Over the past couple of years, Daniel and I have started a new Thanksgiving tradition. Rather than stressing over the perfect meal, hosting company, and watching football, we take a quiet trip to the mountains and just disconnect. It’s become one of our favorite traditions because it allows us a great chance to recharge before the holidays kick in. (Plus, we’ve learned how to make a pretty mean pumpkin bisque.) And this year, our little tradition took us to the town of Lynchburg, VA.
A Little About Lynchburg, VA
Lynchburg is a beautiful old town situated just a bit east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a great downtown scene filled with boutique shops and delicious food, but it also blends seamlessly with a number of natural areas and parks that weave in and out of the city’s borders. The town was initially built on the tobacco and iron industries, thanks to a ferry service started by James Lynch when he was only 17!
It’s known as the City of Seven Hills due to the rather hilly landscape, which can make walking around in certain areas a bit of an exercise. However, these hills also provide gorgeous views of the city from all different angles, which makes the city even more unique.
If your travels bring you to Lynchburg, VA, here’s my recommendations for a long weekend itinerary of nature, food, and history.
A Quick Recap of Our Lynchburg, VA Trip…
How to Spend a Weekend in Lynchburg, VA
Take a Foodie Tour
Lynchburg has a copious selection of local restaurants to choose from, so you’re sure to find something for any taste. Every place we ate at was top-notch and had unique twists on meals, which is always refreshing. Here are a few of my favorites…
My Dog Duke’s Diner
Located right in downtown Lynchburg, My Dog Duke’s Diner is a bustling joint that serves up delicious breakfast fare, sandwiches, and specialty coffee. Based on the crowd when we arrived, it’s quite popular with locals. And after eating there ourselves, we certainly understand why.
The portions were huge, and the food was delicious. Plus, dogs are allowed on the patio, so Atlas was able to enjoy our meal with us and make some new friends.
Try: The Duke Sandwich (Scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and bacon on a Brioche bun), the Lynchburg (Country fried pork sausage, scrambled eggs, and pimento cheese on an English muffin), the home fries, and the poutine (fries, sausage gravy, fried eggs, cheddar cheese).
Rivermont Pizza
For dinner or lunch, you can’t go wrong with Rivermont Pizza. Located right across from Randolph College, the interior definitely speaks to a younger crowd. But the food is good no matter your age.
You can get a great variety of comfort food favorites here, from classic apps like nachos and cheesy bread to hoagies and, of course, specialty pizzas. In fact, their pizza menu was one of the most unique ones I’ve ever seen, with options that included ingredients like pistachio pesto and chicken, thai sauce and tofu, or bbq sauce and pancetta.
Try: Nachos (white chicken chili, house salsa, white cheddar, jalapenos, spring onions, and lime cream) and the D’Argentine pizza (Spanish queen green olives, yellow onions, three cheese blend, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh garlic, and oregano)
Bacon St. Bagels
Another great breakfast spot to try is Bacon St. Bagels. I recently discovered how delicious bagel sandwiches could be, and Bacon St. Bagels’ creations did not disappoint! They have a fantastic selection of bagels (which you can get single or by the dozen), yummy spreads, and loaded bagel sandwiches.
Although it took a few minutes to get our food, the sandwiches were huge, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The only thing I didn’t like was the coffee.
Try: El Papa Diablo (Fried Eggs, Jalapeño Jack cheese, hash brown, and Cholula hot sauce) The Herbivore (Avacado, chive cream cheese, sliced tomato, arugula, and a fried egg), and the crispy hash brown patties.
Cinn City
For dessert (or breakfast…or a snack…) head over to Cinn City bakery. This local joint whips up mouth-watering cinnamon rolls, stuffed brioche buns, and beignets that you’ll want to add to your daily snack list. While the beignets are classic, the house buns get bonus points for flavor creativity. You’ll have a hard time choosing between flavors like Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Amaretto, Salted Caramel, and more! You can also balance it out with a stuffed brioche bun to add a few veggies or some protein to your meal.
Try: Salted Caramel Cinnamon Bun, the Classic Beignets with raspberry dipping sauce, and the bacon, egg, and cheese Stuffed Brioche.
Walk around Percival’s Island
After your foodie tour, you can easily burn a few calories by walking around the area. Lynchburg lies right alongside the James River, which creates a rather beautiful backdrop for the downtown area. At one point, the river widens and splits in two around the small stretch of land called Percival’s’ Island Natural Area.
