These 11 Cities And Towns In Virginia Have The Most Breathtaking Scenery In The State

Situated on the Potomac River just outside of Washington, D.C., Old Town Alexandria offers a truly unique blend of history, culture and scenery. The streets of Old Town Alexandria are filled with elegantly preserved historic shops and homes, while the waterfront offers stunning river views, as well as boating and fishing opportunities.

This pretty little town offers plenty of charm with quaint shops, restaurants and a a beautiful historic downtown. But the beauty of Culpeper lies not just in town, but in the surrounding countryside filled with some of the state's most beautiful farmland.

Located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, two historic colleges, Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University, call this small town home. During the Civil War, Lexington served as the home and burial place of Stonewall Jackson, and after the war, Robert E. Lee became the president of Washington College, which was renamed Washington and Lee after his death. Full of historic homes and museums, Lexington offers a beautifully preserved downtown that is on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places - as well as some of the state's most stunning mountain views, like this one of House Mountain.

Sometimes referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland," Monterey is home to only 147 people. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. Located in Highland County, this small town delivers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and Blue Ridge Mountains from every angle.

Best known as the home of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg is nestled in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Often praised for its beauty, charm and strong sense of community, Blacksburg offers the best of small town living alongside the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding mountains.

Although it only takes up 6 blocks, this town is packed with history and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse country anywhere in the nation. The Middleburg Historic District, made up of many beautifully preserved 18th and 19th century buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since the early 1900s, Middleburg has been a destination for fox hunting and steeplechase events, earning it the title of "Horse and Hunt Capital of the United States."

Get past the funny name and Onancock is one of the greatest hidden gems of the Eastern Shore. Founded in 1680 as Port Scarborough, it has been called the Coolest Town in the South by Budget Travel and #1 Small Town in Virginia by CitiesJournal.com. With a live theater, award-winning restaurants, local artists, craftsmen, sculptors, actors, dancers, musicians and glass blowers, there's no shortage of things to see and do - and best of all, you have all the beauty of Virginia's Eastern Shore at your fingertips.

Set on the banks of Kerr Lake in Southside Virginia, Clarksville is Virginia's only lakeside town. Featuring an historic district that is on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia's Historic Register, Clarksville is surrounded by natural beauty that includes the lake, as well as the nearby Occoneechee State Park.

This little town is rich with frontier history from both early Europeans and Native Americans. Located in the southwestern-most corner of the state, it sits just by the borders of Kentucky and Tennessee. While it is not an officially incorporated town, the post office was established in 1891 and today, Ewing is home to the Wilderness Road State Park.

In a recent CNN report, BudgetTravel named Chincoteague as the #2 Coolest Small Town in America and few people who know this little town well would disagree. First settled in the 1700s, the town gained the spotlight in the 1960s with the publication of "Misty of Chincoteague," a story about one of the island’s now famous wild ponies. Today, Chincoteague is best known for its Annual Pony Swim and Auction, but also offers pristine beaches and wetlands, as well as one of nation's top wildlife refuge areas.

Starting with its slogan, "America's Coolest Hometown," Marion is a small town with big personality. Nestled in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Marion serves as both a Virginia Main Street Community and a National Main Street Community. Marion is home to Hungry Mother State Park and is surrounded by some of the state's most beautiful mountains and countryside.