Midway Between Shenandoah National Park And D.C. Is A Friendly Virginia Gem With Blue Ridge Beauty

If you're looking for a trip that splits the difference between mountain adventures and big-city access, you might consider a visit to Virginia. In southwestern Fauquier County, you'll find Bealeton, another cute Virginia town that's only an hour from Washington, D.C. Bealeton puts you almost exactly halfway between two major American destinations. To your east, Washington, D.C. is just 57 miles away. (This nearness makes the town a good choice if you're heading to the Capital but want to stay somewhere with a quieter pace.) To your west, Shenandoah National Park is 38 miles away, making it about an hour's drive away as well. This lets you easily visit the Blue Ridge Mountains for outdoor fun.

Bealeton is one of Virginia's many underrated communities just outside of Shenandoah National Park, home to the 105-mile Skyline Drive. This is a road that runs along the crest of the blue-hued mountains and boasts roughly 75 overlooks that give you views of the Shenandoah Valley and the nearby Piedmont area. The park itself has a diverse ecosystem with over 1,400 species of plants and is a key route for migrating birds. You can often see wildlife like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and black bears from the road and on the trails.

Bealeton is a quiet, safe town with a strong community feeling where you'll find a diverse and friendly blend of residents. This mix of a close-knit community, access to major cities, and nearness to mountain scenery makes the town an appealing place for a quick visit or a long stay.

When you visit Bealeton, you'll find several activities and events in the area. The Flying Circus Airshow is a local attraction that has been in operation since the 1970s. It's one of the last barnstorming airshows in the United States, with performances on the weekends from May through October. The shows feature stunts, but you can also take a ride in an open-cockpit plane. Another event is the Hot Air Balloon Festival which includes balloon launches in the early morning and late evening.

Another attraction is Morais Vineyards & Winery, which blends Portuguese winemaking traditions with Virginia grapes. The property has a tasting room with a veranda that looks out over the vineyards. For outdoorsy recreation, C.M. Crockett Park is a few miles away in Midland and is the largest lakeside park in Fauquier County. The main feature of the park is the 100-acre lake (called Germantown Lake) where you can fish, picnic, or hike.

When it comes to hotels, you can find places to stay in the surrounding towns of Bealeton like Warrenton, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, and Manassas. You'll have hotels like the Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, and Best Western, but there are also inns and bed-and-breakfasts in the area. Look into the Inn at Evergreen in Haymarket or The Richard Johnston Inn in Fredericksburg. Since you're close to Shenandoah National Park, check out the cabins and cottages you can rent for a rustic stay. If you want to make a road trip out of your visit, check out The Inn at Warner Hall in Gloucester, one of the East Coast's most elegant inns.

The main views near Bealeton are within Shenandoah National Park. The park's focal road is the aforementioned Skyline Drive. Some of the overlooks you might stop at include Signal Knob Overlook, Hazel Mountain Overlook, and The Point Overlook. The park has hundreds of miles of trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. The trails vary in difficulty, from an easier 2.2-mile Compton Gap trail to more difficult routes like the one to Overall Run Falls.

When you get hungry, Bealeton has a mix of restaurants and foodie spots. Have some Italian food at Vinny's Italian Grill & Pizzeria, which is a local chain, or the family-owned M&P Pizza. The Bealeton Village Center has a plethora of eateries with internationally-inspired food. Taqueria Jasmine serves up Mexican and Sabores del Sur has Latin American food. You can also check out Uncle B's Soul Food, which has live music and karaoke nights.

For coffee shops and cafes, you will find more options in the nearby town of Warrenton. Deja Brew Cafe is a coffee shop on Main Street, while Covert Cafe is in the Vint Hill complex and known for its homemade soups and sandwiches. For drinks, you can visit Messick's Farm Market, which has a bar that offers its own line of wines as well as craft beer and cider. Back in Warrenton, Molly's Irish Pub has a slew of craft and imported beers and sometimes hosts live music. You might also try Cedar Run Brewing Company, another spot with an outdoor space where you can have locally brewed brewskis.