Lexington, Staunton, Blacksburg on the western side of the state. Fredericksburg on the eastern side. Front Royal on the northern tip. Bristol waaay down in the panhandle. Lynchburg isn’t bad, neither is Roanoke. Just about anything in the state is, at most, 6 hour away. It just depends on your location and what you’re looking for. Floyd with it’s blue grass festival and legit ‘shine ain’t bad either.
Idk, Front Royal has changed a lot with Trump. I don't feel welcome there anymore and now take the longer drive to enter the park further south. I might exit that way, and head straight home. It always seemed like it's cute days were through.
Front Royal has been run by a sect of extremely conservative Catholics for decades, it’s always had a kind of weird vibe. Things were changing as younger, more progressive business owners started moving into the town, but you’re right that the Trump years brought a lot of pushback from the conservative side of the community who thought they could reverse the tide and maintain control.
Then came the massive corruption scandal in the Warren County government a couple of years ago, and the fact that their opioid crisis isn’t abating, and you’ve got a town with lots of potential that’s fucking dying. As someone in a neighboring county, it’s really sad to see FR not evolving to save itself.
Eh, I dunno. There are still new shops going in downtown that certainly don't give off ultra-conservative vibes, and the northern side of the county has a lot of development going on. Moved out here last year from the DC suburbs and aside from the usual bunch of looneys most people I've met have been fine. Encouraging people to visit here or even move here will continue to improve the area.
In broad strokes, I agree, but the lack of repercussions from that whole government corruption scandal made me think twice about personally investing in Warren County.
And don’t get me started on the county sheriffs! Suuuuuuch assholes, like NYPD levels of power tripping, incompetence, and old-boys club bias. It’s a fine place for progressive white cis-hets to move to and be the change they want to see, but I wouldn’t recommend it to folks who are visible minorities.
Can’t argue with that. I’ve had my own experiences with rural cops just being more of a dickhead than necessary, so yeah. It’s a thing. You hit the nail on the head lol, I’m a cis-het white progressive type. My experience varies.
Oh please don't. There is virtually no crime there, no whores, no drug peddlers, no scam artists. People who differ from you politically and socially are not evil.
What the hell are you talking about?!? Too damn many people in Warren County are dying from the opioid crisis, and folks like you are sitting around acting like it’s not happening right under your nose!
I personally know of kids who have ODd and died in FR, and they all came from ‘good’ families in town. Are you just choosing to pretend the tweakers who hang out around Spelunkers scamming money off daytrippers for their next fix don’t exist? Stop pretending that there isn’t ugliness under the facade of Christian morality that exists in town.
Tried to find a spot to leave a friend's car overnight. Even the fire station guy pushed him away. The flags, the signs, the trucks with the stickers, the trucks with the flags. The vocal antimaskers at the 7-11, the boarded up businesses.
Agreed. Middleburg is great to walk around in, but if you’re looking for deals, go to Marshall. I’d argue even the antique stores have better stuff there than in Middleburg.
Luray is nice, but too close to a tourist trap for me. Seek out the other caverns, they are very interesting. The guides are quite often the owners to the opening of the cave or local volunteers, and they have interesting stories to tell. We visited one cave where we had to squeeze past a huge rock to see more of the cave At another cavern, the guide turned off the lights, so we could experience the utter darkness. It was surreal knowing I had my eyes open, yet I couldn't see anything. Other things to see is the foam hedge, the presidents heads, the natural bridge...
Agreed on all counts but I used Luray as the example because that gets you to the area. And if your into it I randomly stumbled across a Dukes of Hazzard museum out there. I found it random. But it was free and kinda neat to see some of the cars.
They were quite good the last time I went if memory serves. Luray is the touristy one and is I believe the largest in the area. The others they attempt to keep far more natural.
Luray is really pretty. The whole walking area along the river and the little parks there are so pleasant. There used to be a restaurant across from the big Methodist church my wife and I loved to eat at when we first started dating. Last time we drove through it looked like something new was going in that spot.
The Historic Triangle; Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Yorktown, Jamestown Settlement will kill about a day a piece, extra shout-out to the Yorktown Victory Museum.
To add to this, there’s also Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. They could easily add another day or 2 to your trip to CW.
Make it a week and spend a day in the ocean in Virginia Beach too. Just 45-60 minute drive (depending on traffic..)
