It would not be possible to suggest one Virginia town that is the be-all-end-all destination for retirees to visit. Virginia is such a diverse state in so many ways that each of its small towns has its own appeal. Chincoteague’s wild horses, for example, are a sight you won’t find in many eastern US states. College towns, like Charlottesville and Blacksburg, have a unique vibe of their own, while Warrenton has a laid-back lifestyle. Every town tells the history of the people who have lived there, from Colonial days through the Revolutionary and Civil wars. The weather is mild in spring, summer, and fall, and snow lovers will find winter wonderlands to enjoy. All of Virginia has mountain views and lush greenery that provide glorious red, orange, yellow, and gold scenes in the fall. Now that you have more time to explore many new places and enjoy new experiences, the good news is that Virginia is full of relaxing towns where you can find beauty and new interests.
Warrenton
When Northern Virginia residents want to escape their busy, high-traffic towns closer to Washington, DC, they head to Warrenton. The leaves change color faster here in autumn, and while the sightseeing route can get crowded with other spectators, just relax and enjoy the colorful splendor. The Shenandoah National Park and Sky Meadows State Park offer fishing, hiking, walking trails, bird watching, and more. For a self-guided walking or driving tour of 11 local Civil War sites, stop in at the downtown Visitor’s Center, located in the new Town Hall on Main Street. While there, check out Old Town Warrenton, carefully preserved in the heart of the downtown, and learn more about the area at the Old Jail Museum. The town has five (yes, 5!) art galleries and spots for you to create if you’re feeling crafty. Warrenton is part of what is known as Horse and Wine Country, with numerous riding stables and 70-ish wineries within an hour’s drive. If all this exploring builds your appetite, try Denim and Pearls for Italian fare or Cast Iron Craft House for burgers, craft beer, and local wines.
Luray
About an hour southwest of Warrenton is the town of Luray, known for the underground Luray Caverns. Wear a sweater against the cool underground and sturdy, non-slip shoes to descend the stairs to the caverns, where you’ll see stalactites hanging down from the ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the floor, all formed by crystalline limestone. See the great column where the two types of formations meet, as the Great Stalacpipe Organ makes the formations “sing.” Outdoors, don’t miss the one-acre Garden Maze, made of 1,500 evergreen bushes. The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum is also on-site; the Luray Valley Museum tells the Shenandoah Valley’s history, while the Birdsong Pleasure Gardens offer guided tours and quiet relaxation. In downtown Luray, you’ll find a unique array of shops, including the Art & Artisans Gallery, with paintings, prints, pottery, and jewelry by local and national artists. You’ll also discover women’s clothing and accessories at Henhouse Shoppe. Take a break at Compass Tea Room or Broad Porch Coffee, and dine at Watch & Warrant “Roaring Twenties” restaurant and bar or other wide-ranging eateries in Luray.
Charlottesville
With a population of 44,487, Charlottesville is one of the larger small towns on this list. Home to the University of Virginia, the town buzzes with activity downtown, its streets lined with shops, bookstores, and a wide range of dining options, from Michie Tavern’s 18th-century food and flair to Aromas Cafe for 21st-century Mediterranean fare. Charlottesville has a rich history for two presidents, as James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson called the town home as governors. Jefferson founded UVA and built his home, Monticello, here. Tour the house and its magnificent gardens, as well as Monroe’s home, Highland. Charlottesville is part of the Monticello American Viticulture, and there are 40 wineries in the area. To visit several wineries, book a tour with Blue Ridge Wine Excursions or one of many others offered in the area, or make reservations on your own. Jefferson grew at least 18 varieties of apples, and you can pick and taste many of them at Crown Orchard and numerous other orchards and farms. Pick veggies and flowers at Bellair Farm, and watch cider being made at Albemarle CiderWorks.
Chincoteague
At least once in your lifetime, you must visit Chincoteague, a town on the island of the same name. Home to the famous “wild ponies,” they are believed to be descendants of survivor ponies from one of the hundreds of shipwrecks that occurred off the coast of Virginia and Maryland over 200 years ago. It is magical to see these herds, which may come right up to you, but do remember that they are wild and should not be fed or petted. The Pony Swim is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, and the Pony Swim Back is that Friday. The rest of the island has much to see and do as well, from fishing and crabbing to picnicking, hiking, biking, kayaking, and, of course, shelling. See other wildlife at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and neighboring Assateague Island has a more secluded beach.
Try out the John H. Tarr Bay to Beach Bicycle Trail, the Donald J. Leonard Park, the Downtown Waterfront Park, and the Chincoteague Dog Park if a furry friend is with you. Virginia’s eastern shore is known for scallops, crabs, oysters, and fish, which are featured on menus all over the island. You may have visited Chincoteague years ago, perhaps with children, but seeing it again as retirees, with time to enjoy it in a new light, can be a whole different experience.