A bridge connects the island right to the downtown area, and a paved walking trail makes it an easy choice for a walk or bike ride close to town. You can enjoy the river from both sides of the island as you walk, and you’re sure to spot plenty of wildlife, including birds and deer.
This quiet area is also dog-friendly, as long as your furry friend is on a leash, so it’s a great spot to let them get a good adventure.
Visit the Lynchburg Community Market
Lynchburg, VA, is home to one of the oldest markets in the United States! It’s been running since 1783, but it still offers plenty to modern guests.
Depending on when you visit, there will be different vendors and events going on:
Lynchburg Community Market Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 7 am-2 pm
Saturday Market: 8 am-1 pm year-round
Artisan Crafters Gallery: Tuesday through Friday 9 am-2 pm and Saturdays 7 am- 2 pm
We visited on Saturday morning and perused a wide variety of crafts, fresh produce, and homemade goodies. Inside the main market building, you’ll find quite a few permanent stalls where local craftsmen sell everything from quilts to woodwork to herb-scented soaps.
Shop the Downtown Boutiques
If you like shopping locally, Lynchburg is a fantastic place to do so! Most of the downtown shops are one-off businesses with unique goods that you won’t see in many other places. We wandered through a variety of antique shops, clothing stores, and a gift shop, finding plenty of things that caught our eyes!
Additionally, the downtown area is absolutely gorgeous, so architecture enthusiasts will have a great time strolling down the streets and taking in the buildings that host all these cute shops. It’s a fun mix of old brick and modern steel.
Explore Lynchburg’s Extensive Trail Network
For those wanting to spend some more time in nature, you’re in luck! Lynchburg has an extensive trail network on the edge of town, and you can enjoy miles of trails around the James River. You can choose from some of the more popular trails, such as RiverWalk, Blackwater Creek Trail, or the Alpine Trail, or just pick a starting point and go!
Some are paved, while some are just dirt paths, so be sure to double-check the trail guides if you have a preference. We particularly enjoyed wandering around Point of Honor Trail, Creekside Trail, and Freer Trail. Creekside Trail has several interesting bridges, and Point of Honor Trail has a dam waterfall at the Hollins Mill Park area.
Drive up to the Peaks of Otter
If you’re in the mood for a short road trip, hop in your vehicle and head about an hour west to the Peaks of Otter. This was one of the most highly recommended things people suggested in the area, so of course we had to check it out!
Despite the lack of leaves for the winter season, the views were pretty spectacular. The Peaks of Otter are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Blue Ridge Parkway offers some gorgeous scenery there and back. Not to mention the lake nestled at the base of the peaks. I can only imagine how gorgeous it is in the summer and fall!
Once you arrive, you’ll find a variety of trails that you can explore from the visitor center. We decided to do the Fallingwater Cascades Trail, a 1.6-mile loop that centers on a series of little waterfalls.
It ended up being quite a bit more strenuous than we planned (there are a lot of stairs and a point where you have to cross the river by jumping from rock to rock), but the view was so pretty, and it made for some good memories!
Drive through the Garland Hill and Diamond Hill Neighborhoods
If you want a peek at the area’s former premiere neighborhoods, take a drive through the Garland Hill and Diamond Hill districts. While many of the homes are not what they used to be, it’s still a beautiful drive packed with fancy, period houses in all sorts of styles. Some of the streets are even brick-paved, which really makes you feel like you stepped back in time. They take just a few minutes to drive through but are definitely worth the quick detour. Plus, their hillside locations give you some of those great city views I mentioned earlier!
Relax at Riverside Park
We were fortunate to book an Airbnb that’s located directly acrosss from Riverside Park. It wasn’t originally on my list of things to do, but after a recommendation from our host, we decided to check it out.
While I’m sure it’s much prettier in the warmer months, we still enjoyed the beauty of this park! It had wide, paved paths, a small train “museum,” a fountain, plaground, and a couple of scenic observation points.
We spent about an hour here meandering around the path, chatting with other dog owners, and taking in the views before heading in for the night. It seemed like a popular place to play some casual sports (like frisbee and basketball) and bring the family to hang out.
Closing Thoughts on Lynchburg, VA
That’s all from me today! I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into the charming town of Lynchburg, VA, and that you’ll add it to your list for a quiet getaway!
For more ideas on places to spend your vacation, be sure to check out my different city guides with itineraries for a day, weekend, or longer around the globe!
Feel free to drop questions and comments in the comment section below. I love hearing from you and finding out what helps you plan and what can be improved!
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Thanks and have an amazing week!
Happy travels!
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