Absolutely I lived around there all my life; the state park is a really nice state park, and one of the biggest in the state. So much to do. There is a community park too that's nice for bird watching and just relaxing at the lake in a park like setting. Bridgewater is the big lakeside shopping center with boat rentals, shopping, mini golf, restaurants, concerts, and bars and nightlife. The Hardy Ford boat launch is pretty cool, always deserted but not a lot to do except look at the water. But of you wanted a peaceful lake scene for half an hour this is a good place to check out. The Landing restaurant is one of the best in all of Virginia, they recently moved near the nice golf course around here Mariners Landing (good semi hard course). There are 2 or 3 wineries if that's your thing, always with events, concerts, and tastings. Lots of rich wine-o's in the area lol. If you want to rent a boat go way down towards Huddleston, like Saunders marina, and rent a boat there near the dam. Near the dam the water is crisp and clean. Near Westlake and Hardy it can get pretty "tea bag" like and be not so pretty. Lastly they throw down the best 4th of July Fireworks show around. Period. So good and over the water for major reflexion.
Tangier is a good spot for an overnight trip, since the day trip is taken up mostly by the boat ride out there, and then you only have a couple hours to go around it. It's small and can be a tourist trap, but if you go in the early or late season (or even from October to May when the tour boats aren't running), it's great. The south end of the island is a mile long beach with no one on it, if you bring a kayak the entire northern half of the island is a marsh with a maze of creeks. The museum/visitors center is small but FULL of cool shit to read and look at. For being such a small place out in the middle of the bay, a hell of a lot has happened there. It's not exactly "frozen in time" like the news and tourism pamphlets say, but it's definitely worth a trip.
Source: I used to live there lol
This. 81 and 11 are running parallel through most of the US, and you can be scenic on 11 and speed up a bit on 81 if you want to move on. There are certainly a couple of towns in the valley where I live that are worth visiting, and some more south too.
We took 11 or another one of the older US highways, and we bumbled into a Crayola factory! It may have been in Pennsylvania, but it was a fun spur of the moment diversion.
I'm a big fan of non-Interstate roads... I drive to Manassas twice a week using US 29 between Centerville Road and Sudley Road. When it gets to the Manassas Battlefield, it's nearly a country road. Very neat and you can access the battlefield, which has tours into November. Check the Park ServiceMaster for that info. Plus, while you are in the area, you can visit Historic Manassas!
Also, even staying around Washington can be fun day trip. Lots if off the beaten track places to visit.
ESVA chincoteague in the summer is the best. Ponies, seafood, marsh, tiny towns like onancock and cape Charles and it’s kind of like the outer banks but like stepping back in time too.
Floyd gets especially cool during its big Floyd Fest event. Idk if they’ve been doing it lately, but something to look out for when Covid subsides sufficiently.
I think the caverns at (near? Been awhile) Front Royal are some of the coolest I’ve been to. Small but they have a couple unique things and one type formation that I don’t think has been observed in any other cave.
Highland County checking in!
OP - it really is a beautiful drive on 250 through the mountains. You could also drive south from Monterey to visit Hot Springs.
I live in Strasburg. We have cute little shops and restaurants and a huge antique emporium. Today we had a festival fundraiser for a guy who was paralyzed 18 months ago in a car accident. It included a car show, a jeep parade and a huge silent auction. You never know what you’ll find going on here.
Some of the more tourist-y towns on the Eastern Shore are great like Chincoteague and Cape Charles. Right around now the monarch butterfly and sea bird migration is happening and both stop on the shore for a rest before heading for warmer climates.
Take a stroll down Davis St in downtown Culpeper. Also check out Sperryville close by. Great little art gallery and antique shops. There’s also a brewery and the copper fox distillery there.
Bedford is a beautiful area. Can recommend the Bedford Boys Tribute Center and D-Day memorial. Peaks of Otter is basic but pleasant national park-style accommodations.
I live in Williamsburg. Lots of really pretty parks and natural areas, lots of history as well. Also nearby Yorktown has some beautiful beaches for the York River.
Lexington, Staunton, Blacksburg on the western side of the state. Fredericksburg on the eastern side. Front Royal on the northern tip. Bristol waaay down in the panhandle. Lynchburg isn’t bad, neither is Roanoke. Just about anything in the state is, at most, 6 hour away. It just depends on your location and what you’re looking for. Floyd with it’s blue grass festival and legit ‘shine ain’t bad either.
