In college, I stayed up late-late. Like, when most people were waking up for the day, I’d head to bed. Nighttime gave me a chance to be creative with no interruptions. I’d sip on a sweet tea, make a coffee with way too much sugar and milk, and smoke up the house by attempting to fry some potatoes. Then, I’d write for hours and hours.
It was my “me” time. Almost every night, I’d wait up to watch the sunrise. My room was the perfect spot to see the glowing orb come over the meadow and above the oaks and pines. When it was all the way up, I lay all the way down and tucked in for a couple hours before repeating the cycle again.
Now in my 30s, I’m more of a sunset girl. I still love staying up late, but I do actually like falling asleep when it’s very dark outside. If you’re also a sunset person, you’ll love today’s lead story featuring some of the best viewing spots across the commonwealth. I’m so glad you’re here.
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You and your hiking buddies will soak in the stunning sunset (or sunrise!) views from McAfee Knob. (Rui Serra Maia/Shutterstock)
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By Aila Boyd
Here’s what you need to know: With its varied landscapes, ranging from rocky mountain cliffs to serene beachfronts, Virginia offers an unlimited supply of scenic sunset viewing spots.
Our top picks:
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Although it takes a 4-mile hike to get to McAfee Knob, the view from the 3,197-foot peak at sunset is well worth the effort. Once you reach the knob, you’ll get to take in 270-degree panoramic views of Catawba Valley, North Mountain, Tinker Cliffs, and the Roanoke Valley.
- Who doesn’t love a good beach sunset? Watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean from a spot in the idyllic community of Sandbridge Beach. The area is a bit quieter than the Oceanfront District, stretching 4.5 miles of shoreline, so it’s the perfect place to relax as the sun goes down.
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Watch the sunset from Mason Neck State Park, a peninsula that is surrounded by Pohick Bay, Belmont Bay, and the Potomac River. Arrive a bit early to spot some of the birds, like American bald eagles, herons, and whistling swans, that call the park home.
Ready to explore? We’re featuring more of Virginia’s best sunset locations at the link below.
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PigPen Theatre Co. performs at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)
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By Amie Knowles
Remember the TopHouse concert I was so excited to attend? Well, we truly got one for the money, two for the show—because TopHouse wasn’t the only performance we got to see for a single ticket price at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax.
PigPen Theatre Co. performed right after the headliner. Yes, you read that correctly. Due to a broader power outage that impacted the outdoor amphitheater, concert organizers switched the order of the show. It worked out really cool because the TopHouse guys said they hardly ever got to just sit back and enjoy watching another band perform—but that’s exactly what they did, taking a seat on the grassy hillside with the rest of us.
I’ll admit that—even being a former theatre kid myself—I’d never heard of PigPen Theatre Co. before we bought the concert tickets. Granted, I should’ve. The group’s been together since 2007 when they were freshmen at Carnegie-Mellon University and met in the school’s drama program. Since then, they’ve written a Broadway score for “Water for Elephants” and became the first group to win the NYC Fringe Festival’s top honor for a play two years in a row.
If you get a chance to see them, I recommend doing so. I loved their banter, enjoyed their bluegrass-meets-show-biz approach, and overall vibe. And for what it’s worth, yeah, I’d pay to see them as the true headliners of a show any day of the week.
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By Jonny Lupsha
Data centers are impacting northern Virginia’s environment, land value, economy, and housing prices. What do Loudoun County residents get for their sacrifice—and is it enough?
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Have you shared this newsletter with a neighbor?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd and Jonny Lupsha. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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