Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [62]
R-U-Up is a cheerful double storefront on Main Street serving breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday and Sunday brunch. Gourmet coffees, ice cream, sandwiches, salads, vegetarian selections and delicious pastries. (140 West Main Street, tel. 540-587-0145)
Other Centertown restaurants include Hunan Chinese (207 N. Bridge Street, tel. 540-586-3591); Abby’s Place for breakfast and lunch (302 Court Street, tel. 540-586-4281); and the 1950s-style Snack Shop (104 N. Bridge Street, tel. 540-587-8780).
Lodging
There are three bed & breakfasts within walking distance of Centertown, and chain motels on US 460 just outside the city limits. Cozy mountain cottages, inns and cabins await at Peaks of Otter and Smith Mountain Lake.
The Bedford House is in the historic district, furnished with antiques and reproductions. (422 Avenel Avenue, tel. 540-586-5050, $$)
The Inn on Avenel is a 1915 Greek Revival home with rockers on the porch where refreshments are served every afternoon. Four guest rooms and full breakfast served. (416 Avenel Avenue, tel. 540-586-5978, www.innonavenel.com, $$)
Liberty House Inn is like going back 50 years, with World War II memorabilia, a 48-star flag and 1940s décor. (602 Mountain Avenue, tel. 540-587-0966, www.wp21.com/liberty, $$)
Pet-friendly: The Days Inn at US 221 and 460 accepts small pets with a $5 charge. (tel. 540-586-8286, $)
Information
The Bedford Visitors Center is open daily 9 am-5 pm. It’s located on Burks Hill Road at the foot of the hill leading up to the D-Day Memorial. Inside are all the brochures and information visitors need. On the porch are rocking chairs to rest on, donated by a local woodworker, and inside free apples donated by a local orchard. (tel. 877-HI-PEAKS, www.visitbedford.com)
Bedford Main Street, Inc. (tel. 540-586-2148, www.bedfordmainstreet.org)
Events
The Farmer’s Market on Washington Street is open Monday-Saturday 7 am-noon, year-round, with arts, crafts, food and local produce. Contact Bedford Main Street Inc. (above).
Centerfest draws more than 10,000 visitors to downtown for street dancing and craft vendors the last Saturday in September. For information, contact Bedford Main Street, Inc.
Northern Virginia
More than just a bedroom community to the nation’s capital, Northern Virginia still has plenty of villages with small town charm. West and north of the Capital Beltway stand genteel estates of Virginia’s horse country. Hidden from view of I-95 are small towns packed with antiques shops. And farther afield still, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, small towns host artist communities, fine inns and wineries.
Getting Here
Airports
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (tel. 703-419-8000, www.metwashairports.com/National) and Washington Dulles International Airport (tel. 703-419-8000, www.metwashairports.com/Dulles).
Regional Information
The Virginia Tourism Corporation operates Highway Welcome Centers in this area; these are found along I-95 between US 17 and SR 3; on I-66 between US 29 and SR 234; and at 1629 K Street NW in Washington DC. (tel. 800-VISIT-VA, 800-934-9184, www.virginia.org)
Leesburg
Leesburg is the county seat of the third-fastest-growing county in the nation, which means if you want to see it while it’s a small town, hurry. Every year, it swells with more new families and couples attracted by the small town charm unimaginable a mere 35 miles from Washington DC. This town is the frontier of DC’s urban range, and the countryside between the capital and this one-time farm community is now referred to as the Dulles Corridor (after the airport, Dulles International). Instead of farms, there are spacious campuses and glass-enclosed offices of high technology companies.
Amid growth and busyness, Leesburg’s historic core brings things down to a human scale. Local customers in a coffee bar