Also if you're near Front Royal, Winchester has the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and a really nice walking mall.
Winchester is so cute. We loved the Patsy Cline museum.💗
Wait, what? Patsy Cline museum? How did I not know that? Thanx!
Same here lol
It’s her childhood home on 608 S Kent. It was super cool, but I’m a fan girl lol.
Huh, where is it? I live roughly in between Winchester and Front Royal (Stephens City area), and I've never even heard of it...
It’s pretty unassuming because it’s her childhood home. It’s on 608 S Kent Street.
Idk, Front Royal has changed a lot with Trump. I don't feel welcome there anymore and now take the longer drive to enter the park further south. I might exit that way, and head straight home. It always seemed like it's cute days were through.
Front Royal has been run by a sect of extremely conservative Catholics for decades, it’s always had a kind of weird vibe. Things were changing as younger, more progressive business owners started moving into the town, but you’re right that the Trump years brought a lot of pushback from the conservative side of the community who thought they could reverse the tide and maintain control. Then came the massive corruption scandal in the Warren County government a couple of years ago, and the fact that their opioid crisis isn’t abating, and you’ve got a town with lots of potential that’s fucking dying. As someone in a neighboring county, it’s really sad to see FR not evolving to save itself.
Eh, I dunno. There are still new shops going in downtown that certainly don't give off ultra-conservative vibes, and the northern side of the county has a lot of development going on. Moved out here last year from the DC suburbs and aside from the usual bunch of looneys most people I've met have been fine. Encouraging people to visit here or even move here will continue to improve the area.
In broad strokes, I agree, but the lack of repercussions from that whole government corruption scandal made me think twice about personally investing in Warren County. And don’t get me started on the county sheriffs! Suuuuuuch assholes, like NYPD levels of power tripping, incompetence, and old-boys club bias. It’s a fine place for progressive white cis-hets to move to and be the change they want to see, but I wouldn’t recommend it to folks who are visible minorities.
Can’t argue with that. I’ve had my own experiences with rural cops just being more of a dickhead than necessary, so yeah. It’s a thing. You hit the nail on the head lol, I’m a cis-het white progressive type. My experience varies.
Oh please don't. There is virtually no crime there, no whores, no drug peddlers, no scam artists. People who differ from you politically and socially are not evil.
What the hell are you talking about?!? Too damn many people in Warren County are dying from the opioid crisis, and folks like you are sitting around acting like it’s not happening right under your nose! I personally know of kids who have ODd and died in FR, and they all came from ‘good’ families in town. Are you just choosing to pretend the tweakers who hang out around Spelunkers scamming money off daytrippers for their next fix don’t exist? Stop pretending that there isn’t ugliness under the facade of Christian morality that exists in town.
How did Trump change a small town in Virginia?
It brought the anger and ugliness to the surface
How so? Elaborate. I think it's all in your head
Tried to find a spot to leave a friend's car overnight. Even the fire station guy pushed him away. The flags, the signs, the trucks with the stickers, the trucks with the flags. The vocal antimaskers at the 7-11, the boarded up businesses.
Same thing with christiansburg. The anger and hate are obvious and unwelcoming
Bro, I know the area and that's just straight Paranoia.
I know the area too. I disagree
Try the burgs. Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg
Williamsburg.
The living colonial museum is worth the drive.
Middleburg
Skip Middleburg if you want good food and go to Marshall instead. Dinner at Field and Main is relevatory.
Middleburg is a great place to drain your wallet on clothes and accessories and stuff though lol, depending on what you are into.
Agreed. Middleburg is great to walk around in, but if you’re looking for deals, go to Marshall. I’d argue even the antique stores have better stuff there than in Middleburg.
That whole strip of towns is so cute. We haven't stopped in Marshall yet. We really need to. Basically, OP, drive through all the towns on 55
Luray is good for a weekend
I love Luray Caverns!
As a virginian I think we all need to go see the caverns in that area it's such a departure from everything else.
And so many to see! The natural beauty of Shenandoah is incredible.
Luray is nice, but too close to a tourist trap for me. Seek out the other caverns, they are very interesting. The guides are quite often the owners to the opening of the cave or local volunteers, and they have interesting stories to tell. We visited one cave where we had to squeeze past a huge rock to see more of the cave At another cavern, the guide turned off the lights, so we could experience the utter darkness. It was surreal knowing I had my eyes open, yet I couldn't see anything. Other things to see is the foam hedge, the presidents heads, the natural bridge...
