Here in Virginia, we appreciate the art of a delicious buffet. That's especially true on Sundays, when delicious home cooking never tastes better. Head to the Virginia Diner and prepare to be amazed by the selection of southern favorites, such as all-you-can-eat biscuits, gravy, fried chicken, and other staples.
Welcome to the Virginia Diner in Wakefield, a must-visit destination for anyone craving homemade comfort food or perhaps an authentic made-in-Virginia product.
Step inside and you'll find a friendly atmosphere perfect for enjoying your meal. Each day of the week brings a new special, such as turkey pot roast, stuffed peppers, steamed shrimp, and pork.
Complete with Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and fresh biscuits, this buffet leaves nothing out.
Country ham is another staple at the Virginia Diner. Order it on a breakfast sandwich with eggs and cheese or eat it alone with delicious sides for a meal you won't soon forget.
Needless to say, you'll want to be sure to bring your appetite when you visit for the first time. And in true Virginia fashion, you can finish your meal with a slice of traditional peanut pie.
Have you visited the Virginia Diner before and sampled their Sunday buffet? If so, we'd love to hear all about it! For more information, be sure to visit the official website by clicking here. Looking for even more delicious all-you-can-eat buffets? Be sure to read about this mouthwatering seafood buffet hiding in Virginia.
Ever since I was a young child, one of my favorite hobbies has always been reading. I'll admit it - I also love collecting books that are on my "to-read" list, knowing good and well that the list is growing at a rate that's impossible for me to keep up with. There's always the ever-present hope that one day I'll have more free time to read! Until then, I'll satisfy myself with trips to bookstores. Whether I'm at home or traveling, I love the joy of visiting an independent bookstore. I'm sure most bibliophiles can relate when I say that they feel like home, even if they're a shop you've never been to before. Not much in life is better than cozying up with a cup of coffee and a good book! If you've been hunting for some great new bookstores to check out in the northern Virginia area, you'll love this NOVA road trip we have planned to five of the best bookstores in the state.
We love long road trips, but since you'll want to spend a bit of time in each of the featured bookstores, we're just featuring five locations on this trip, which takes a little over an hour on the road and requires less than 50 miles of driving. You can check out the full itinerary at Google Maps, and it's customizable, so feel free to add or remove stops if you like.
We'll start our journey at One More Page in Arlington. This delightful shop is so much fun. Not only will you find a vast selection of new books, but there's also chocolate and wine. Reading clubs and author events are hosted regularly, and it's a great place to meet fellow book lovers. I find the staff notes placed on some of the books to be super helpful when trying to determine what I want to read next.
For our next stop, we'll travel down to Alexandria for a visit to Old Town Books. This cozy shop does great work in the local community and has a wonderful selection of kids' literature. The event track here is wonderful, with plenty of readings, signings, and more hosted frequently. The staff are happy to provide guidance if you're having trouble figuring out what to throw on your to-read list.
You won't have to go too far for our next independent bookstore, as it's also in Alexandria. Hooray for Books! is an especially magical spot if you've got kids who are bookworms. It was founded in 2008 and sells books for teens and adults as well, but the kids' selection is especially prominent. There are plenty of puzzles and games for sale, too.
You'll have to drive a little farther for our next spot, but it's definitely worth the time in the car (audiobooks are perfect for when you are stuck in traffic!). Bards Alley Bookshop is a wine-and-book combo shop in Vienna that features coffee and tea for those not a fan of vino. More than 5,000 titles are available here, and there's so much to browse through. The locally baked sweets and snacks are perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat before you hit the road again.
We'll finish up this literary road trip with a visit to Scrawl Books. This is a great shop in Reston Town Center, and the owner is a local who has years of experience as a librarian. The staff are extremely knowledgeable at providing recommendations. In addition to books, you'll find a selection of gifts, apparel, and tote bags to lug around all your new purchases.
Did we miss your favorite bookstore in NOVA? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Want a fun way to virtually support local bookstores when you're not able to visit in person? Check out Bookshop.org, which donates a percentage of all sales to local independent bookstores in your area.