Blacksburg
In the southwest corner of the state is Blacksburg, which is known as the home to Virginia Tech University, fondly called VT. The town and VT are interconnected in many ways. Blacksburg’s brick-lined streets are just steps away from the campus, so students and visitors go to restaurants and bars in town, and residents go to VT for concerts, plays, lectures, and the like that are open to the public. Stay right on campus at the luxurious Inn at Virginia Tech, or book a couple’s getaway at the Beliveau Farm Winery’s Manor House. Wander in town to the College Avenue Promenade pedestrian mall. Go casual at Black Salt Kitchen for burgers and tacos, experience the historically preserved Blacksburg Tavern’s Southern homestyle food, or make it a special night at The Black Hen. Look into what’s happening at the Moss Art Center and book events before your trip; from grammy-winning banjo artists to “Beyond the Frame” free curator tours on the second Thursday of the month at noon. Walk or ride bikes on the Huckleberry Trail or play golf on one of the area’s many courses. With the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains as your backdrop, every Blacksburg outdoor activity is breathtaking.
Lexington
Civil War buffs and history lovers will want to visit Lexington, located in Southwest Virginia. Start at the Visitor’s Center, 106 E. Washington St., for a map of the free self-guided tour of 45 historic downtown sites. Or sit back and enjoy a carriage ride history tour of the town. Dive into the history of the Virginia Military Institute as well as Washington and Lee University. Lexington has one of the most walkable downtowns you’ll find, with 65+ locally owned shops and restaurants. Stop for a bite to eat at Salerno wood-fired pizza and beer or Macado’s overstuffed sandwiches. Wander through Downtown Books and The Bookery for something new to read and vintage finds. If you’re traveling with friends, stop into Just Games for a fun night in. Take a tour of Cyrus McCormick’s Farm (the inventor of the reaper), and if you’re interested in outdoor adventures, Lexington has plenty of spots to fish, kayak, and go horseback riding.
Abingdon
For lovers of the arts, Abingdon is an absolute must-visit town. Start with Barter Theatre, where actors bartered for food as payment during the Great Depression. It is recognized as one of the oldest professional theaters in the country that is still in operation. Stop in at Holston Mountain Artisans for Appalachian crafts and The Arts Depot to see local artists at work in their studios. Dine at The Tavern, the town’s oldest building, and The Girl and the Raven for Southern and healthy dishes, specialty coffees, and even wellness lattes. Try Sweetbay Brewing Co. for craft beer and Abingdon Vineyards for locally-made wine. Looking for outdoor exercise? Pedal at your own pace along the Virginia Creeper Trail, which was named for the old Norfolk and Western Railroad that crept oh-so-slowly up the steep mountain. Now that you have the time, stay a while at a Bed & Breakfast like Black’s Fort Inn, the Martha Washington Hotel and Spa, or try Creeper’s End cottages at the end of the trail.
Appomattox
History lovers will want to see where it ended by visiting Appomattox Courthouse National Historic Park to learn about why the Civil War was fought from the viewpoint of each side, the surrender meeting between Generals Lee and Grant, and the far-reaching consequences of the war. Visit the American Civil War Museum Appomattox to see artifacts from the battles and tour Clover Hill Village, where original buildings were brought and rebuilt to show life in Civil War times. The Old Jail Museum and Library is housed in the building built in 1895 to replace the previous jail. The library details the lives of local citizens and has the ability to research genealogy. Re-enactments of the war take place year-round but are held more often in April to celebrate when the war ended. Stop into Rail Yard Restaurant and Sports Lounge for smoked BBQ and daily specials and El Cazador for authentic Mexican food.
Vienna
As a close-in suburb of Washington, DC, the town of Vienna has some of the most expensive real estate in the country. With an average home price of $1,636,072, Vienna may not be named as a haven for retiree living. However, it is an excellent spot in Northern Virginia to visit if you want to see the monuments and museums of the nation’s capital. Sit back and relax on the 30-minute ride into the city on the Metro, the area’s rapid transit rail line, and speed past the traffic outside your window. Get off at either the Smithsonian or Federal Triangle stop to begin your tour, depending upon which museum or monument you want to visit first. After a busy day, return to Vienna for dinner at Nostos for kreatomezes, a Greek meat medley. Stay another day to explore more of DC (you absolutely cannot see it all in a day!) or venture out to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens or, if you’re lucky, take in a performance at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and enjoy a picnic on the lawn beforehand, weather permitting, and then go to your covered seats.
The state motto, “Virginia is for Lovers,” has special meaning for retirees. Quaint cabins and bed and breakfast inns offer all types of couples getaways, but Virginia also has something for every taste, from art lovers to students of history and nature lovers to wine aficianados. Whether you love the mountains or beach locales, Virginia has it all, complete with state parks, biking trails, spots to dig your toes into the sand, and panoramic vistas to relax and watch the sunset. Whatever you like to see and do, you can find it in Virginia!
