Awards & Designations

• Harrisonburg is named one of 15 Affordable Small Towns We Love – Southern Living, 2017
• Harrisonburg is named one of the 20 Best Mountain Bike Towns in America – National Geographic, 2017
• Heritage Oaks Golf Course voted #1 Golf Course in the Shenandoah Valley – Virginia Living Magazine, 2017
• Harrisonburg has been listed as one of the most charming college town Main Streets for 2017-18 – Best Value Schools
• Harrisonburg is one of the cities in the US with the cleanest air – ‘State of the Air ‘ reports by the American Lung Association, 2017
• Massanutten WaterPark Named Top 10 Best Water Parks of 2016 – Parents Magazine, 2016
• Shenandoah National Park is listed in the 50 Most Beautiful Places in America – Conde Nast Traveler, 2016
• Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint ranked #19 of 50 Best Burger Joints in America – Business Insider, 2016
• Little Grill Collective ranked #123 of 240 Reaseons to Celebrate America Right Now – Time Magazine, 2016
• CubanBurger is listed as the Most Over-The-Top Burger in Virginia – Esquire, 2016
• By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages is listed in the Top 10 Little Known Inns in VA – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Corgans’ Publick House is listed as one of the 9 Extrememly Tiny Restaurants That Are Actually Amazing – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Harrisonburg ranked #6 in America’s Favorite Towns – Travel & Leisure, 2016
• Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza is listed in the Top 10 Italian Restaurants The Will Make Your Taste Buds Explode – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Harrisonburg ranked as one of the 10 Best Blue Ridge Bike Towns – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2016
• Harrisonburg ranked #3 in Happiest Towns in the Mountains – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2016
• Harrisonburg is considered the Pizza Capital of Virginia – WTVR-TV, 2016
• FoodBarFood among the 14 Restaurants that Prove Brunch is the Best Meal of the Day – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Xenia Kebab Grill is listed in the Top 13 “Hole in the Wall” Restaurants that will blow your taste buds away- Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Harrisonburg Farmers Market is one of the 14 Incredible Farmers Markets in VA that is a Must Visit – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
• Harrisonburg named one of America’s Top 10 Mountain Bike Towns – National Geographic Society, 2015
• Harrisonburg ranked #32 for Best Small Places for Business & Careers – Forbes, 2015
• Harrisonburg ranked #6 in Virginia’s Safest Cities From Severe Weather – HomeownersInsurance.com, 2015
• Harrisonburg named one of 10 Most Exciting Places in Virginia – Movoto, 2015
• Harrisonburg named the Best Place to be a Millennial – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2014
• Massanutten Resort named among Top 10 Best U.S. Ski Resorts for Summer Fun – Fodor’s Travel, 2014
• Harrisonburg Honored with 2014 Great American Main Street Award – National Main Street Center, 2014
• Harrisonburg named one of 5 Top U.S. Towns for Romance – The Municipal, 2014
• Harrisonburg and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance presented a Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Award – The Virginia Main Street Program, 2014
• Harrisonburg named 19th Most Exciting Small City in America – Movoto, 2013
• Harrisonburg named #5 Best College Town in America – Travel + Leisure Magazine, 2013
• Harrisonburg named one of 2013’s Best Mountain Towns; Voted Best Beer Town in the Blue Ridge – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2013
• Harrisonburg named one of America’s Top Mountain Bike Towns – USA Today, 2013
• Harrisonburg among top 15 Most Secure/Safe Small Cities in the U.S. – Farmers Insurance Survey, 2013
• Harrisonburg ranked among top 50 Best Small Places in the U.S. for Business and Careers – Forbes Magazine, 2013
• Harrisonburg listed under 25 Great Fall Destinations – Blue Ridge Country, 2013
• Shenandoah Mountain Touring named one of the Best Guided Trips in the South – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2013
• New Leaf Pastry Kitchen and The Little Grill listed among top breakfast spots in Virginia – Virginia Tourism Corporation, 2013
• Harrisonburg among top 20 Best Places for a Working Retirement in 2013 – Forbes Magazine, 2013
• Stonewall Jackson Inn B&B receives Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Rockingham Memorial Hospital among top 100 community hospitals in the U.S. – Becker’s Hospital Review, 2013
• Kline’s Dairy Bar voted top ice cream shop in Virginia – Virginia Tourism Corporation, 2013
• Harrisonburg listed among 10 best places to get ice cream (Kline’s Dairy Bar) – Cooking with Paula Deen, 2013
• Harrisonburg listed among 20 best fishing spots in the country – Peter Greenberg Worldwide, 2013
• Harrisonburg listed among top 10 cycling destinations – Virginia Living, 2013
• Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance receives Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Award – Virginia Main Street Program, 2013
• Chef Ryan Zale of Local Chop & Grill House included in Best Chefs America book – Best Chefs America, 2013
• Harrisonburg listed among top 10 mountain biking towns – The Active Times, 2013
• Massanutten Hoo-Ha Named Top Mountain Biking Event – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2013
• Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, Tour de Burg, and Shenandoah Valley Century Named Top Road Cycling Events – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2013
• Best Biking Community – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2013
• Nine Harrisonburg eateries voted First Place in the Shenandoah Valley for various food categories – Virginia Living “Best of Virginia” Issue, 2012
• Bridgeforth Stadium Named Number 1 Stadium Experience in Virginia – Stadium Journey, 2012
• James Madison University Voted Best College or University in the Shenandoah Valley – Virginia Living “Best of Virginia” Issue, 2012
• Downtown Harrisonburg voted Second Place Best Shopping Destination of the Shenandoah Valley – Virginia Living “Best of Virginia” Issue, 2012
• Rockingham County Fair recognized as the top agricultural fair in North America for the 18th year – International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), 2012
• Stonewall Jackson Inn awarded Guest Favorite – BnBFinder, 2012
• Massanutten Waterpark named among Top 10 Best Indoor Waterparks – Budget Travel, 2011
• Milestone Award for private investment and volunteer commitment in downtown revitalization efforts – Virginia Main Street, 2011
• Dave’s Downtown Taverna awarded Bronze Environmental Excellence award – Virginia Governor’s office, 2011
• Dave’s Downtown Taverna recognized with Blue Ribbon Small Business Award – US Chamber of Commerce, 2011
• One of the ten best places to start a second career in retirement – US News, 2010
• JMU ranked third in Regional Southern Universities – US News & World Report, 2010
• Second place for Best Overnight Stop – The Great Race rally Prize Committee, 2005

Designations and Honors

• Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center named 2016 Virginia Green Visitor Center of the Year – Virginia Green Program, 2016
• Honored as a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community – League of American Bicyclists, 2015
• Downtown Harrisonburg named Virginia’s first Culinary District –  City of Harrisonburg, 2014
• By the Side of the Road Inn and Cottages Joins Diamond Collection – Bedandbreakfast.com, 2014
• Home to over 33 Virginia Green businesses, organizations, and events – Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
• James Madison University honored as a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly University – League of American Bicyclists, 2013
• Eastern Mennonite University honored as a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly University – League of American Bicyclists, 2012
• Downtown Renaissance receives National Trust Main Street Accreditation, 2011
• Elevated to a Bronze Level Ride Center – International Mountain Bicycling Association, 2011
• Honored as a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community – League of American Bicyclists, 2011
• Designated an Appalachian Trail Community – Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2011
• Designated a Preserve America Community,  2009
• Designated a National and Virginia Historic District – National Park Service, 2004
• Designated a Tree City USA Community – Arbor Day Foundation, 2004
• Designated a Virginia Main Street Community, 2004
• Designated an Arts and Cultural District in Virginia, 2001