9 Quirkiest Virginia Towns You Didn't Know Existed
Ratified in 1788, Virginia is one of the oldest states in the US. With its deep history and breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains, it’s earned its nickname as the Mother of States! Tucked in the heart of the mountains are small, hidden communities with so much to discover. You can walk among the dinosaurs (not real ones!) at Dino Land in White Post, or dine on the best cheese of your life from the gouda-making nuns in Crozet. When you’re ready to discover Virginia’s weird side, check out some of these delightful and offbeat escapes!
Damascus
If you’re looking for small town charm where time moves a little slower, Damascus is it! It is a small community of just under 1,000 residents in southern Virginia along the Tennessee border, known as The Town Where Trails Cross. Seven nationally recognized trails intersect in Damascus, like the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail. Some sections of the trails even traverse through private residences (don’t worry, the trails hold the right of way). If you’ve ever wanted to walk the scenic paths of some of Virginia’s most famous trails, be sure to visit Damascus!
The area is so proud of its central location that it holds the Appalachian Trail Days Festival every May. The event celebrates the beauty of Virginia with a hiker parade, talent shows, live music, and excellent Southern cuisine. If you want to experience the trails on a bike, be sure to stop by the Shuttle Shack, which offers bike rentals and shuttle services to the trails.
Chincoteague
Located on the eastern shores of Virginia is the resort island of Chincoteague, known for its beautiful wind-swept beaches, absence of commercial establishments, and ponies! In 1925, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company herded wild ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island to be auctioned off. The auction still takes place today to help thin the herd, and all the proceeds go to funding the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. While it’s exciting to see the ponies swim, the festival also has live music and food trucks.
If you missed the ponies, there’s still plenty to see in Chincoteague. The walkable downtown district offers fresh seafood at local cafes like the seaside Don's Seafood Market and Restaurant, or Captain Zack's Seafood. No beach trip is complete without grabbing an ice cream cone at Island Creamery (you have to try their amazing banana split!).
Big Stone Gap
The area of Big Stone Gap earned its name due to its location nestled between Powell Mountain and Little Stone Mountain in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. The city streets lie in the shade of the mountains, with delightful shops like Curklin's and a handful of public parks like Frog Level Park that trace the scenic Powell River.
While breathtaking views are not in short supply in this laid-back southern hamlet, the real excitement comes when the curtains go up at the Barbara Polly Theater for the annual Trail of the Lonesome Pine outdoor drama. The summertime community production takes place at an outdoor amphitheater and weaves the tale of how coal revitalized the town of Big Stone Gap nearly 100 years ago. It’s an incredibly local performance with music, dancing, and theatrical gunfire. Whenever you hear the echo of a prop gun in Big Stone Gap, you know the summer season has begun!
Crozet
In the cooling shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the community of Crozet, a small community where the beauty of the mountains meets scenic vineyards and breweries. After a long day exploring Mint Springs Park, you can stop in Starr Hill Brewery (one of Virginia’s oldest craft breweries) to recharge your batteries. It’s also known for its beautiful orchards, like Chiles Peach Orchard or King Family Vineyards.
What makes Crozet unique is its proximity to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, affectionately referred to as the gouda-making nuns. The secluded monastery sits on nearly 507 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and supports itself through the sale of its very special cheese. Visitors can tour the peaceful grounds and purchase cheese from the shop. And if you can’t make it to Crozet but still want to sample their cheese, you can also order it by mail!
Onancock
Along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay is the small community of Onancock. If you love seafood (especially crab), you’ll fall in love with this sleepy fishing village. Mallards at the Wharf is worth the trip with its vintage vibes tucked in an old building from the 1800s. It offers fresh seafood and live music overlooking the wharf. And if you love sushi, kuchisabishii offers some of the best (and freshest) sushi in the state!
