Quantico, VA

Located about 35 miles south of Washington, D.C., Quantico is one of the most unusual small towns in Northern Virginia. It sits right on the banks of the Potomac River, completely encircled by Marine Corps Base Quantico. Because the military base covers three sides and the river covers the fourth, you actually have to drive through a military gate to get in and out. That setup gives the civilian town a secluded feel with virtually no pass-through traffic.

ATTRFBI / Public domain

The town itself is only a few blocks wide, centered around Potomac Avenue with local diners, coffee spots, and small shops leading down toward the water. Commuting into the city is remarkably easy because the town has its own station with daily VRE and Amtrak train service directly into Alexandria and D.C. Between the riverside views, quiet neighborhood streets, and the daily reality of base checkpoint access, life in Quantico has a flavor you will not find anywhere else.