Clarksville, Virginia Small Town USA

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Nestled across the bridge across Kerr Lake is picturesque Clarksville, Va. The town is full of southern charm with quaint small town businesses, cozy restaurants and amazing hospitality. Known to many as Buggs Island it is also, an area of fisherman/woman’s dream as Kerr Lake has some of the best bass fishing Virginia can offer.

Why visit Clarksville,Va?

Lovers of the water, water sports and fishing definitely can find plenty to do in Clarksville. Boating is obviously a popular pastime of the area and many options are available to launch your own boat from public areas, or to rent a boat or kayak/canoe during your stay. (I do not have any personal recommendations for rentals)

For those that like to fish there are also, options to arrange for guided fishing trips on Kerr Lake. I haven’t personally taken a guided fishing trip on Kerr Lake, but I have fishing the lake many times and I have caught some keepers from docks on Kerr and from the banks of the Occoneechee State Park.

For those not interested in the water there are several hiking options, biking trails, equestrian riding areas, picnic sports and playgrounds within Occoneechee State Park. The park also, offers some educational programs and has a small museum featuring information on Native American history in the area. In town Clarksville also, has some lovely small businesses to shop too like Hites, Doodlebugs, and the Cottage Barn.

Lodging around Clarksville, Va

Occoneechee State Park is a perfect area to stay when visiting Clarksville. The state park has some beautiful cabins (some on the lake), as well as options for camping spots for your own tent, trailer or RV. The park is very clean, the staff are very professional and everyone I have met while staying here has been friendly.

There are many other options for lodging in Clarksville too. Various AirBnB listings for example are available in the area as well. I personally have found several local gems with private docks and other amenities on Kerr Lake using AirBnb. In addition to these ideas there are a few hotel/motel options that I can’t personally speak for because I haven’t stayed there as well as other RV/camp sites.

What’s for dinner (or dessert) ?

Whether staying in a cabin, a hotel/motel or an Airbnb there are plenty of choices for food in Clarksville. Besides bringing your own food, or catching dinner one can visit the local Dollar General Market (a grocery store expansion of the smaller Dollar G chain) to purchase supplies locally or visit one of the the many restaurants in downtown Clarksville. From fine dinning, casual bites, pizza or ice cream there is something for everyone in Clarksville.

One of the best local restaurants in my opinion is Cooper’s Landing Inn. This restaurant and inn might be in a small town, but it has lots of class. Surrounded by hanging ferns, loaded with hospitality and complete with rocking chairs on their front porch Cooper’s Landing gives off the perfect southern charm.

For those that enjoy a cocktail the Sunday brunch menu includes a wide variety of mimosa drinks and the dinner menu features an extensive list of martinis and other cocktails. I have personally tried the First Kiss, the Fresh Mint Lemon Drop which had the most amazing mint finish to it and the Bellini Martini. If you like sweet drinks the First Kiss was like drinking a sweet nectar and the alcohol was very hidden 🌸 For brunch I have tried the Hawaiian and Island Oasis both of which taste like tropical vacations in a glass.

The restaurant has both indoor and patio seating, a great menu and beautiful decor. It was a bit breezy both times I went so we opted for indoor seating. The restaurant decor to me is bright and welcoming with a touch of elegance.

When we went for dinner my husband had the lobster mac and cheese and I had the wedge salad and the shrimp and grits all of which were amazing! The dessert selection changes daily and they had a beautiful dessert cart for making a selection. We decided on a piece of cookie dough cheesecake to top off our meal. I was so surprised by all the amazing food choices and the service. I felt like I was in a large city five star restaurant.

Brunch was equally delicious with a Brie cheese plate, croute and the Michellina’s salad with the filet. This brunch was the perfect way to start the day or in our case to end our weekend getaway. I highly recommend visiting Cooper’s Landing when in Clarksville.

If you’re into water sports, fishing, camping or looking for something a little different for a getaway and maybe an introduction to camping I recommend checking out a small town gem by visiting Clarksville, Va. You are bound to find something you enjoy doing and with the beautiful scenery you’re sure to relax and feel well rested when your return home! Time really seems to slow down when in nature and that’s incentive enough for me to want to visit Clarksville again.

Thank you for reading! Don’t forget to pin this idea on your vacation board for your next trip inspiration.