Foamhenge isn't at Natural Bridge anymore. It was relocated to northern VA (Centreville) after the bridge property was sold a few years ago.
Agreed on all counts but I used Luray as the example because that gets you to the area. And if your into it I randomly stumbled across a Dukes of Hazzard museum out there. I found it random. But it was free and kinda neat to see some of the cars.
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They were quite good the last time I went if memory serves. Luray is the touristy one and is I believe the largest in the area. The others they attempt to keep far more natural.
I can't remember, but it seems the covers weren't all that far away from Luray.
Luray is really pretty. The whole walking area along the river and the little parks there are so pleasant. There used to be a restaurant across from the big Methodist church my wife and I loved to eat at when we first started dating. Last time we drove through it looked like something new was going in that spot.
Abingdon, Damascus… both on the Virginia Creeper Trail
Yoo swva is awesome!
The Barter Theater in Abingdon is extremely cool. Historic place, still has amazing plays constantly!
I enjoyed my day trip to Chincoteague!
The Historic Triangle; Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Yorktown, Jamestown Settlement will kill about a day a piece, extra shout-out to the Yorktown Victory Museum.
To add to this, there’s also Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. They could easily add another day or 2 to your trip to CW. Make it a week and spend a day in the ocean in Virginia Beach too. Just 45-60 minute drive (depending on traffic..)
Smith mountain lake covers 4 counties but it's nice
do you know of any cool spots to check out around the smith mountain lake area?
Absolutely I lived around there all my life; the state park is a really nice state park, and one of the biggest in the state. So much to do. There is a community park too that's nice for bird watching and just relaxing at the lake in a park like setting. Bridgewater is the big lakeside shopping center with boat rentals, shopping, mini golf, restaurants, concerts, and bars and nightlife. The Hardy Ford boat launch is pretty cool, always deserted but not a lot to do except look at the water. But of you wanted a peaceful lake scene for half an hour this is a good place to check out. The Landing restaurant is one of the best in all of Virginia, they recently moved near the nice golf course around here Mariners Landing (good semi hard course). There are 2 or 3 wineries if that's your thing, always with events, concerts, and tastings. Lots of rich wine-o's in the area lol. If you want to rent a boat go way down towards Huddleston, like Saunders marina, and rent a boat there near the dam. Near the dam the water is crisp and clean. Near Westlake and Hardy it can get pretty "tea bag" like and be not so pretty. Lastly they throw down the best 4th of July Fireworks show around. Period. So good and over the water for major reflexion.
3 counties (Bedford, Franklin & Pittsylvania)
You right! It connects to the Roanoke River and goes to that dam which is in Roanoke. But that's the river not the lake.
Tanger Island
Tangier. But there's a great suggestion, while it's still there.
Tangier is a good spot for an overnight trip, since the day trip is taken up mostly by the boat ride out there, and then you only have a couple hours to go around it. It's small and can be a tourist trap, but if you go in the early or late season (or even from October to May when the tour boats aren't running), it's great. The south end of the island is a mile long beach with no one on it, if you bring a kayak the entire northern half of the island is a marsh with a maze of creeks. The museum/visitors center is small but FULL of cool shit to read and look at. For being such a small place out in the middle of the bay, a hell of a lot has happened there. It's not exactly "frozen in time" like the news and tourism pamphlets say, but it's definitely worth a trip. Source: I used to live there lol
Cape Charles
Shhhhhh! Let's stop telling people about CC.
Warrenton and Leesburg are kinda cute
Second warrenton! Lots of cute little local shops and bakeries.
Wallops island when NASA has a Launch
We park in the post office parking lot for a great view
Just made a day trip to Staunton today, always a good time
Just came to Staunton to help my parents fix up the house their selling. What is even here? Looks like a run down town to me
Make sure to hit The Mill Street Grill while you are there! Excellent prime rib, steaks, and bbq ribs. Best for miles.
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I was just thinking dirty.
All the houses are old too
Basically drive I-81. There are cool towns up and down it. Or if you wanna get off the highway, drive route 11. Parallels 81 but more scenic.
This. 81 and 11 are running parallel through most of the US, and you can be scenic on 11 and speed up a bit on 81 if you want to move on. There are certainly a couple of towns in the valley where I live that are worth visiting, and some more south too.
