On a recent road trip, my family and I took the opportunity to visit one of the most famous small towns in Virginia: Appomattox. We only had time to grab lunch and explore a bit of this beautiful, historic area, but even though our time was limited, we made the most of it! Here are some things to do in Appomattox, Virginia, the highlights of our visit, and also what I would do differently if I were to take a day trip to Appomattox again.
Our first stop in Appomattox was the visitor center, which is housed in an old historic railroad depot.
From there we explored downtown and had lunch at Granny Bee’s.
There were several nice shops and boutiques, but after my first impression of the area, I decided that if I ever have the opportunity to visit downtown Appomattox again, I would set up camp at Baines Books and Coffee and never leave.
The quiche and pastries looked delicious, and I could have spent hours drinking coffee and browsing the treasures that lined the shelves. In the few minutes I had, I settled for a quick look in the kids’ corner. My prize was the first book in the Wingfeather series in mint condition (but an out-of-print copy that fits in with the other books in the series I’ve collected!) for just $4.
As we entered town, I noticed a sign with the town’s slogan, “Where Our Nation Was Reunited.” This is a reference to historic events that took place in the nearby community of Appomattox Courthouse, where on April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant met in the parlor of the McClean family home to end the Civil War.
With that in mind, no trip to the Appomattox area is complete without a stop at Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park, so naturally we spent a fascinating few hours wandering the grounds. Admission is free, and the park is just five minutes from downtown Appomattox.
I recommend starting at the Visitor Center (don’t miss the upstairs exhibits – we almost made it!), which is the two-story brick house on the right as you enter the village. From there, take a walking tour of the village, exploring the jail, general store, McClean House, and more.
After exploring the Appomattox Courthouse, we only had a few minutes left, so we continued on to neighboring Clover Hill Village for our final stop in Appomattox. Wow! I wish I had known about this hidden gem before planning our trip so I could have made more time for it! Open Friday through Sunday in season, Clover Hill Village is run by the town’s historical society (admission is free, but donations are welcome). It’s a living history museum just two minutes from Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park.
With a diverse collection of authentic pioneer buildings, replete with antiques and relics of days gone by, it’s a treasure trove for the curious historian. The friendly owner let my boys try out an old slide projector. He showed my mother-in-law and me a turn-of-the-century Sears-Roebuck catalog and some miniature models of products that general stores used to stock so customers could see what kind of stove, lamp or iron they wanted to order. He challenged my husband to a game of checkers at the cannon stove (sadly, we had to decline due to time constraints).
Before we left, we took a look inside the blacksmith shop and the furnished one-room cottage. Next time we’ll definitely check out the church, schoolhouse and gardens.
Another restaurant in Appomattox, Virginia that we plan to try on our next visit is Taco Wagon, a restaurant that came highly recommended by several locals. We also heard that there are two other excellent attractions in Appomattox, Virginia, namely the American Civil War Museum and Holliday Lake State Park. Appomattox, I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you a little! I definitely hope to make another day trip to this charming small Virginia town soon. Maybe we’ll even spend the night there!
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