10 Main Streets Where Virginia Comes Alive
The southeastern US state of Virginia has a long and rich history, being one of the original colonies that evolved into America as it's known today. The state is packed with historic sites and culturally significant locations. Many of the towns here date back to the late 1700s, and some, like iconic Jamestown, are even older. The charming main streets here come alive and are usually lined with Colonial architecture, mature trees, and long-standing local businesses.
Abingdon
Historic Abingdon, a town of around 8,000 residents, nestled in the western part of Virginia among the Appalachian Mountains, has a Main Street that is renowned due to its walkability and picturesque scenery, especially during the fall. Take a walk down a beautiful red brick sidewalk, with local shops on each side of the street between towering maple and oak trees with vibrant orange and yellow leaves. Right in the middle of downtown, you will encounter the Barter Theatre, a performing arts venue founded in 1933 and still operating today, and it is also the designated State Theatre of Virginia.
Another legendary local establishment in Abingdon is The Tavern, which dates back to the 1770s, making it Virginia's oldest restaurant and bar still functioning. Today, they still serve alcohol, alongside upscale American and German fusion cuisine. Right across the street from The Tavern is another Abingdon favorite, Wolf Hills Coffee, a cafe that roasts its coffee beans, handcrafts espresso drinks, and bakes fresh pastries for its patrons.
If you are interested in an outdoor side quest, an epic rail trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail, starts in Abingdon and travels over 30 miles all the way to the North Carolina border. With the trailhead right off Main Street, Abingdon is a popular starting point.
Staunton
A bigger city than Abingdon, Staunton is home to around 20,000 people, and its historic main drag, centered around Beverley Street, is packed with Victorian architecture, independent retailers, charming eateries, and a thriving arts scene. Culturally, Staunton has preserved a lot of its old English feel from back in the state's Colonial days, and it even has a really cool Elizabethan-style venue, the American Shakespeare Center, which puts on live recreations of the famous playwright's works.
If you visit Staunton at the end of September, the Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival will transform the entire downtown area from modern-day Virginia to Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter universe. Plus, while you are there, you can enjoy the city's stunning fall foliage. If you cannot visit in September, on Beverley Street, any month of the year, you will find interesting attractions.
These include the Camera Heritage Museum, a self-guided exhibition centered around the fascinating history of photography, and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, which showcases the life of the former US President.
Lexington
In the Shenandoah Valley, the college town of Lexington, home to around 7,000 permanent residents, is home to both Washington and Lee University and the famous, longstanding Virginia Military Institute. It is a quaint, historic city with a small-town feel despite the annual influx of college students who arrive every fall.
The downtown area, centered around Main Street, is a unique mix of old buildings and restored local businesses, and the whole downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you are interested in exploring the town's vintage aspects, stay at the very old but upscale and well-maintained The Georges hotel and book a ride through town with the Lexington Carriage Company, a horse-drawn carriage tourist excursion.
The town is built on several hills, and the streets are sloping with twists and turns, but if you follow any Main Street signs, you will find exciting things at every turn. Lexington is a food lover's paradise, with tons of unique cuisine options, including Napa Thai on North Main, a highly rated Asian establishment, and the iconic dessert landmark Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe right down the block on Washington Street.
Farmville
Another college town, home of Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, Farmville is in south-central Virginia. Farmville's convenient central location and history during events such as the Civil War and the desegregation of American school systems have led to the town being called "the Heart of Virginia."
Farmville was very significant to the Civil Rights Movement, mainly during the events that led to the monumental Brown v. Board of Education desegregation case. You can learn about these events and more local history at the Robert Russa Moton Museum, located just outside the city's charming historic area, which is centered around Main Street.
A unique cultural attraction just outside town is the High Bridge Trail, which is known for being the longest recreational bridge in Virginia. It is a former railroad, but is now used for hiking, and travels past Farmville on its extensive 30-mile journey. If history is not what you are in the mood for though, Main Street has other fun options, such as making crafts at Mainly Clay pottery studio, or having a unique dining experience at one19, a local favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.
Culpeper
A mid-sized city surrounded by diverse landscapes, Culpeper lies between the Piedmont Plateau and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is in a great location, about two hours from both the Virginia capital of Richmond and the US capital of Washington DC. Like several other towns in Virginia, Culpeper played a significant role in both the Civil War and the American Revolutionary War, but today, it draws visitors in because of the scenery surrounding it and its vibrant downtown.
Culpeper's downtown businesses are mostly clustered around both Main Street and Davis Street. The town has a concentration of fun attractions in this area, like charming storefronts and boutiques owned by locals. Some include Hundred Acre Books, an independent bookshop selling new and used selections for affordable prices, and Throwbacks Arcade, a favorite spot for family fun. Throwbacks is a retro-themed arcade serving food and drinks for all ages, with an enormous selection of games to play.
Main Street in Culpeper is also a hotspot for local brews. There are two breweries right downtown, Beer Hound Brewery and Far Gohn Brewing Company. The former is quite acclaimed and has won six medals from the Virginia Brewers Guild. It has a contemporary feel and considers itself a modern microbrewery. Far Gohn is more traditional, fashioning itself over classic German taverns, but equally delicious.
