10 Small Town Travel Guides in Virginia
Why You Should Visit a Small City
Big cities and international destinations get all of the glory. I know because I give them extra play, too. I’ve written about some pretty epic trips here on Sweet Sauce Spain, Thailand, Greece, Denver, San Francisco are just a handful I’ve written about here. I’m fortunate to have close friends and family who really love to see the world and experience it with open minds. Many of them live or have a connection in these cities and countries, too. That makes these more lofty destination accessible to me. While I believe you should get out of your own time zone once a year, I also find that some of my most enriching trips have been the ones that take place just a car ride away.
Below are a handful of my favorite small town travel guides I’ve penned about places and experiences right here in Virginia:
- Colonial Beach, VA(Richmond Magazine, Page 19)
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Gloucester, VA(Virginia’s Rivier Realm)
- Harrisonburg and Rockingham Counties, VA
- Harrisonburg, VA (Richmond Magazine, Page 6)
- Irvington, VA
- Irvington, VA(Virginia’s River Realm)
- Kilmarnock, VA
- Leesburg, VA (Richmond Magazine, Page 16)
- Northern Neck, VA(Richmond Magazine, Page 7)
- Staunton, VA
- Weems, VA (a Skydiving guide)
- Winchester, VA (Richmond Magazine, Page 37)
You’ll note that I pulled in travel guides I’ve written for other websites and publications. Currently, I’m working to pen more guides to Winchester, Leesburg and Harrisonburg for a magazine. A Virginia Beach travel guide will hit the blog soon, too. Outside of Virginia, I think the Outer Banks and Joshua Tree are a few of my favorite small getaways from the past year.
So what’s in a small town or small city that you can’t find in a buzzing metropolis? I’ve got a few ideas…
It’s more affordable
Lodging, food, attractions and shopping are all lower cost in smaller cities. You can experience more and spend less. That doesn’t mean you’ll be having a low-rent vacation. Some of the food and lodging I had in Staunton and Irvington is progressive and award winning. You still get to get out of your own town and explore. You’ll still get the vacation you’ve been needing.
It’s easier to get around
I brought my own car to Colonial Beach for a solo trip. From the beach, to a farm-to-table cooking class, to a full service salon, I made it around so easily because I could bring my own car. Having your own vehicle gives you a lot more flexibility when it comes to exploring. You can more quickly say “yes” to visiting a restaurant or getting a hike in because you’re in control. If you don’t have a car, it’s still easier and cheaper to get around by driving services like Lyft. There are no surge prices or pooling.
You get to know people more
For me, this is really important. When I travel, I like to connect with the local culture. I want to really understand it, and even make it my own. The only way to do this is to talk to people. I find in smaller cities, people are more willing and even excited to tell you about their home. Unlike larger cities, you’ll find that the locals are actually from the town you’re visiting. Because of that, you are able to take in an even more detailed painting of the town, it’s history and culture. Sometimes you stay in touch!
There’s more opportunity for outdoor adventure
Most smaller cities are surrounded by larger areas of open land, river, or mountains. That means there’s more opportunities for baiting, hiking, four wheeling or even sky diving. For me, a vacation always includes a healthy dose of fresh air. That’s much easier to get when you aren’t caught up in the busy agenda of a big city.
