Shenanndoah Park area (Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg: crime, how much, places to live)

[Laina]

My husband & I are in our mid 20's & are planning to relocate to a city near Shenanndoah Nat'l Park. We don't have children,but want a safe town to live in where we can feel comfortable,where I can go for walks & feel fairly safe,& where there's not alot of crime. I need some good suggestions. We've heard both good & bad things on Waynesboro & Front Royal. Are either of these cities what fits my description of what we're looking for? If not,are there any other towns in this area where the park & Skyline Drive & the mountains are @ our fingertips that fits what we're looking for? Neither of us have been to Virginia so any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you!

[Rhett_Butler]

From what I've been able to tell working in Front Royal is that it is certainly a nice little town that doesn't have much of a crime problem. It is certainly convenient to the Skyline Drive as it begins in Front Royal. So from what you've given me to go on it fits what you're asking for.

Question I'd have for you is how much of a nightlife do you all need??? If you're fine going out occasionally for a couple of drinks and that's it then you'll be fine. If you need more of a "scene" then maybe Harrisonburg would be more your thing.....

[roanoker 4]

Since you guys seem to be very young I wouldn't move to a very small town in the Shenandoah Park area. Its a pretty slow life, away from DC or Charlottesville. Harrisonburg is a suggeston, since it has many younger types and it seems to be growing. I assume you are looking at the northern part of the state. If you move to the southern part, look at the New River Valley, around Blacksburg, Christiansburg.

[hamiltonl87]

Waynesboro is probably a better fit with the George Washington National Forest bordering it as well as Shenandoah NP, and it's a bedroom community for Charlottesville which is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the country.
It couldnt hurt looking at Crozet which has a better community atmosphere and is just as close to Shenandoah NP and closer to Charlottesville.

[Dr.Jim]

I second a vote for Waynesboro, or Harrisonburg,...or if you really want to live ' abouts in' the mountains then look at Elkton which borders the park and is about 20 minutes from Harrisonburg, 30 minutes from Charlottesville, 30 minutes from Luray and 30 minutes from Waynesboro. It is a sleepy little town with maybe 2-3 traffic lights.