CULPEPER, Va.--Returning to my hometown . . . All too briefly
Culpeper is a small town filled with memories of holidays with grandparents, great aunts and uncles and family history. Today, for its residents, it’s a much-loved small town with shops, restaurants, cafés and vintage homes. It’s steps away from Yowell Park, a favorite for dog walkers, joggers and families.
Grass Rootes (top) and Piedmont Steak House are in
former hardware stores.
My family and I moved from Virginia to Florida in 1967, but I dreamed of returning to Culpeper one day. When I mentioned my plans, my grown children pointed out cold weather and grandkids in Florida. And I was uncertain—to leave family and friends at my age. But three years ago, I bought a vintage home.
Neighbors, who hail from Los Angeles, Nashville, Northern Virginia as well as abroad, have come here for the lifestyle--welcoming but not intrusive, educated but not pretentious.
Culpeper, established in 1759, had a role in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, described in a local history museum. In addition to its history, the town has connections to bustling cities. The Amtrak station provides direct lines to DC, NYC, the Northeast Corridor and southern cities. It’s an easy drive to Sperryville, Little Washington and the Shenandoah National Park and a short drive to Charlottesville and Richmond.
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| Mount Vernon farm at Sperryville. Old Rag in the background. |
Seasons go like this. Spring is celebrated with cherry blossoms, tulips and daffodils and outdoor dining.
In summer with picnics and hikes. Fall with Halloween and autumn leaves. The shorter days and chill in the air have us heading for vineyards, apple orchards or fireplaces.
Then come holiday parties. In early winter, a chill sets in that goes through my bones. Neighbors greet me, exclaiming, “The cold makes me feel alive,” or “Spring will be here soon enough.” Doesn’t anyone else notice the cold? My daughter says, “It’s your Florida blood.” Then she sends me a knee-length down coat.
For anyone tempted by small towns, I’d recommend you visit Culpeper. The longer you are here, the more you find the town has to offer to everyone. But for me after three winters combined with a need for time with my two Florida grandkids, I have put my house on the market.
It will be bittersweet to leave West Asher Street behind. But my small-town experience and new friendships are priceless.
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In and out of Culpeper
- Vintage homes, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- A walkable community
- Main and Davis area specialty shops, restaurants, cafés
- Amtrak rail with direct lines to major cities & nearby major airports
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Spring – summer – fall - farmers markets,
wineries, breweries and distilleries, outdoor concerts
- A hospital and physicians affiliated with University of Virginia Medical Center
- Revolutionary and Civil War sites
- Rappahannock County with its restaurants,
wineries, distilleries and breweries as hiking trails and the Shenandoah
National Park. The10k Fodderstack race and point-to-point horse races
- A branch of the Library of Congress with free movie screenings
- Dog-friendly parks & walking/jogging trails
- Nearby homes of former presidents. Montpelier holds a derby and hat day.
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