Virginia Sites Make Southern Living's Best Small Towns For Retirement ICYMI

Here's the way Southern Livinig magazine introduces one of its latest features, Best Small Towns in the South For Retirement: "Ready to trade rush hour and conference calls for a golf cart and the local coffee house?" OK, well, sure — with a caveat. The DC area has a lot of fine golf courses and some of the better coffee houses in the nation, soooo. . .

Anyway, Virginia has two entries on the small-town list that certainly would make John Cougar Mellencamp proud. One's in deep Southwest Virginia: Abingdon. The other's on the Eastern Shore: Onancock. Each has its special brand of charm, and each has a vibe that would seem to go quite nicely with so-called easy living.

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Here's what Southern Living says about both, in alphabetical order, followed by Chamber Of Commerce-style musings from both towns:

ABINGDON

"Lucky you with the Barter Theatre’s professional plays, bluegrass/local music, Virginia Creeper Trail (mostly flat) for pedaling, and a community college to keep the median age down. Your visitors can stay at the Martha Washington Inn, c. 1835."

And then there's this, from the town's website:

"In Abingdon, sometimes the play takes place on the stage at the famous Barter Theatre, where Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and other entertainment giants have performed.

"Other times, visitors enjoy playing in the great outdoors. Abingdon is surrounded by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, which forms a massive wilderness playground complete with rivers, lakes and trails. The famous Appalachian Trail is nearby and the Virginia Creeper Trail begins in downtown Abingdon. Bike shops and shuttle services can get you on the trails quickly and easily."

ONANCOCK

"Being on the Eastern Shore could be enough. But you also get to enjoy an old-time movie theater and vibrant arts scene. And you can kayak to a winery. Just imagine the possibilities."

And then there's this, from the town's website:

Easy to love

• Modern full-service wharf and marina
• Dedicated kayak-launching ramp
• 24/7 online town response for citizen concerns
• Cinema and theater showcasing first-run and international films, original plays and revues
• Open-air summer farmers market

So there you go. No Beltway. No rush hours. (And no Redskins, Nationals, Capitals or Wizards). Be careful what you wish for.

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