The 11 Most Underated Cities In Virginia You Should Check Out

This little town is nearly hidden away in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. But while it may not often be seen, it should definitely not be forgotten. When a town has the official slogan "America's Coolest Hometown," you know you’re going to want to look twice.

What you might not know:
Marion serves as both an official Virginia Main Street Community AND National Main Street Community. In Marion, you’ll find The Lincoln Theatre, one of the country's only Art-Deco Mayan Revival style theaters, and host to the nationally syndicated bluegrass  program "Song of the Mountains."

Another "must-do" in Marion is The General Francis Marion Hotel, an historic AAA Three-Diamond hotel. Built in 1927, the hotel keeps the roaring ’20s alive with original walnut paneling and oak floors and a card room that features a black rooster, a throwback to prohibition when a black rooster meant "drinks served here."

But if you’re more of an outdoorsy type, don’t fret. Marion is also home to Hungry Mother State Park. Known for its beautiful woodlands and large lake, the park offers cabins, camping, boating (non-motorized), fishing and a visitors' center. 

This small town of fewer than 1,200 people offers more than you might think. Located in Botetourt County, Buchanan has caught the eye of national publications and offers more than a few reasons to visit.

What you might not know:
Thanks to "Antique Alley," a row of top-of-the-line antique stores located in the historic downtown, Fodor’s Travel Guide named Buchanan one of the "10 Best Antiquing Towns in the U.S."

Buchanan is also home to the Buchanan Theatre. First opened as the Star Theatre in 1919, it shut down in 1985. Fortunately, it was reopened in 2002 and, today, provides a venue for movies and live musical performances. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is recognized as Botetourt County's oldest standing theatre.

Also on the Register of Historic Places is the the Looney Mill Creek Site, a prehistoric archaeological site that shows evidence of life as far back as 60000 BC., and offers historical exploration of a settlement and mill established by Robert Looney in c. 1742.

Last but not least, be sure to check out the historic "Swinging Bridge." This wooden bridge, which is for walkers only, was built in 1938 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

As a former tobacco trading and manufacturing center for Virginia in the mid-19th century, Danville is a small town with a big history. Although Danville suffered some economic downturns over the years, recent revitalization efforts have turned it into a place worth checking out.

What you might not know:
In the final days of the Civil War, Danville’s Sutherlin Mansion served as the headquarters for the Confederate Army, making it the final capital of the Confederacy. Today, this stately home-turned-museum houses fine art collections, as well as providing a history of the site itself. The museum sits on Millionaire’s Row, which provides a look at some of the finest Victorian and Edwardian architecture remaining in Virginia.

Other historic sites include the Tobacco Warehouse and Residential District, the North Danville Historic District and the Schoolfield Historic Mill District, an old mill village with quaint residential homes. 

Located just south of the capital city of Richmond, Petersburg was once a booming transportation hub and boasts a long and fascinating history. Changes in transportation and economy may have diminished Petersburg’s appeal over time. But the last decades has brought significant revitalization and now, "Old Town Petersburg" is a lovely historic district with specialty shops, historic sites, boutiques and fine dining establishments.

What you might not know:
Because of its proximity to Richmond and its location on the Appamattox River, Petersburg has long served as an important trade route, dating as far back as the Revolutionary War. Likewise, Petersburg holds significant Civil War history and is home to several museums and battlefields.

For additional history, visit Pocahontas Island, a peninsula off of Petersburg that shows evidence of prehistoric life as far back as 6500 B.C. In the late 1700's, it became Virginia's first free black settlement, and by the start of the Civil War, Pocahontas was home to the the largest free black population of the time and included several stops on the Underground Railroad. Today, Pocahontas is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Additionally, two of Petersburg’s Baptist churches are considered among the oldest black congregations in the nation and both served as leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. After Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Petersburg was the first city to celebrate his birthday as a holiday.

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, the James River to the northeast and Smith Mountain Lake to the south, Bedford doesn’t lack for natural beauty. But with plenty of history, entertainment and culture to go around, Bedford offers more than just a few reasons to visit.

What you might not know:
If its natural beauty you're looking for, look no further. Bedford offers easy access to the famous Peaks of Otter, as well as close proximity to beautiful orchards, farms and wineries. But if you're also looking for history, character and small town appeal, then you've hit the jackpot. 

With just over 8,000 residents, Bedford is a vibrant town offering fine dining, boutique shopping and local arts and culture and history at every turn. One of the most popular attractions is the D-Day Memorial recognizing the 19 "Bedford Boys" who were killed during the D-Day invasion in Normandy in 1946. Their death put Bedford on the map as their loss represented the highest proportional loss of any community in the country. The memorial opened in 2001and has since been named the "#1 Attraction in Virginia" by TripAdvisor. 

Named the "Star City," Roanoke has long been a center of industry, culture and entertainment in Southwest Virginia. But many people don’t realize just how much this city of nearly 100,000 offers. You might just be surprised.

What you might not know:
Before we say why we love Roanoke, you should know that the city was named one of the 10 best "Bike-Friendly Cities" by 10Best and USAToday in 2014, the "Best Trail Town" by Blue Ridge Outdoors in 2013 and the "Best Mid-Sized Mountain Town" by Blue Ridge Outdoors in 2012…just to name a few.

