This historic town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley boasts world-class arts and culture, historic museums, and easy access to natural beauty.

Staunton (pronounced Stan-ten) is a vibrant small town with a well-preserved historic district—actually, six historic districts—that features beautifully restored buildings and an abundance of Victorian-style architecture. While Staunton is not typically known as a college town, it is home to Mary Baldwin University, which has more than 2,100 students.

The walkable historic downtown area boasts plenty of curious and eclectic boutiques and cafes. However, there’s so much more, including a quirky camera museum and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, which is one of 14 presidential libraries across the country. Here’s what to do when you’re ready to explore Staunton.

What to Do

Nestled in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Staunton is immersed in natural beauty, which can be fully appreciated from within a 1940s era rail car on the Virginia Scenic Railway. Four days a week, three-hour sightseeing train rides chug east and west from the historic train depot in Staunton, affording short-line passengers breathtaking views across farmland and verdant forests.

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From the train depot, it’s a short walk to mainstay attractions, like the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum. On display are historic photographs and artifacts, even the Pierce-Arrow limousine that awaited Wilson on his arrival in New York after negotiating the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Visitors can also explore the home where our 28th president was born.

At the Camera Heritage Museum, the largest camera museum open to the public, visitors can ogle more than 7,000 cameras, which showcase photography technologies that span more than 150 years. Also on display are more than 2,000 vintage photographs of Staunton and Augusta County.

Arts and culture thrives at the American Shakespeare Center and the Blackfriars Playhouse, a re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, and one that’s widely considered one of the world’s most historically significant theatres. Throughout the year, Shakespeare’s most famous works are performed on stage, from Hamlet to Much Ado About Nothing. The playhouse also stages seasonal works, like A Christmas Carol.

On the edge of Staunton, the Frontier Culture Museum is billed as the largest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley. Roaming costumed interpreters educate visitors on the evolution and journeys of those who came to settle and live in Virginia, including Native American tribes, European immigrants, and enslaved Africans.

In late-summer, Staunton is alive with the sounds of classical music thanks to the annual Staunton Music Festival, which showcases more than 80 renowned and emerging musical artists across over 20 events. As a bonus, most performances are free to the public. Several live music venues, including Gypsy Hill Park and Tempest Bar & Lounge, also regularly feature bands and musicians.

For shops and boutiques, you’ll find plenty of options, particularly on Beverley Street, the main street in Staunton. Vintage shops thrive, including Billy Opal, Juniper Lane, and Eclectic Retro. Stop in Burrow & Vine for live plants and home décor, as well as Pufferbellies for a thoughtfully-curated selection of children’s toys, games, and puzzles.

Where to Eat

Staunton offers an exciting diversity of wine bars, coffee shops, taco shacks, elevated burger joints, and tasting rooms. Cider from Mars, a hip award-winning cidery, wins rave reviews for its cider flights and hand-crafted cider cocktails. Another in-town favorite is Yelping Dog Wine, a wine bar and bottle shop with craveable eats, like grilled cheese sandwiches and all kinds of cheese plates. Cheese lovers can also fill up at Ballerino Creamery, a noted artisan cheese shop.

At Remedy Burger, deliciously cheeky burgers satisfy anyone and everyone in your crew, like the signature Remedy Burger, with double smashed patties, and the Broccoli Burger, a uniquely veggie twist on typical burger fare. Meantime, Gloria’s Pupuseria serves up mouth-watering Salvadoran style food, including pupusas, pasteles, and tamales.

For classic, old-school fare, Wright’s Dairy-Rite is a win. They’ve been slinging burgers and fries since 1952. They’ve got curb service, too. Just pull up, order at the vintage metal box, and wait for your food to come to you. Save room for Wright’s Wheelie, a hot glazed donut topped with a jumbo scoop of vanilla ice cream.

For more sweetness, head to Sweet Addie’s Waffle Shop for dessert style liege waffles that can be adorned with such toppings as crushed Oreos, mini marshmallows, cannoli cream, and chocolate chips. They’ve got a savory menu too, ingeniously pairing fluffy waffles with fried chicken, gravy, and country ham, even white cheddar mac & cheese. Delicious.

Where to Stay

When you want to stay the night or the weekend in Staunton, you’ve got choices. Berkeley Place, which dates to 1896, is an elegant boutique inn that’s steeped in history. This one-time mansion has changed hands over the years, and most recently was sold and renovated in July 2022 into the boutique inn that enchants guests today.

Meantime, Gibson’s Warehouse is a boutique property with a history of its own, and one that dates to the early 1900s when this inn got its start as a warehouse with a brick façade. Industrial-chic guest rooms feature exposed brick walls, pendant light fixtures, and sliding barn doors. Hotel 24 South is another stay to love with character and historic charm, but also luxe pillow top mattresses, an indoor pool, and a casual dining area called the 1924 Lounge.

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