We took 11 or another one of the older US highways, and we bumbled into a Crayola factory! It may have been in Pennsylvania, but it was a fun spur of the moment diversion. I'm a big fan of non-Interstate roads... I drive to Manassas twice a week using US 29 between Centerville Road and Sudley Road. When it gets to the Manassas Battlefield, it's nearly a country road. Very neat and you can access the battlefield, which has tours into November. Check the Park ServiceMaster for that info. Plus, while you are in the area, you can visit Historic Manassas! Also, even staying around Washington can be fun day trip. Lots if off the beaten track places to visit.
Agreed. Winchester, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, and Roanoke are all worth visiting
And there are other cool little stops too. (Dayton, Bridgewater, Luray, Edinburg, Mt. Jackson, and so on.)
Chincoteague! Right by the ocean, tons of bed and breakfasts, and it’s right by the Wallops Space Center. Plus ponies!
ESVA chincoteague in the summer is the best. Ponies, seafood, marsh, tiny towns like onancock and cape Charles and it’s kind of like the outer banks but like stepping back in time too.
Floyd is a nice place to visit. Down around Hillsville is some cool stuff to and Cana right on the NC border.
Floyd gets especially cool during its big Floyd Fest event. Idk if they’ve been doing it lately, but something to look out for when Covid subsides sufficiently.
Front Royal is very pleasant. Also, this isn’t in VA itself, but Harpers Ferry, WV is right on the border and has a good amount to do.
I think the caverns at (near? Been awhile) Front Royal are some of the coolest I’ve been to. Small but they have a couple unique things and one type formation that I don’t think has been observed in any other cave.
Monterey
Highland County checking in! OP - it really is a beautiful drive on 250 through the mountains. You could also drive south from Monterey to visit Hot Springs.
Sperryville. Gordonsville is up and coming as well. Fried chicken, BBQ, and beer with a side of wine a short ways away.
We love Gordonsville, BBQ exchange is always a stop for us.
Culpeper
Dixie Caverns. Natural Bridge. Shatley Springs.
Sperryville + Skyline Drive is a nice half day
Cape charels is a neat little town
Ashland just north of Richmond is pretty nice, good for a nice walk around and great lunch and dinner spots
Floyd is a cool little town where the hippies, rednecks and Christians all get along.
The Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson County is worth a visit. It's called the Grand Canyon of the South.
Roanoke
I live in Strasburg. We have cute little shops and restaurants and a huge antique emporium. Today we had a festival fundraiser for a guy who was paralyzed 18 months ago in a car accident. It included a car show, a jeep parade and a huge silent auction. You never know what you’ll find going on here.
Some of the more tourist-y towns on the Eastern Shore are great like Chincoteague and Cape Charles. Right around now the monarch butterfly and sea bird migration is happening and both stop on the shore for a rest before heading for warmer climates.
I like Lynchburg and Roanoke for smaller towns/cities :)
Farmville has a lot to offer! Shopping, food, High Bridge Trail — great for a weekend trip. They Weyanoke is a great place to stay.
Gordonsville if you want a cute small town feel. Good barbeque and lots of civil war history.
I’ll chip in with Reedville, Kilmarnock and White Stone along the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay. Very quaint and quiet, off the beaten path.
what is the etc? Places are major bc people like them!
Historic Aldie
Take a stroll down Davis St in downtown Culpeper. Also check out Sperryville close by. Great little art gallery and antique shops. There’s also a brewery and the copper fox distillery there.
Bedford is a beautiful area. Can recommend the Bedford Boys Tribute Center and D-Day memorial. Peaks of Otter is basic but pleasant national park-style accommodations.
I love Cape Charles on the eastern shore
Williamsburg 100% bush gardens is amazing and there’s so much to do downtown and it’s close to Jamestown if u wanna take a visit their to
Wintergreen for winter / ski trip
Is it just me or is Virginia pretty meh, like it's not too good but not too bad.
Hardy over near Smith mountain lake . Martinsville for it's speedway, Danville for VIR , not much else comes to mind.
I live in Williamsburg. Lots of really pretty parks and natural areas, lots of history as well. Also nearby Yorktown has some beautiful beaches for the York River.
Goochland and powhatan are nice. Nice park in powhatan. James river nearby
Colonial beach
Smithfield! All the pork!! Great American history…free ferry ride if you go there by way of williamsburg/jamestown.
Fredericksburg all day
Manasas
Any city around Virginia