3 VA Spots Named Among Best In U.S. For A 'Slow Sunday'

Virginians who want to close out their weekend with a relaxing, leisurely day while still enjoying a variety of activities should head to three spots, according to a new ranking.

Real estate platform Calgary.com recently surveyed 3,022 people to reveal which towns and neighborhoods are best suited to that ideal version of a Sunday — the kinds of places where people linger over coffee, browse independent bookstores, wander farmers markets, or simply stroll streets that still feel personal and lived-in.

Subscribe

The result was a collection of towns and neighborhoods where Sunday mornings seem to unfold the way people imagine they should: slow, walkable, comforting and quietly full of life.

Three Virginia spots were named among the best in the country for a slow Sunday:

#8: Old Town, Winchester

Calgary.com writes: "Brick sidewalks, historic storefronts, cafés, porches, and tree-lined residential streets create a pace that feels gentle and grounded. It’s the kind of place where people wander without a destination and where ordinary routines still shape the atmosphere of the weekend. Sundays here feel personal, familiar, and pleasantly unhurried."

#89. Carytown, Richmond

Calgary.com writes: "The district’s bookstores, bakeries, cafés, old theaters, boutique and side streets create an atmosphere where people naturally move slower than they intended to. It still feels deeply local despite its popularity, which gives the area warmth and personality."

#103. Ghent, Norfolk

Calgary.com writes: "Ghent has the kind of Sunday culture where people seem genuinely content staying within the neighborhood all day. The old homes, cafés, bookstores, shaded streets, breweries and nearby waterfront create a rhythm centered around walking and lingering. It feels historic without becoming precious and lively without becoming hectic."

Beyond the rankings, Calgary.com's survey found that the “perfect Sunday” is less about doing something grand and more about escaping the pace of the rest of the week.

When respondents were asked what defines the ideal slow Sunday, the top answer was reading or relaxing at home, chosen by 21 percent. That was followed by sitting outside with coffee at 17 perent, and walking through a quiet neighborhood at 14 percent.

When it comes to what makes a town feel “slow Sunday friendly,” the most important factor was quiet streets and low traffic, selected by 24 percent of respondents. That ranked ahead of both walkability and friendly community atmosphere, which were tied at 15 percent each.

The biggest “slow Sunday” killers were noise and congestion, heavy traffic, and feeling pressured to stay productive.

See the full ranking online.