If you’re looking for a Virginia weekend getaway that combines great food and drinks, history, architecture, and plenty to explore outdoors, I’d recommend adding Danville and the Southside (aka SoSi) to your list.
Before visiting, I knew very little about the area. I definitely wasn’t expecting to find a self-serve wine bar in a converted gas station, a signature martini inspired by one of Danville’s most famous residents, and some of the best crab cakes I’ve had.
In the past two decades, this city has transformed its historic tobacco warehouses and former mill buildings into restaurants, hotels, breweries, and gathering spaces. Along the way, it’s also embraced its past, from restoring the Gilded Age mansions on Millionaires’ Row to telling the stories of Danville’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Whether you’re into good food and drinks, local history, or simply exploring somewhere new, these are the places I’d recommend adding to your itinerary.