海角社区

With their innate curiosity and gentle demeanor, horses have a way of making people feel relaxed even after the most stressful of days. Fortunately, Virginia has several towns that feature horses, like Chincoteague's wild horses and the wild ponies in Mouth of Wilson. Several campgrounds also accommodate horses, like the equestrian campground in Fairy Stone State Park in Stuart. Just being out in natural surroundings can be rejuvenating, whether you are fishing in a pond or hiking a mountain trail. Whatever relaxing means to you, perhaps a favorite pastime or something you have never tried before, Virginia's small towns are just waiting for you to come and enjoy it.

Delaplane

With horses grazing in the gently rolling fields and twisting grapevines dotting the landscape, this village of 1,337 is relaxing just to drive through. Make time to stop at some of its many wineries, like Three Fox Vineyards & Farm Brewery, and relax with a glass of small-batch wine or innovative beer in scenic surroundings. Wood-fired pizza, country line dancing, music, and pop-up events on certain days. Fish for bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and sunfish from the Turner Pond pier.

For serenity in nature, check out Sky Meadows State Park's 1,860 acres of woodlands and pastures with 22 miles of hiking trails, 10.5 miles of riding trails, 9 miles of biking trails, a 5K course and scheduled races, and access to the Appalachian Trail. Near the picnic area is the Children's Discovery Area and a Nature Explore Certified Outdoor Classroom. The park also has a Sensory Explorer's Trail for all ages, with accommodations for those who are blind and visually impaired. People flock to Delaplane for its many events, including their annual Strawberry Festival.

Natural Bridge

This town of 4,369 supports the thousands of visitors who come to see Virginia's natural wonders of the same name each year. Tradition holds that the Monacan tribe believes their ancestors used the bridge to escape the Powhatans during battle, thus saving their lives.

The bridge itself is part of an ancient cave and is more of an arch than a bridge. Park at the Visitor's Center, and take the easy 10-minute walk to the Natural Bridge. If you are up for a longer hike, Lace Falls' 30-foot waterfall is about a 1-mile hike of moderate difficulty, so a total of 2 miles out and back. Note that hikers must climb 137 steps to reach Cedar Creek Trail, which leads to the falls. The Caverns at Natural Bridge are both awe-inspiring and a cool break on a hot day.

If you like to end the day relaxing around a campfire, numerous opportunities for tent, cabin, and RV camping exist in and around the town, including Natural Bridge KOA. Or if your idea of relaxing is letting someone else do the work, the town has a range of affordable and luxury hotels, including the Majestic Inn at Forest Oaks. Try the Natural Bridge General Store and Cafe for breakfast, lunch, and brunch, from burgers to vegetarian fare.

Chincoteague

This historic town of 3,248 can be as lively or as relaxing as you wish. Accessible by car via the causeway, the town of Chincoteague and the island are one and the same. Explore the island on a bike through any of several bike rental services or rent an e-bike or road-equipped golf cart at Steel Pony Rentals. Pony up to see the wild ponies that graze in the marshes off Beach Road. Rent a kayak to see the shoreline from the water or charter a fishing boat to catch some of the island鈥檚 famed fish and seafood. Check out the Museum of Chincoteague Island to learn about the island鈥檚 long history, and head to Assateague Island for a public beach and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

If fishing for your dinner isn鈥檛 your thing, catch a delicious meal at one of the town鈥檚 fine restaurants, like Bill鈥檚 Prime Seafood and Steaks on Main Street or AJ鈥檚 on the Creek for seafood and Italian fare. Accommodations range from camping to name-brand suite hotels to quaint bed and breakfast inns like the Watson Guest House. Built in 1898 by one of the town's wealthy entrepreneurs, it is a good example of the island's architecture at the time.

Gordonsville

If you have an interest in history, Gordonsville is an excellent example of a town that has successfully combined the old with the new, showcasing the town's importance in shaping the young country. Nathanial Gordon bought a plantation at the foot of the mountains and later opened a tavern that hosted Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other colonials on their travels to and from Washington, DC. Today, the old and the new happily coexist. Many of the original buildings are preserved on Main and side streets, while newer businesses developed around the railroad depot at the other end of town. Through the years, shops and restaurants have filled the area in between, and touring the unique shops while observing the different architecture is a delightful activity.

The Presidential Homes Tour includes James Madison's home, Montpelier, which is about 9 miles north of Gordonsville. It has an active archaeological dig that has uncovered many artifacts and exhibits that showcase some of them by name and tell their stories. Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, and Ashlawn-Highland, which is James Monroe's home, are both 21 miles south of Gordonsville. Although Zachary Taylor's home, Montebello, is privately owned and cannot be toured, it is worth a peek because it is only 4 miles west of town. If you'd rather explore Virginia wines, numerous vineyards are just a few miles from downtown Gordonsville. After exploring, do some palate research at The Barbecue Exchange, Gordonsville Ice House for fried chicken, or Pres de Pres for fancy French-inspired fare.