Called the "Star City" because of the 88.5-foot star that sits atop Mill Mountain, Roanoke offers everything from natural beauty to big city culture. The star itself is surrounded by Mill Mountain Park which offers two overlooks, the Discovery Center, 10 miles of multi-use trails, Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden, a playground, the Mill Mountain Zoo and picnic areas. For more outdoor beauty, Carvin’s Cove is the second largest city park in the nation at 12,700 acres.

If you’re interested in culture, be sure to check out the Taubman Museum of Art, Center in the Square (home to the History Museum of Western Virginia, the Science Museum of Western Virginia and the Hopkins Planetarium), The Virginia Museum of Transportation or the O. Winston Link Museum, a museum showcasing late steam-era railroad photography. With ample fine dining and night life opportunity, Roanoke also features specialty boutiques, a large farmer’s market and historic sites like the stately and elegant Roanoke Hotel.

Best known as the home of James Madison University, Harrisonburg is a college town extraordinaire. But its charm and appeal don't stop with the university.

What you might not know:
Harrisonburg is an independent city that was first settled in 1737 at the head of a Native American trail that ran through the Shenandoah Valley. The area eventually became home to James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University.

In the early 2000s, the Harrisonburg "Downtown Renaissance" began and in 2004, Harrisonburg became a Virginia Main Street Community, investing nearly a million dollars to revitalize the historic downtown district. Today, the city has a thriving arts and culture scene with performing arts’ theaters, galleries and museums, as well as many other local specialty shops, a thriving farmer’s market, boutiques and businesses, including award-winning restaurants and breweries.

Harrisonburg has been named a top Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2015, "Best Beer Town" by Blue Ridge Outdoors in 2013 and fifth on the list of "America’s Best College Towns" by Travel + Leisure in 2013.

For a small town in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Floyd is an absolute treasure trove of arts and music. With a population that hovers around 500, Floyd manages to make a lot of noise – in the best way possible.

What you might not know:
For more than 100 years, The Floyd Country Store in downtown Floyd has been dishing up old-timey goodness. From the barrels of old-fashioned candy that greet you at the doors to the shelves stocks with old-time wooden toys, apple butter and bib overalls. But what draws people in week after week is the Friday Night Jamboree featuring local heritage music and dancing, Americana music on Saturdays and traditional mountain music jams every Sunday. Likewise, Floyd has drawn national and international artists and performers for the four-day FloydFest Music Festival held each summer. 

If music isn’t your thing, the historic downtown provides a surprisingly wide array of shops, many of them featuring locally made arts and crafts, pottery and locally grown foods. Throughout the county, you'll find even more artisans, craftsman and shops, as well as award-winning wineries, all of which are reasons Men’s Journal named Floyd one of the "50 Great American Places to Visit this Summer" in 2013.

Even though Middleburg, located in Northwest Virginia’s rolling hills, only takes up 6 blocks, it makes the most of every square inch. This small town is packed with history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse country anywhere in the nation, making it trip-worthy to say the least. 

What you might not know:
The entire Middleburg Historic District, made up of many beautifully preserved 18th and 19th century buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Red Fox Inn is considered one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the U.S. Founded in 1728, it is Middleburg’s oldest structure.

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." It is also home to the National Sporting Library, a research center for horse and field sports.

All of these facts have led to Middleburg being named one of the "Best Small Town Weekend Getaways" by Southern Living Magazine and the sixth best in Fodor’s Travel list of "20 Best Day Trips in the U.S." in 2014.

Named for Revolutionary war hero, General Joseph Warren, this town of less than 10,000 in Fauquier County packs a big punch. Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. and only 35 minutes from Dulles Airport, it provides a perfect blend of new and old, urban and historical – and earns its place on this list for many reasons.

What you might not know:
Given its close proximity to Washington, D.C., Warrenton enjoys affluence not always common in small towns and is listed as the eighth highest-income county in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And while affluence might be a more recent benefit, this town’s history goes back much further.

Founded in 1790, Warrenton features a jail house and court house that have both been beautifully preserved and now serve as museum buildings housing Native American artifacts, Civil War exhibits featuring Colonel John S. Mosby (a Warrenton resident) and original jail cells. Another key feature of Old Town Warrenton is the statue of Chief Justice John Marshall (served from 1801–1835), who began his legal career there.

Also a haven for horse enthusiasts, The Warrenton Hunt began in 1883, the Warrenton Horse Show in 1900 and The Virginia Gold Cup Race in 1922. Today, Warrenton offers diverse history and small town charm that makes it an idyllic place to live and visit.

The town of Cape Charles sits near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on Virginia's Eastern Shore. With a population just topping 1,000, Cape Charles maintains a quaint, post-Victorian charm and should not be overlooked when making your next set of travel plans.

What you might not know:
Founded in 1884, Cape Charles was originally a planned community intended to support a new railroad and the Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry. Today, you can walk streets lined with old-fashioned shops and restaurants, including an old school soda fountain.

If you’d like to explore this seaside town’s history, The Cape Charles Museum is the perfect place to start. But one of the town's most unexpected treats is the Kiptopeke Concrete Ships, nine retired ships made out of concrete during the World Wars. The ships can be seen from vantage points at Kiptopeke State Park, which also offers camping, cabins, yurts and plenty of outdoor activities including exceptional migratory bird watching opportunities.