There are plenty of buildings to pique your interest and many other areas to head to, but one of the best things about the state is the hidden gems of beautiful small towns.
Each small town is unique and has its own magnificence and fascinating history, ranging from farm towns to industrial towns. Indeed, if you can think of it – it’s likely that Virginia has it.
Of course, this means that you have a lot to unpack and find and you’re going to need to know a lot more before you head there.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve created this list of the top 10 most glorious and beautiful small towns that you can find in Virginia, along with why you should go there and other pieces of handy information.
So, if you’re ready to learn a lot more about these towns – then read on and discover the answers!
Staunton is certainly one of the most historically important small towns in Virginia. Originally it saw settlers in the Colonial period of around 1732, and during this time, the town was a huge ground for civilization. In fact, it was the regional capital.
During the time of the American Revolution, it played a very significant role in the administration and people of huge political importance continued to be found here.
Indeed, years later it would become known as the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson.
Nowadays, it’s one of the best places to visit if you’re looking to find some amazing architecture, historical buildings and items and plenty of museums which can tell you a lot more about the town.
Middleburg was founded in 1787 by an Officer of the Revolutionary War, showing just how much history this town has at its heart. The town is indeed very small with only around one thousand residents, but it has a big history.
One of the things that Middleburg was known for was its tradition of fox hunting and horse riding – which still continues to this day.
Aside from this, it has a metal factory known as Aldie Mill, which was originally run by waterwheels, some are still found there today.
On the more relaxing side of things, Middleburg is also home to the Greenhill Winery, providing visitors and tourists alike with some of the most unique and wonderfully tasting wines you can find in the state.
You might already be familiar with Smithfield because of its ham, which is well renowned throughout the country. Indeed, Smithfield meat products are quite big throughout the American market.
However, hundreds of years before pigs were the biggest area of the economy, it was a huge town for seaports and general trading.
In the mid-18th Century which was over a century after it was first colonized, Smithfield was a well-known town for trade.
During the American Revolution and Civil war though, the town was majorly damaged by canons and other weaponry. But despite all of the battles and damages that Smithfield suffered for hundreds of years, it is still quite a lively town to visit.
It’s the place to visit if you’re hoping to take in a lot of American history and enjoy some of the local produce!
Virginia is certainly well known for its landscape, and within this, there are the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Abingdon is located along the Blue Ridge Mountain range and it’s one of the most ideal towns to visit to take in the freshest mountain air.
Of course, you will also have the opportunity to take in some of the most amazing sights that the town has to offer and you can even go further than this. The town is a perfect route to the Appalachian Trail!
On top of all this, Abington is home to the Barter Theater and this is extremely popular locally and it gets some massive names to perform there.
So if you’re looking for a town that offers beautiful views, excellent hiking trails and is filled with culture – then Abington is the small town for you.
For most Americans and indeed for many people from outside of the United States, the town of Lexington is probably somewhere that you’ve heard of before.
Unfortunately, this Lexington is not the same one you’re probably thinking of!
Despite not being the same Lexington located in Boston, Massachusetts, it does have similar historical importance in terms of the Revolutionary War – and you can find out a lot more with a tour.
Tours of Lexington allow you to visit some of the historical buildings which tell fascinating tales of the 18th Century, and you can finish up with a viewing of the statue of Stonewall Jackson.
Aside from the history though, Lexington has some beautiful architecture and glorious areas of natural beauty – including very popular vineyards!
Chincoteague is a small town that is entirely unique from the rest that we have seen on this list so far. It almost encapsulates a portrait of a beach vacation resort rather than a small town!
It’s small in stature but huge in tourism, with plenty of sandy resorts for tourists to stay in, along with some huge cultural places to see like the local art galleries.
It’s also home to wild ponies, but you’ll have to take a short trip to Assateague Island if you want to see them. This is actually very rare, so it’s definitely worth thinking about if that’s something you’re hoping to do.
On the eastern shore of Virginia, you’ll come across this small town which is home to some amazing water views and the opportunity to take part in lots of water games and sports.
In fact, one of the favorite activities in this town is to hire a canoe and take it out into the water, whilst enjoying the warm weather and taking a glance at the natural beauty all around you and indeed beneath you!
In the downtown area, you’ll also find some quaint stores that are difficult to find in the big city, along with amazing restaurants and buildings packed with culture. These include a magnificent theater and a brilliant cinema.
When we talk about small towns, Monterey definitely qualifies as it only has around 200 residents! Due to so few residents, it’s one of the best towns to visit if you’re looking for a peaceful and quiet escape.
Monterey has a few inns where you can rest your head for a while and when you feel well-rested enough, you can take a stroll around and discover the fantastic things around the area.
The picturesque views of the countryside and the sun setting across the landscape are things that you simply should not miss, and once you return back to your inn – you can enjoy superb home-cooked meals with locally sourced ingredients!
Warrenton has seen perhaps the biggest development since the early Eighteenth Century.
Originally, it was simply a trading post known as the Red Store but after many years of suffering battles, fires, and attacks – it’s been rebuilt several times and stands today.
You can visit haunted homes, and glorious museums or simply go out hiking if you’re around Warrenton, so trust us when we say this town is a place where you certainly won’t get bored!
Finally, on our list, we have Farmville which is not just a Facebook game! It’s a thriving little town that offers amazing views, stores, and areas of huge historical interest. In fact, one of its biggest things to boast about is being the first two-college town.
There are some amazing areas to hike around Farmville and there are lots of places you can spend time camping and enjoying the great outdoors. So, if you’re looking for somewhere to relax and take in some history – Farmville is the place to go.
The Bottom Line
Virginia is home to plenty of small towns, but the ones included in our list are among some of the most amazing, glorious, historical, and beautiful small towns you could ever hope to visit.
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