Outside of its old-timey fishing village vibes, there’s so much natural beauty to explore around Onancock. You can also explore Onancock's artsy side by visiting charming local galleries like the Danny Doughty Gallery or the Red Queen Gallery. One of the coolest things to do in Onancock is taking the Tangier Island Ferry to explore the very isolated community on Tangier Island that feels like stepping onto a movie set. While you’re there, be sure to swing by the Tangier History Museum to learn more about this secluded island community.
Dayton
In northwestern Virginia, not too far from the West Virginia border, is the small community of Dayton. This small settlement is southern charm at its finest, with quaint attractions like the Virginia Quilt Museum, farm-to-table restaurants like Harvest Table, and historic sites like Fort Harrison and its beautiful grounds. With a walkable downtown and very few commercial establishments, Dayton feels like it’s locked away in time.
What makes Dayton so unique isn’t what’s there now, but what used to be there around 50 million years ago! It’s where you’ll find Mole Hill, the remains of an old (and extinct, thankfully) volcano that erupted millions of years ago. Didn’t expect to see a volcano in Virginia, did you? If you want to get up close and personal with this extinct volcano, you’ll first need permission from Mole Hill Bikes, which owns the land. But, while you’re there to ask for permission, you can always rent a bike to explore the nearby area!
Luray
If you love quirky touristy attractions, you’ll fall in love with the humble city of Luray. It’s home to offbeat museums like the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum, Toy Town Junction, and has live concerts during the summer at the iconic Luray Singing Tower. This unique tower is one of Virginia’s most notable landmarks and stands 117 feet tall, equipped with 47 bells, and hosts concerts during the warmer months.
The real surprises in Luray, however, lie underground. This extensive cavern system is one of the largest caverns in the eastern United States. Visitors can traverse through its complex system of enormous stalactites and stalagmites, rooms as big as cathedrals with calm pools and eerie lighting. The best attraction in the caverns is the Great Stalacpipe Organ, one of the largest musical instruments in the world. It was constructed by a mathematician in the 1950s, and it plays different pitches when you strike the stalactites.
Clifton Forge
Tucked away in the Allegheny Highlands is Clifton Forge, famous for its railroad history and slower pace of life. Through its steep, winding city streets shaded by the mountains, it holds unexpected surprises like the old Clifton Forge Armory or the views atop the Devil's Backbone (also known as Flag Rock). You can dine at local eateries like Jack Mason's Tavern and Brewery or enjoy the giant portions at the local favorite 42Deli.
A must-see while in Clifton Forge is something you won’t find anywhere else in Virginia: the C&O Railway Heritage Center. It’s a museum dedicated to Clifton Forge’s rich railroad history, but it’s so much more than a simple museum. The museum has fully restored rail cars, locomotives, and cabooses that you can enter and explore. It also has the Clifton Forge yard, where you can watch active trains pass through the area. If you love everything trains, be sure to add Clifton Forge to your Virginia road trip list!
White Post
The thing that makes White Post a village worth visiting is right in the name. It’s home to the iconic White Post, right at the intersection of White Post Road and Berry's Ferry Road. It was erected in 1750 by Lord Fairfax to guide travelers to Greenway Court. Most of the original post has been replaced, but it still reflects White Post’s rich history in the dawn of the United States.
Don’t worry, there’s more to see in White Post than a simple (yet historical) post! The history of White Post spans much farther than the 1750s. It’s home to Dinosaur Land, a quirky, offbeat attraction that feels like a stop along Route 66. You can take a self-guided tour through the shaded paths accented with over 50 life-sized dinosaurs that make you feel like you walked right into the Mesozoic Era. After your tour, be sure to stop by the gift shop for souvenirs to take back home!
Discover Unexpected Surprises in Virginia
If you think you know what Virginia is all about, these quirky little hamlets hidden away in the Appalachian Mountains and eastern shorelines are sure to prove you wrong! Only in these hidden hamlets can you explore the underground wonders of the largest cave system in the eastern United States in Luray, or get up close and personal with an extinct volcano in Dayton. If you love green mountain views, excellent southern cuisine, and unexpected surprises, these hidden gems locked away in the heart of the mountains of Virginia will not disappoint!
