Local towns rank on list of America’s best college towns

WASHINGTON – Several towns in the region ranked high on a list of America’s best college towns — not only because of the number of students who call the towns home, but also for their charm, diversity and attractions.

Travel and Leisure magazine ranked Fredericksburg, Va., at No. 9 and Annapolis, Md., at No. 16 on the list.

Fredericksburg, which is home to University of Mary Washington, offers plenty to do outside the classroom including its national historic district as well as a great dining scene, Travel and Leisure says. Also, it’s a great place for thirsty visitors with its four wineries, a brewery and distillery.

St. John’s College students have plenty to enjoy in Annapolis, according to the magazine. The waterfront town is an excellent source of crabs as well as wines.

Burlington, Vt., ranked No. 1 on the list. The students at the University of Vermont as well as its residents enjoy the lakefront town for its hippie vibe, breweries, coffee shops and thriving artisan food scene, according to the magazine.

Also on the list are Charlottesville, Va., (University of Virginia) at No. 2; Williamsburg, Va., (College of William and Mary) at No. 4; Harrisonburg, Va., at No. 5 (James Madison University); and Lexington, Va., at No. 14 (Washington and Lee University).

Travel and Leisure determined its ranking after asking its users on Twitter and Facebook about their favorite towns in the U.S. The fans were then asked to vote for the 744 towns in 55 categories, one of which was college towns.

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