Ashland, Virginia is a charming, walkable small town centered on a historic Main Street with cozy coffee shops, local breweries, parks and regular community events — a friendly, safe base that makes multi‑week travel assignments comfortable and interesting, with an Amtrak station and I‑95 access for easy travel.
Within easy reach are Richmond (≈15 miles south) for big‑city dining, museums and major hospitals, and Charlottesville (≈45 miles west) for UVA, wineries and Blue Ridge trails, so you get small‑town calm plus quick urban and outdoor weekend options.