upon arriving at Staunton, you can learn more about the town’s early beginnings at the Frontier Culture Museum, which also serves as a hub for cultural performances and community events. You can even learn about President Woodrow Wilson at his Presidential Library & Museum if you are curious. For overnight stays, you will find many comforts and conveniences at quaint abodes like the Avid Hotel Staunton, Howard Johnson Express Inn, or The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center.
Farmville
Farmville exudes the easygoing and lackadaisical charm many adore from a quaint Virginia town where life moves at a slower pace. However, despite its simplistic and slow-paced atmosphere, there is an undeniable sense of excitement when you go sightseeing all over Farmville’s rural and rich landscapes. Being home to Virginia’s most notable institutions of higher learning, Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, many will find plenty of historical factoids and artifacts to see from the American Civil War. For instance, you can learn about how Farmville experienced and influenced the battles of the Civil War in noteworthy areas like the High Bridge Trail State Park and Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.
Additionally, the Appomattox Court House, where Confederate and Union leaders like Ulysses S. Grant signed the treaty that marked the end of the war, is located within reach of Farmville. The town also highlights key moments from the Civil Rights Movement at the Robert Russa Moton Museum, specifically during the racially complex period of 1950s America. Just about 65 miles from Richmond, where Patrick Henry famously proclaimed, "Give me liberty or give me death," Farmville invites visitors to slow down and unwind at welcoming accommodations like Hotel Weyanoke, Hilton Tru, or The Manor Cottages.
Luray
Roughly a two-hour drive from Washington, DC, the serene and splendid town of Luray is home to the internationally celebrated Luray Caverns, the largest cave network on the East Coast of the US. Once used as mining quarries where workers extracted valuable minerals, the world-famous Luray Caverns now draw countless visitors eager to experience the past while spelunking in the modern world. At the Stonyman Mining Company Gem Sluice, guests can try their hand at sluicing just as the miners once did. Furthermore, Luray’s appeal goes beyond its underground wonders as the Luray Caverns boasts scenic hiking trails near Hawksbill Creek and Lake Arrowhead, along with breathtaking viewpoints atop Old Rag Mountain.
To fully immerse yourself in all that Luray has to offer, you ought to consider staying awhile at one of Luray’s inviting accommodations, such as The Hawksbill House, Cardinal Inn, or Hotel Laurance.
Cape Charles
Time moves at a gentle crawl in the laidback and slow-paced town of Cape Charles, one of the earliest settlements established in the original Thirteen Colonies. Situated along the historic Bay Coast Railroad, this coastal town once played a pivotal role in Virginia’s industrial and transportation history. With its warm, down-to-earth charm and amicability, Cape Charles has long welcomed travelers with attractions like the Cape Charles Memorial Library, the oldest library in Virginia. Additionally, one can take selfies and groupies on the historic Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, a popular route that overlooks Chesapeake Bay and leads to the beautiful expansive woodlands of the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge.
If you are looking for more areas of interest around Cape Charles, you can find numerous trails and treks to tread upon in Kiptopeke State Park. Finally, if you wish to unwind and relax for the evening, you can seek out comforts and conveniences at either the Northampton Hotel, Fig Street Inn, or Hotel Cape Charles.
Fredericksburg
Nestled along the banks of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg carries a quiet and peaceful stillness, one well-earned as the site of the final battlegrounds of the American Civil War. Bearing these scars from a bygone war, over 17,000 Union soldiers are laid to rest at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which you can tour and pay respects to. Many of these lives were lost during pivotal battles in 1862, at Chancellorsville in 1863, and during the fierce confrontations of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse in 1864.
Fredericksburg’s history goes way back from before the Civil War, starting since the American Revolutionary War when the town served as a home for George Washington and his family, whose legacy lives on at sites like Ferry Farm, Historic Kenmore, and the Mary Washington House, where George’s sister once resided. For those eager to explore Fredericksburg’s diverse and multilayered past, newcomers can spend a long and fulfilling vacation in this slow-paced and historic town once they have booked a room in fine lodgings like The Silk Mill, Kenmore Inn, or the Silver Collection Hotel.
With as much flair and excitement as big cities like Roanoke and Richmond, yet enough slow-paced ease and comfort as expected from a small town, some of Virginia’s towns are quaint and quiet destinations that offer a slower pace of life for those seeking simplicity. Whether you are in search of Chincoteague’s wild ponies and lush seashores or admiring the history of Virginia at historic dwellings like Fredericksburg, the many slow-paced small towns in Virginia will accommodate and astound you with their various arrays of attractions worth seeing. In the many Virginia towns with a slower pace of life, you can take things nice and smooth as you explore the lush and vivacious rural countryside of Virginia.