Mouth of Wilson

If this town's unusual name gets your attention, you will be glad it did. It is home to Grayson Highlands State Park, which, along with numerous hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, also has a herd of wild ponies that visitors often encounter to their delight. The ponies also serve a purpose; they eat the vegetation that would otherwise become overgrown. The park hosts many festivals from March into October, ranging from music like fiddlers and Bluegrass to celebrating harvests like maple syrup and molasses.

The town of around 1,242 sits at the mouth of Wilson Creek, so named because a surveyor named Wilson died there and was buried in the creek. During the the school year, population soars when students return to Oak Hill Academy, a local boarding school. Hickory Ridge campsites, as well as the General Store, are closed for renovations in 2025, but Jefferson Forest has various camping facilities and surrounding towns have hotels like Holiday Inn Express and Country Inn & Suites in Abingdon.

Stuart

Originally called Taylorsville, the town was renamed to honor J.E.B. Stuart, a Civil War general. Stuart, population 1,426, is divided into Uptown and Downtown business districts, which is handy to know if you are trying to find a business. More businesses and the historic Courthouse are located in Uptown. Check out the Wine and Beer Festival held the first Saturday in April, the Strawberry Festival on the third Saturday in May, and the Apple Dumpling Festival on the third Saturday in October.

Fairy Stone State Park in Stuart is one of just a handful of places in the 海角社区 where Fairy Stones can be found. These crystals, made of Staurolite, were formed seven miles underground and brought to the surface as the mountains rose. In time, wind and rain wash away the softer outer schist to reveal a small, six-sided stone with twists at 60 degrees or 90 degrees so that they look like crosses.

The park's main campground is closed for renovations through February 2026, but the equestrian campground will be open. The Virginia Motel and Uptown Suites of Stuart are other affordable options. Stuart is one of the towns along The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail that runs over 300 miles throughout SW Virginia celebrating banjo, fiddle, and other instruments played in Virginia's traditional rural music. Ask about The Crooked Road at the Patrick County Visitors Center on Main Street.

Cape Charles

At the south end of Virginia's Eastern Shore is Cape Charles, population 1,236. Sitting on the Chesapeake Bay, it's no wonder one of the favorite activities for visitors and locals is enjoying the beach! Rent a jet ski or stroll leisurely on the beach, looking for shells as you go. Try the award-winning sandwiches at Cravings and a seafood lunch or dinner with a view at Shanty's.

Kiptopeke State Park is located in Cape Charles and is an ideal spot for birding, as it is a major migratory bird flyway. The park has both a north beach and a south beach. Swimming is permitted at both, but they are unguarded, so swim at your own risk, preferably with a swim pal. Boats, jet skis, leashed pets, and fishing are permitted at the south beach only; fishing fees and licenses vary based on age and pier vs. shore fishing. The park also has over five miles of hiking and biking trails, and bikes can be rented at the park store. Many camping choices await: cabins, family lodges, a bunkhouse, and a yurt.

Massanutten

Many people think of Massanutten as a ski resort, but it is also a town with a population of 2,213 in the valley of the Shenandoah River. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is part of the Appalachian Mountain chain. The town contains the Massanutten Resort, which is known for its great skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, ice skating, and other winter experiences. However, the resort also has an indoor, heated waterpark that is open year-round, golf, and minigolf courses, FlingGolf (a sport that combines golf and lacrosse!), and indoor curling.

You can stay at the resort and easily enjoy any of its activities, but staying at the resort is not required to use its facilities. So you could spend the day floating in the resort's heated lazy river, book a massage, and then retire to an Air BnB rental in the town or a hotel like The Village Inn in Harrisonburg, just 15 miles away. You will have a wide selection of restaurants there, from contemporary American fare at The Ridge Room to elegant rooms and dining at Joshua Wilton House in a renovated Victorian home.

Some people need solitude to relax, while others find comfort in a crowd. Sometimes, too, immersing yourself in history, nature, or someone else's life takes your mind off whatever is stressing you. Virginia's location of being just a stone's throw from Washington, DC makes it ideal for taking a trip to see the monuments and museums in the District of Columbia one day (or several), and then heading out Rt. 66 to the countryside, or south on Rt. 29 to Charlottesville, or take I-95 to the small towns near Richmond. Regardless of what direction you decide to travel, Virgnia's rolling hills, pastures, mountain peaks, stately old mansions, and family farms have exactly what you need to soothe your soul and see life in an entirely new light.