6 Most Memorable Small Towns in the Mid-Atlantic
What does the mid-Atlantic region bring to mind? How about public parks, Abraham Lincoln, and the War of 1812, or Chesapeake Bay with shipbuilding and beaches? Home to some of the United State's most mesmerizing towns, tourists can take a trip back in time to Harpers Ferry, the strategic point that sparked the American Civil War, or St. Michaels, "the town that fooled the British" in the same war.
From the tranquil seaside villages to the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley offers skiing, hiking, and golf. Discover a one-of-a-kind historic park at the crossroads of two rivers and three states in the town of Harpers Ferry. Starting off along the Atlantic coast, at the northern edge of Virginia’s portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, Chincoteague is a small town and island with a utopian feel!
Chincoteague, Virginia
Home to under 3,500 full-time residents and 150 adult ponies, Chincoteague is the most memorable escape for animal lovers in this Mid-Atlantic state. Just 10 minutes from downtown Beach Drive lie the 14,000 acres of marshy lowlands of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Via long-distance or short, walkable trails, visitors can enjoy intimate experiences with the free-roaming, famous Chincoteague pony that captured America’s imagination with the 1961 film “Misty of Chincoteague.” Easily accessible yet popular, Assateague Island retains its pristine appeal to the joy of solitude lovers, unreachable by the traffic and city noise.
The rare resort town full of great experiences and the neighboring island have risen in summertime tourist demand for an escape with a simpler vibe that reminds us of the most important things in life. The white and brown ponies grazing along the shore's green grass and open water vistas make for a magical experience for visitors to embrace! You can fall asleep under a starry sky and wake up to an expansive sunrise in anticipation of the memorable discoveries that this treasure island beholds. Rent a bike ride from the Bike Depot rental shop for daytime explorations and communing with nature, and cap it off at the Black Narrows Brewing Company!
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
This unforgettable town at the crossroads of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers captivates visitors with history, sights, and experiences! Offering second-to-none access where the states of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia meet, it was the strategic point that sparked the American Civil War when abolitionist John Brown’s Raid took place in 1859. Today, the peaceful village with under 300 residents and the sprawling, multi-level Harpers Ferry National Historic Park make it a thriving tourist destination. For city dwellers starving of spectacular vistas, exploring Harpers Ferry is real food for the soul, with the rivers, forests, and mountains beckoning visitors to get in touch with nature!
On a spit of land, Harpers Ferry offers two rivers and four national parks as a beautiful focal point for discovering Mid-Atlantic history. The park is a unique restoration project of the downtown area, as if in the mid-1800s, for an authentic feeling of time travel and first-hand experience of the town's historical significance. Don't miss the John Brown site, while the active can venture outward along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which crosses the lower town. From summertime hikes to waterside pleasures, including a walkway across the Potomac River to Maryland, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park towpath is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
Lewes, Delaware
This close-knit, year-round community with hospitality akin to the South offers several inns, B&Bs, and motels to enjoy its special blend of history and natural beauty. Abounding in outdoor opportunities at the crossroads of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean on Cape Henlopen, Lewes is a memorable summertime escape with both bay and ocean beaches for swimming, sportfishing, and boat rides! The 4,013-acre Cape Henlopen State Park beckons hikers with preserved lands and more beautiful beaches to free-roam along nature trails with bird sanctuaries and an education center. No wonder Lewes is a revered nature lover's escape and a beloved local base for commuters to their city jobs!
As an easily walkable town, the half-mile square center is packed with the Historical Society's complex and the historic district's old architecture dating back to the 17th century. From museums to countless shops for gifts, visitors can prowl for modern gallery art in between fine dining restaurants. Quiet and dignified, Lewes is a real treat to savor over quiet strolls on a hunt for memories and memorabilia along its boutique-filled streets, like at the Bungalow on 2nd. Lewes takes great pride in its cultural and seafaring heritage as Delaware’s early Dutch settlement from 1631, with artifacts at the Zwaanendael Museum. From waterfront dining along Delaware’s picturesque coast to beach pursuits, its unique cultural gems and coastal charm will wipe away any stress of everyday life!
