Smalltown Virginia

In February of this year we decided to get away for the weekend.  We wanted to do something that was lighthearted but fun.  We wanted to get away.  We wanted to explore.   It was cold and we felt our options were limited, so we decided to go into Virginia and visit two small towns.  We went to Front Royal Virginia and Manassas, Virginia and explored and visited their quaint downtown areas. 

Our first stop was actually in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  We were heading down the road and decided to take a stroll through the shops in that unique town.   Visiting the fun shops and stores in Harpers Ferry really set the tone for our whole small town weekend!

 A stroll through Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal sits just north of the Shenandoah National Park and the famed Skyline Drive.  The town sits nestled in the shadow of the Appalachian mountains.  The town received a lot of visitors who are seeking to embark upon the skyline trail, hike in the mountains surrounding the town or canoe in the plentiful rivers and streams.   

​We arrived in Front Royal, Virginia with enough time to stroll through the town and explore the shops.   This little town was alive with activity as we strolled up and down the street.  We were tickled to see an antique shop and a trail outfitter store.  There was no question that we were going to go into those stores.  But we also enjoyed looking at the architectural salvage in one storefront and we had a blast visiting all the stores on the street.    

A trip to Front Royal is not complete without a stop in at the General Store.  Whenever we are in town we always like to stop in this shop.  This store has a bit of everything. We looked at the cast iron pans, shoes, coats, knives, candy and so many more things.   We always take our time to amble and stroll through this jam packed store and almost always have to try on a cowboy hat!  On this trip,  I even bought a new nightgown!

We had a great time exploring this small town.  It has a charm that just draws us in.  The people are welcoming and the stores are unique and fun!   But the evening went way too fast.   We enjoyed a good nights sleep at a locally owned hotel and a nice hearty breakfast at a local diner and we were ready for our next day of exploring!

Breakfast at the Knotty PIne

Our next stop was Manassas, Virginia
For our next adventure, we decided to head east about an hour and explore the town of Manassas, Virginia.  Manassas is probably best known for it's role in the Civil War, where not one but two instrumental battles were fought.  But many people visiting the area never take the time to explore the actual town.

We had been there before and knew that it had a neat historic downtown area that would interest us.  OK let me be honest,  we also knew that there was a candle shop in that downtown that just might hold some interest for us!  So we headed off!

Manassas, Virginia lived up to our expectations that day!  We enjoyed our leisurely stroll through the historic downtown.  We popped in and out of the stores and explored the side streets.   We did find that candle shop and we did purchase a lot of candles!  The stores were so fun and many of them were in old buildings that still held many of the vintage aspects of the architecture.   My favorite store was the Used book shop.   Sadly, the pandemic hit just a short month after our visit and the bookstore closed it's doors for good.

Manassas Museum
We ambled down a side street to the site of the Manassas Museum.  This museum offers free admission and has a small gift shop in the lobby.  The museum is dedicated to the history of the area.  It won't take long to visit but it is absolutely fascinating to see how the area surrounding Manassas was developed and how it has changed over the years!
 We were impressed with the town of Manassas.   We Spent time watching the ice skaters on the outdoor rink under the pavilion in the center park.   Upon reading up on the area, I discovered that in the summers when the ice rink is closed the town of Manassas will utilize the are for farmers markets and community events and festivals.  I loved to see the community spending time building a place of recreation and activity for their residents!

We had an absolutely fantastic time exploring both of these small towns in Virginia.  Both Front Royal and Manassas made us feel welcome and afforded us the opportunity to experience life in a small town.   The shops and products in these locally owned shops were top notch and sorely tempted us to spend money!  (Which we did).  Visiting small town America is definitely a great day of exploration!