Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [30]
Outdoors
Ask for the excellent brochure Rockbridge Outdoors, available from the visitor center.
Within an hour of Lexington are dozens of hiking trails. Some of the many areas to enjoy the outdoors are: Apple Orchard Falls, Crabtree Falls, Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, Panther Falls Trail, St. Mary’s Wilderness, and of course, the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Take a road-trip to Rockbridge Vineyard for a tour and tasting, Goshen Pass, a mountain gorge 12 miles away where you can swim, canoe, fish and hike, or Natural Bridge, 14 miles south of Lexington. The Drama of Creation is a sound and light show at Natural Bridge each evening at dusk, April through October. The charge is $10 for adults, $5 for children (tel. 540-291-2121).
Dining
In the downtown district, 19 West serves eclectic contemporary cuisine, at – you guessed it – 19 West Washington Street (tel. 540-464-1919). Healthy Foods Market Soup and Juice Bar is a healthy place for a quick bite (110 W. Washington Street, tel. 540-463-6954).
Il Palazzo serves traditional Italian fare at 24 N. Main Street (tel. 540-464-5800, http://webfeat-inc.com/ilpalazzo), and The Wilson-Walker House serves gourmet American food accompanied by a full Virginia wine list in an 1820s townhouse (30 N. Main Street, tel. 540-463-3020, www.wilsonwalker.com).
For between-meal treats: Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe (106 W. Washington Street), and Lexington Coffee Roasting Co. (9 W. Washington Street).
TIP: Stop by or contact the Visitor Center for a copy of their Dining & Lodging Guide; tel. 877-453-9822, www.lexingtonvirginia.com.
Lodging
The number of inns, B&Bs, cottages, cabins, and chain motels in the Lexington area are too numerous to mention here. Below are a few in the immediate historic district.
Historic Country Inns operates three lodgings in Lexington. Downtown, the McCampbell Inn is an historic hotel and The Alexander-Withrow House is a Georgian 1789 residence. For country atmosphere, the Maple House outside of town is on an 1850 plantation with swimming pool, tennis, walking trails and a stocked fishing pond. Guests at the downtown inns can use the Maple House’s facilities. (tel. 877-463-2044, www.lexingtonhistoricinns.com, $)
Sheridan Livery Inn was opened in 1887 by Irish immigrant John Sheridan. It reopened more than a century later, completely renovated with 12 rooms including three suites, some with balconies overlooking Main Street. There’s an indoor restaurant and outdoor café. (35 N. Main Street, tel. 540-464-1887, www.webfeat-inc.com/sheridanlivery, $)
Llewellyn Lodge is a bed & breakfast specializing in outdoor adventures, offering guided fly-fishing trips and information on hiking trails. The innkeepers can arrange golfing, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and cycling trips. (603 South Main Street, tel. 800-882-1145, www.LLodge.com, $)
Pet-friendly: An amazing number of chain motels around the city take pets, including Best Western Inn at Hunt Ridge (tel. 540-464-1500, $); Comfort Inn-Virginia Horse Center (tel. 540-463-7311, $); Econo Lodge (tel. 540-463-7371, $); Holiday Inn Express (tel. 540-463-7351, $); and Ramada Inn Lexington (tel. 540-463-6400, $).
Information
Lexington Visitor Center, tel. 877-453-9822, www.lexingtonvirginia.com, 106 E. Washington Street. Open daily, 9 am-5 pm; 8:30 am-6 pm, June-August.
FAMOUS SON: Cyrus Hall McCormick (1809-1884) was a native of Rockbridge County who liberated agriculture through the invention of the mechanical reaper. He was a benefactor of Washington and Lee College where an impressive statue of him can be seen near Lee Chapel).
Events
Washington and Lee’s famous Mock Convention, a raucous parade and a convention that has predicted the presidential nominees since 1908, is held in March in election years (tel. 540-463-8460).
The Virginia Horse Festival is the third weekend