Awards & Designations

Travel

  • One of the best tiny towns to visit in 2021 – Film Daily, 2021
  • One of eight Virginia Towns that Could Star in a Hallmark Christmas movie – Travel Awaits, 2021
  • Small Town Perfect for a Winter Getaway – House Method, 2018
  • One of the eight best “Fall Foliage Cities.” – Where to Retire Magazine, 2018
  • #2 of 30 Most Gorgeous Fall Towns – CarRentals.com, 2017
  • #6 in America’s Favorite Towns – Travel & Leisure, 2016
  • By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages is listed in the Top 10 Little Known Inns in VA – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
  • One of 10 Most Exciting Places in Virginia – Movoto, 2015
  • By the Side of the Road Inn and Cottages Joins Diamond Collection – Bedandbreakfast.com, 2014

Outdoors

  • One of Eight Awesome Mountain Biking Towns – Local Freshies, 2022
  • One of the region’s Best Biking Meccas – Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, 2018
  • One of 10 Best Blue Ridge Bike Town – Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, 2017
  • Bluestone Trail has been listed as a Virginia Treasure – Commonwealth of Virginia, 2017
  • 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
  • Shenandoah National Park is listed in the 50 Most Beautiful Places in America – Conde Nast Traveler, 2016
  • One of the 10 Best Blue Ridge Bike Towns – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2016
  • #3 Happiest Town in the Mountains – Blue Ridge Outdoors, 2016
  • Most Popular Regional Travel Destination for Mountain Bikers – Singletracks, 2015
  • One of America’s Top 10 Mountain Bike Towns – National Geographic Society, 2015
  • Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community – League of American Bicyclists, 2015
  • 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
  • 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

Food & Drink

  • 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
  • Corgans’ Publick House is listed as one of the 9 Extrememly Tiny Restaurants That Are Actually Amazing – Onlyinyourstate.com, 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 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
  • Downtown Harrisonburg named Virginia’s first Culinary District – City of Harrisonburg, 2014

Attractions

  • Harrisonburg Farmers Market is one of the 14 Incredible Farmers Markets in VA that is a Must Visit – Onlyinyourstate.com, 2016
  • Massanutten WaterPark Named Top 10 Best Water Parks of 2016 – Parents Magazine, 2016
  • A Dream Come True Playground was named one of 13 inclusive playgrounds that are downright awesome – Red Tricycle, 2015

History

  • Designated a Preserve America Community,  2009
  • Designated a National and Virginia Historic District – National Park Service, 2004
  • Designated an Arts and Cultural District in Virginia, 2001

Business

  • #32 for Best Small Places for Business & Careers – Forbes, 2015
  • Downtown Renaissance receives National Trust Main Street Accreditation, 2011
  • Designated a Virginia Main Street Community, 2004

Environment

  • Top 10 Cleanest Places to Live in the U.S. – American Lung Association, 2022
  • Tree City USA – The Arbor Day Foundation, 2019
  • Tree City USA – The Arbor Day Foundation, 2017
  • US with the cleanest air – ‘State of the Air ‘ reports by the American Lung Association, 2017
  • Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market named 2017 Green Travel Leader – Virginia Green Program, 2017
  • Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center named 2016 Virginia Green Visitor Center of the Year – Virginia Green Program, 2016
  • Home to over 33 Virginia Green businesses, organizations, and events – Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
  • Tree City USA Community – Arbor Day Foundation, 2004

Lifestyle

  • 9th among over 350 metro areas in Dwellsy’s guide to Top Cities for Renters. It was the only Virginia metro area ranked to land in the top 50. – Dwellsy, 2021
  • One of the Best Cities for First Time Homebuyers – CNBC, 2021
  • Best City to Retire in Virginia – Insurify, 2021
  • One of the best cities in the South to move to after the pandemic – Business Insider, 2020
  • Editor’s Choice for a Top Dating Destination – DatingAdvice.com, 2020
  • One of the Top 10 Best Places for Millennials to Move to in the US – Reviews.org, 2019
  • Runner up as the Best Place to Retire in Virginia – Forbes, 2018
  • #10 in Virginia for Safest Cities – Safe Home, 2017
  • #1 most popular mid-size city to relocate – Movebuddha.com, 2017
  • One of 15 Affordable Small Towns We Love – Southern Living, 2017
  • #10 Fastest Growing City in Virginia – HomeSnacks, 2016
  • #6 in Virginia’s Safest Cities From Severe Weather – HomeownersInsurance.com, 2015

College & University

  • One of the 10 Most Livable College Towns in America – Strategistico, 2022
  • One of the Best Places in the Country for Students Seeking a High-Quality Education – College Factual, 2019
  • One of the most charming college town Main Streets – Best Value Schools, 2017-2018