Top 10 Things We’re Thankful For in Staunton 

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As we head into the holiday rush. Take a deep breath before the chaos starts, take advantage of the extra hour because Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Put off planning the Thanksgiving feast, anticipating the Black Friday sales, and thinking about your holiday travel plans and appreciate what you already have. We’ll help: here are the top ten things we’re thankful to have right here in Staunton.

We’re Thankful for…..

Independent Businesses

Staunton boasts a diverse mix of indie shops. Our hard-working small business owners are following their passions, providing top-notch service to their customers, and creating one of the best independent shopping districts in the state. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, clothing, books, vintage items, jewelry, or something else, you’ll love the unique selection and personal touch you get in Staunton.

Our Foodie Scene

Wake up with a cup of fresh-roasted coffee and a French pastry, take the kids to lunch somewhere fun, or take your special someone out for an award-winning dinner. Make sure to leave room for something sweet to make you smile! Staunton’s foodie scene offers a selection of traditional comfort foods, global restaurants, upscale dining with unique Southern flair, and everything in between. Follow your appetite!

Craft Beer, Cider, and Wine

Travelmag.com calls Staunton one of the “20 Best Beer Towns in the United States.” Explore Staunton’s breweries and taprooms to taste Staunton’s best craft beer and cider. Explore the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail to grab a pint at a total of 20 breweries, all within an hour’s drive of each other. The Shenandoah Valley is also making a name for itself on the world-wine wine map. Wine lovers can taste the local varietals, learn about wine production and food pairings, and more at Staunton’s welcoming vineyards and wine bars.

Our Great Outdoors

Staunton’s location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley provides incredible views of mountains on both sides and chances for hiking, biking, golf, fishing, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. We’re just a few minutes from the Skyline Drive and the many trails winding through Shenandoah National Park. We’re also right in the middle of George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, a wonderful place to hike, bike, paddle, and explore. Downtown Staunton offers a robust park system featuring trails, views, pools, wilderness areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, ballfields, a golf course, a dog park, and a skate park.

Our Historical Sites and Museums

Staunton’s in touch with its history. Take a Historic Staunton walking tour and admire downtown’s amazing Victorian architecture. Learn about America’s 28th president and our involvement in WWI at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Museum. Get your hands dirty and see the past come to life at the Frontier Culture Museum. Check out the Camera Heritage Museum, explore Thornrose Cemetery, or even book a private ghost tour. 

Concerts and Live Music 

Staunton has enough live music to keep our feet tapping all year long! From the world-renowned classical performers showcased at the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Staunton Music Festival, to the wonderful local musicians enlivening the scene at our favorite breweries and restaurants, Staunton is home to the very best in music–making. We’ve got live, free music almost every night of the week at Gypsy Hill Park during the summer and annual festivals like Staunton Jams and Red Wing Roots. Visiting the seasonal Shop and Dine Out Downtown? Make sure you pause to enjoy the buskers!

Artists, Artisans, and the Performing Arts

Staunton’s arts community is also flourishing! Catch a Shakespeare performance and a backstage tour at the Blackfriars Playhouse or applaud local efforts on the stage at ShenanArts and Silver Line. Watch molten glass transform into art at Sunspots Studios. Explore town and photograph Staunton’s collection of stunning murals and public art. Drop in to browse artwork and meet an artist at a gallery opening. You can even sign up for a class or workshop in a medium of your choice at the Art Hive, Beverley Street Studio School, and SolArt Center.

Our Local Farmers and Producers

Staunton is the envy of many communities in the “buy fresh, buy local” movement, and many of our restaurants prioritize using this seasonal and healthy food in their recipes. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy some of the freshest, most delicious locally grown food available anywhere in the USA. See and taste for yourself at our seasonal farmer’s market, our many farm-fresh roadside stands, and pick-your-own farms along the Fields of Gold Trail. 

A Fun-Loving Community

Staunton’s community loves to get together and help each other have a great time. Throughout the year, we celebrate with parades, concerts, festivals, art shows, group activities, classes, fundraisers, and all sorts of holiday and “just because” happenings. Don’t miss any of our annual events!

The People

We are thankful for YOU!  Visitors and locals, all come together to make Staunton the special place it is!  We’re also thankful for our teachers, our police officers, and our public works department. We’re thankful for the servers and bartenders in the cafes who know our faces and orders by heart, the doctors who keep us healthy, our tireless city council, and everyone else who keeps city business running smoothly. We are grateful for all of the incredible people who live and work in Staunton that contribute every day to help make our small city so amazing. 

We hope you’ll enjoy and share this list.  We also hope you’ll pause to think about all the things you are grateful for in Staunton.