It is a charming and sophisticated gem hiding in plain sight.
In a surprising turn of events, the coveted award for “America’s Best Weekend Getaway” for 2025 has gone not to a famous beach town or a trendy mountain resort, but to the small and historically rich city of Staunton, Virginia. This charming and often-overlooked city, nestled in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, has been quietly cultivating a reputation as a perfect destination for a relaxing and culturally rich escape.
For those in the know, Staunton offers a unique and perfect blend of history, culture, and outdoor beauty that has now been thrust into the national spotlight.
1. The downtown is a perfectly preserved architectural gem.
The first thing that will strike you about Staunton is the incredible and beautifully preserved architecture. The city’s Wharf and Beverley Street historic districts are a stunning collection of intact, 19th-century Victorian buildings. A walk down the city’s Main Street feels like a true step back in time. The city has a deep appreciation for its history, and it shows in the meticulous preservation of its architectural treasures, as mentioned by Travel + Leisure.
Unlike many other historic towns, Staunton feels like a real, living city, not a theme park. The historic buildings are home to a vibrant collection of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants.
2. The world-class American Shakespeare Center is a must-see.
Staunton is the unlikely home of one of the most important and unique theaters in the world. The American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse is the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s original indoor theater, according to Yahoo! Life. To see a play here is to experience Shakespeare in a way that is incredibly authentic, energetic, and engaging, with universal lighting and audience interaction.
This world-class theater company produces a year-round season of plays by Shakespeare and other classic playwrights, and it is a major cultural draw that you would not expect to find in a small city in Virginia.
3. It has a vibrant and unpretentious farm-to-table food scene.
Located in the heart of the incredibly fertile Shenandoah Valley, Staunton has a thriving and authentic farm-to-table food scene. The city’s talented chefs take full advantage of their access to incredible, locally sourced ingredients from the surrounding farms. The downtown area is filled with a fantastic and surprisingly diverse collection of excellent restaurants that are a fraction of the price of what you would pay in a bigger city, as mentioned by The New York Post.
From cozy, farm-fresh bistros to artisanal bakeries and a great farmers market, it is a fantastic and very approachable foodie destination.
4. It is a perfect base for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Staunton has a stunning natural setting and is a perfect base camp for exploring the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is just a short and scenic drive from both the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park’s famous Skyline Drive. This gives visitors easy access to some of the best hiking and most beautiful scenic drives on the entire East Coast.
It is a city that offers the perfect combination of a culturally rich, urban experience and immediate access to world-class outdoor recreation.
5. It is steeped in American history.
The city of Staunton and the surrounding area are rich in American history. The city is the proud birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson, and you can visit his presidential library and museum, which is located in his beautifully preserved childhood home. The region was also the site of a number of important Civil War battles, and the history is palpable.
For any history buff, a weekend in Staunton is a chance to immerse yourself in the story of America, from its colonial roots to its most transformative conflicts, all in a beautiful and compact setting.
6. It has a charming and very walkable Main Street.
One of the best things about Staunton is that it is a city that is meant to be explored on foot. The historic downtown is compact, clean, and incredibly walkable. The city’s Main Street, which is officially Beverley Street, has won awards for being one of the most beautiful in the country. It is a charming collection of independent boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants.
You can easily spend an entire afternoon just happily wandering, poking your head into the various shops, and enjoying the beautiful architecture and the friendly, small-town atmosphere.
7. It is still a relatively affordable getaway.
Despite all of its incredible assets, Staunton has managed to remain a surprisingly affordable destination. The cost of a room at one of its charming, historic hotels or a meal at one of its excellent restaurants is very reasonable, especially when compared to other, more famous historic towns on the East Coast. It is a place where you can have a very high-quality and culturally rich weekend getaway without breaking the bank.
This incredible value for money, combined with its beauty and its charm, is a huge part of what makes it America’s best new weekend destination.