Greetings fellow Virginians! We live in Roanoke. Love it, but, are ready for a change. Here's what we're looking for: active outdoor lifestyle; places to hikr, flat water kayaking, within two hours of an international airport, decent small homes for under $250,000. Any ideas? Please, brag about your town! I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks!
Gretchen

Hi Gretchen. I remember you as you were the one who was going to spend a month in Sedona a few yrs ago. I will be very interested in seeing the replies you get. We live in Northern VA (Springfield) and although I love it here, my first thought on reading your post was "NOT Northern VA!!!" I'm curious about other areas of the state though. Good luck.

A friend who has lived all over loved Charlottesville for the very reasons you cite.

Greetings emd! I remember you too. My month in Sedona was reduced to a weeek in Sedona and a week in Tucson. I love both for different reasons. Will definitely spend more time in each in the future. Retirement...14 months and counting down!
Yes, I'll be interested to see what towns come up also. I'm sooo torn. We love the mountains. But, we also love to travel. Unfortunately the nearest international airport is 4 1/2 hours away. Right now it would cost me around $450. to fly to my Mom's... leaving from Roanoke. If I drive to Norfolk or Raleigh-Durham, it's under $200.! That's crazy. So, we shall see.
Thanks for answering. It was nice to hear from you again.
Gretchen

Starrsville,
Lovely Charlottesville is on our radar screen. It's a super town. My only question is the cost of housing. We'll be checking that out in the future.
Thanks for your thoughts!

We have a friend who lives in Colonial Beach. She moved there a few years ago when housing prices were really low. The area is just starting to get developed because of its closeness to a river and bay, but there are probably still homes in your price range.
The closest city is Fredericksburg, but I'm pretty sure it's within two hours of Dulles and BWI.

My brother lived in Front Royal. The surrounding area can be beautiful - right at Shenandoah NP. Schools are not that great - his kids were in private school. But, it does not seem schools factor in your decision.

Just a comment from one who lives right off of I95 at the mixing bowl/Springfield area: Living near Fredricksburg means traveling the I95 corridor to get to the airports from the Fredricksburg area. If you are using the airports frequently, I'd think hard about that one. Traffic in both directions on that route can be beyond awful at any time of the day, any day of the week.

Gretchen,
We moved to Annandale in '64 and five years later built a house on a five acre lot in Faifax Station. We watched as Burke grew from a town with a general store, post office, gas station and fire house to a suburban sprawl.
We were amused as the sprawl spread to Lorton where the federal prison was located and the developers fought for a by now trendy Faifax Station address.

We got away from it all when we retired and moved to the Valley (Woodstock) and have been quite content here, and here we'll stay. We looked long and hard before we retired. Culpeper, Madison, Page and Waren Counties were considered as was the Charlottesville area and even the lower Delmarva peninsula. We found here what you are looking for, although the cost of a home is starting go above your price level.

It's a half hour over your airport limit (2.5 to Dulles) but Staunton, Va is lovely. We live in Churchville and frequent Staunton (since it's our closest city). It has a cute revitalized downtown with tons of local merchants and restaurants. All the chain stuff is convenient but not right in downtown. They have a wonderful farmer's market and there's the Blackfriar's Shakespeare theater.

As for proximinty to outdoors--Augusta County is perfect--we share all the interests that you listed. There's George Washington National Forest, the Blue ridge Parkway, Sherando Lake, and plenty of other hiking/outdoors. Plus, it's only a couple hours from West Virginia so all that's at your doorstep.

Housing is very reasonable throughout the county. I am sure downtown Staunton is overpriced (isn't every quaint downtown) but you could certainly find something nice in your price range.

Charlottesville based on your criteria, personally I would explore the Asheville, NC area for what you are seeking...

Thanks everyone! I see lots of weekend scouting trips in our future. Keep 'em coming!