Luray
An interesting small town also in the Shenandoah Valley, Luray is known for having a ton of fascinating attractions that you will not find anywhere else in Virginia. Like Lexington, Luray is a hilly town with a sloping Main Street that stays busy with several historic inns, lots of shops, and cafes. It is said that before you head to any of the other attractions in Luray, you cannot miss breakfast and coffee at the highly rated Broad Porch Coffee and Cafe right on Main Street.
Main Street in Luray is very neat, because it goes from a crowded, lively area packed with people enjoying themselves at the local businesses, and winds down to a peaceful, picturesque park called Carillon Park. It is a beautiful, lush park that includes a pond, mature trees, and an imposing stone monument called the singing tower. On the northeast side of the park, you will find the entrance to the Shenandoah Heritage Village, a living museum which covers seven acres and includes reconstructions and restorations of buildings that would make up a 19th-century farming village.
Carillon Park is also the gateway to Luray's arguably most renowned attraction, the Luray Caverns. The massive underground cave system has been formed over 400 million years, and now has paved walkways through it, which visitors can explore on guided tours. You will find yourself surrounded by otherworldly calcite formations, enormous echo chambers, and even a crystal clear lake. All this, only blocks from Main Street!
Williamsburg
An independent city in southeastern Virginia, Williamsburg is a significant place in the colonial history of the state, part of the "Historic Triangle" alongside Jamestown and Yorktown. Being an old city and having served as the original colony's capital for almost a century, it makes sense that the downtown area of Williamsburg is full of preserved 18th-century architecture and centered around archaeological sites.
The main street of the city is the uniquely named Duke of Gloucester Street, often shortened to DoG Street. A ton of interesting attractions can be found along this walkable road, many of which are centered around Williamsburg's past. Colonial Williamsburg, an immersive living history museum, is a fascinating area that covers several blocks of the city. Inside, you can experience colonial-era living and tour immaculately maintained sites from the 18th century and earlier.
Another popular draw for visitors is Merchant Square, a shopping district with over 40 businesses within a walkable area, also designed with the city's history in mind. Yet another long-time staple, the Kimball Theatre, was originally constructed in the 1930s and still shows live performances alongside indie and classic films. It also happens to be on many of the city's ghost tours, since it is said to be very haunted.
Winchester
In the northernmost part of Virginia, tucked into the corner of the scenic Shenandoah Valley, is Winchester, a city known for its proximity to incredible outdoor recreation. It has many thriving apple orchards, causing the area around the city to be named the "apple capital of the world," and every year, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors. This festival has been held in Winchester annually for a century, and includes multiple parades, live music, a carnival, sporting events, and everything apple-flavored that you could imagine trying.
The town itself is beautiful as well, with a bustling downtown area made up of several main streets that are all packed with attractions. This area is called Old Town Winchester, and the walking mall there has a ton of shops, restaurants, cafes, and even a museum, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, to explore. There are many popular things downtown to try, with one of the most highly rated being Bonnie Blue Southern Market and Bakery, a 1920s gas station that has been converted into a restaurant serving all three meals daily.
Fredericksburg
On the Rappahannock River in northeast Virginia, the mid-sized city of Fredericksburg sits, home to around 30,000 people. This city, is also known for its significant ties to the American Civil War, and is home to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which preserves several important historic sites related to the war. One of these sites is the first opposed river crossing in US history, and is a crucial location in Civil War history.
If learning about its past in the war is not your thing, Fredericksburg also has a picturesque downtown and a main street, namely Caroline Street, rich in delightful local restaurants and neat shops, such as the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop. This boutique is in a restored colonial storefront and sells unique gifts, plus has educational exhibits on 18th-century pharmaceuticals. A couple more popular downtown attractions along Caroline Street include Orofino, a highly-rated Italian restaurant, and Agora Downtown Coffee Shop and Roastery, a local favorite artsy coffeehouse that also sells books.
Cape Charles
A tiny town on a peninsula along the eastern shore of Virginia, Cape Charles has the glorious beach town feel that ocean lovers crave. This lovely old town has a rich maritime history, especially when it comes to commercial fishing, and excellent seafood can be found here in abundance. Its main street, Mason Avenue, follows the seashore and has some wonderful attractions right off it, including a public beach, Cape Charles Beach, and a fishing pier.
Mason Avenue is an attraction in itself as well, with stunning Victorian architecture and brick storefronts. The local landmark, the Historic Palace Theatre, is an epic Art Deco venue that shows live music, plays, and orchestras. Right across the street from the theatre is Mason Avenue Bakery, a favorite with residents for its artisanal baked goods and fresh breakfast sandwiches. For dinner and drinks, walk a couple of blocks down Mason Avenue and enjoy both at AJ's Bar and Grill, a laid-back spot that serves an eclectic menu with everything from raw oysters to pizzas.
No matter what kind of attraction you are searching for on your vacation, it can be found in Virginia. From the Appalachian Mountains to Atlantic beaches, these charming small towns are surrounded by diverse landscapes and packed with attractions for everyone. Each main street you explore, such as the oceanfront Mason Avenue of Cape Charles, the unique Main Street of Luray that leads to a network of caverns, or the historic Main Street of Farmville, is going to surprise and delight you on your journey through the legendary "Old Dominion!"