St. Michaels, Maryland
Nestled peacefully along Chesapeake Bay, St. Michaels, home to Hooper Strait Lighthouse, is the perfect town to navigate on a bike and tour the wharf with exhibits along the Miles River. Once an important trading port for shipbuilding and oyster industry, "The town that fooled the British" in the War of 1812 is full of historical intrigue. Upon overhearing a planned attack by the British in the early hours of August 10, 1813, St. Michaels hoisted lanterns onto the sailboats and treetops, and the British overshot the town. St. Michael's six shipbuilders during the War of 1812, with schooners as the vessel of choice, were taken as examples by others for their Baltimore clipper style.
Steeped in history, visitors can enjoy the Methodist preacher-designed town square, dating back to the 1600s, offering the ambiance of its old architecture with modern and cultural attractions. Check out the "Cannonball House" in St. Michael's historic district on the National Register of Historic Places and stop by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum before a nautical stroll along its decorated waterfront with a floating fleet of historic boats! Home to around 1,000 people today, St. Michaels B&Bs host a true Mid-Atlantic experience. With walking maps available at Mary's Square Museum, don't miss the cannery warehouse and try your hand in the working boatyard for a memorable experience.
Staunton, Virginia
Spoiled in scenic beauty, this memorable town with colorful cultural heritage lies in a nature wrap between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Idyllically located in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, visitors can explore on a bike and ride on horseback through Virginia’s greatest outdoors along pastoral landscapes! From local farms to green parks, the valley brims with hiking opportunities, as well as golf and even skiing. After a dose of nature in the nearby Shenandoah National Park, dig into delicious local cuisine and unwind in trendy breweries packed with hotels to relax. This "small town USA," with its red brick sidewalks, stunning architecture, and locally owned downtown boutiques, buzzes with art through galleries and artisan shops!
Dating back to the 19th-century rail junction days, Staunton was not just any traveler stop as it has opera, vaudeville, and even a happening nightlife that local inns and motels helped cater to back in the day. A cultural destination today for Shakespearean plays in an authentic, historically accurate setting, it is home to the American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse. The bustling cultural entertainment ranges from an intimate theater experience at the year-round renowned American Shakespeare Center to the vibrant bi-annual Staunton Jams and music-filled summer at the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Staunton Music Festival! Don't miss the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and the Frontier Culture Museum, with dinner after at Zynodoa Restaurant!
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Exuding energy from every pore, West Chester is an appealing Pennsylvania-Georgian-style town within the quaint Brandywine Valley. Home to West Chester University, its bustling downtown area with brick buildings and white trim accents is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With casual eateries and food-centric events for the brainiacs, the youthful vibe chases visitors around to explore all that this county's county seat has to offer. There is a palpable political history entrenched in the biography of Abraham Lincoln and his presidential election, published in the Lincoln Building on West Market Street in 1860. Stop by the historic West Chester Railroad Company and the Chester County Historical Society for insights into the history of this small town and its big contribution to the nation.
Dotted with parks for students to get a sip of fresh air, like the Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies, the large Natural Lands' Stroud Preserve appears mythical with its looming trees and dense forest floors. From West Goshen Community Park to the exotic Everhart Park, Rolling Green Memorial Park offers open fields to roam. In April, the West Chester Film Festival invites independent screenings of short films amid a variety of entertaining workshops and meetings with the filmmakers, whereas downtown is a giant festival on Super Sunday in June with fun and food, live music, and family-friendly activities like crafts and rides. Visit this August for a one-of-a-kind bike race, the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, including sprint races for kids, and don't miss the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center any evening!
Hunt for memories and memorabilia on quiet strolls along these historical, boutique-filled Mid-Atlantic towns. No matter when you visit, the captivating natural beauty of this region will follow you around and be in your memories long after.
So choose one of these concealed gems and embark on an enjoyable voyage to discover the marvels of the Mid-Atlantic region! You won't soon forget the beautiful hikes in West Chester, Dutch sights in Lewes, or all-in-one Staunton, with its colorful cultural heritage in a nature's wrap between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains.