Don't you just love a small town? Virginia's larger cities are incredible - I love a day trip to Richmond, and Norfolk and Chesapeake both have their charms. But small towns make up the backbone of our great state, and any visit to Old Dominion is incomplete without checking out some of our many little rural towns. They're perfect for discovering the state's rich culture and history, and also a wonderful place to find great little shops and restaurants. If you're looking for your next big adventure, we've got a great one in store for you today with this epic road trip to some of the best small towns in Virginia. This is a lengthy trip, but it's full of fun and perfect for next time you've got a few days free.
If you opt to explore the entirety of the trip we have planned, it'll take just under five and a half hours of driving. Of course, you'll want to add in a few hours to explore each town. I recommend allotting at least three days for the entire trip, but you can always customize the itinerary using Google Maps if you're looking to make the route shorter.
We'll start our trip in Front Royal, a town of 15,000 in the Shenandoah Valley. It may have a somewhat sizable population to be included on a small-town road trip list, but you'll find that this place has all the charm of a much tinier city. This is an absolutely beautiful spot, and one of our favorite restaurants to enjoy here is Region's 117, an exquisite eatery offering up lakefront fine dining with incredible views. Love history and all things spooky? Check out Prospect Hill Cemetery, an allegedly haunted graveyard that's the final resting place of many Civil War soldiers.
Street scene in downtown Culpeper, Virginia, a Second Amendment sancuary some 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Washington, DC on January 16, 2020. – When Sheriff Scott Jenkins swore to protect the US Constitution, he swore to uphold the second amendment — and that means guaranteeing citizens the right to bear arms, even as the Virginia government weighs depriving state residents of what Jenkins considers an inalienable right. “The Constitution is very clear: the second amendment grants every citizen to bear arms, specifically against a tyrannical government,” said the officer from Culpeper County, a rural region about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Washington. Since December, he has become a key figure in a pro-second amendment protest movement that has organized a protest in Richmond, the state capital, on January 20, 2020. At least 10,000 supporters plan on attending, according to media reports. The second amendment, which says that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” has proved controversial over the years and has been subject to many different interpretations. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals have the right to keep firearms in their households, but left it to states to determine how the weapons could be transported. (Photo by EVA HAMBACH / AFP) (Photo by EVA HAMBACH/AFP via Getty Images)
Head south a bit, and you'll hit our next destination, Culpeper. This is another bigger-than-it-feels town, and you'll be welcomed by a bustling downtown area that offers a little bit of everything. You'll find charming little cafes and shops lining the city streets. The quiet setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains provides plenty of natural beauty, and the city's outskirts boast gently rolling hills and tranquil farmlands.
Those who prefer their small towns a bit smaller will love our next stop: Ashland, population 7,000. This historic town has plenty of ties to the railroad, and its visitors center is housed in an old 1920s train station. Looking for a unique dining experience? Check out Islamorada Fish Company. The rustic atmosphere and giant aquarium make for quite a memorable meal.
FARMVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 17 The rural town of Farmville, VA, is home to Fuqua School on November 17, 2011, in Farmville, VA. Fuqua School is one of the former segregation academies in Virginia which are now actively recruiting black students. The school was founded in 1959 as Prince Edwards Academy, a segregation academy set up for white students to be educated when Prince Edwards County Schools closed rather than integrate after the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown vs Board of Education. In 1986, the school ended its discrimination policies and began accepting non-white students.
You'll head southwest a bit before coming up on our next town: Farmville (no, not the Facebook game!). As the name implies, this is a farm town through and through, and it's the perfect place for a quiet escape. It's a two-college town that's home to Longwood University and Hampden-Sidney, but it's perhaps best known for its furniture shopping. The sprawling Green Front Furniture has over 1,000,000 square feet of luxury furniture available in 12 warehouses spread out over six blocks. Another can't-miss attraction here is High Bridge Trail State Park, home to a 31-mile trail running over the Appomattox River.
Last but not least is our final stop on this road trip: Lexington. This city lies right at the intersection of Interstate 81 and Interstate 64, and has so many great attractions. This is another two-college town: it's home to both the Virginia Military Academy and Washington and Lee University. The downtown area contains several historic Civil War sites, including Stonewall Jackson's house and gravesite.
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Which of these small towns in Virginia is your favorite? Any that aren't on the list that you think should've been included? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Traveling by car is my favorite way to explore: it offers up so many opportunities to check out unexpected wonders! With that being said, road trips do require a bit of extra preparation. To make sure you stay safe and have a great time, check out our road trip essentials packing list before hitting the highway.
