They say Virginia is for lovers, and with 1,605 winners across five diverse regions in our 14th edition of Best of Virginia, we at Virginia Living have certainly fallen head over heels for the remarkable talent that defines our state. From the rolling mountains bathed in blue mist to the whitewater waves that sweep us off our feet, every corner of our state brims with wonderment.
We’ve covered it all in this, your quintessential guide to Virginia’s gems —both hidden and celebrated across 107 categories. Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners reveal where car washes sparkle with such brilliance you might need sunglasses, wine flows like poetry, burger joints satisfy cravings you didn’t know you had, and historic sites leave you in awe across the state. The five regions—Central, Eastern, Northern, Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest—dazzle like never before, drawing in loyal voters by the thousands. Nearly half a million votes poured in, proving you know how to show up and shout out with the best of them.
Seafood was a chowder—sorry, we mean crowd-pleaser statewide, drawing in the most votes across the Commonwealth and especially in our beloved seaside region, Eastern. Ice cream shops tantalized taste buds in the Shenandoah Valley, while Mexican restaurants ruled the roost in Northern, and tourist attractions caught the spotlight in Central. Southwest roasted up lots of love for their top coffee shops and roasters—talk about brewing it right!
We’ve added a few new categories we know you loved too. Children’s Stores bring childhood joyful-ness to our pages while Tattoo Shops rallied their fans for an impressive showing (making their mark, indeed). With Home Health Providers, TV Stations, and Radio Stations joining too, it’s clear that Virginia rules in all regards—on air, online, and in person.
Thank you to all of you who voted, rallied, and produced such greatness worthy of a whole book of delightful reads and recommendations for your next Virginia trip. Don’t miss our last page—a personality quiz to help you decide where to go next. In a state with this much splendor ’round every bend, the only challenge is deciding where to start!