Lynchburg flourishes in spring
Colorful flowers bloom, folks come outside to meander our creekside trails, and our historic sites welcome new visitors to explore and get to know our City a little more intimately. During Historic Garden Week in Virginia, April 17-24, 2021, come experience the homes and gardens on Lynchburg’s Garden Day on April 20, 2021, then stay to uncover more of our vibrant city.
Start your day attending Lynchburg’s Garden Day
When ready for lunch, join friends at one of our restaurants perfect for a garden party:
Meet Chef Trey at the Farm Basket
Isabella’s Italian Trattoria – Isabella’s is a family-owned neighborhood restaurant serving contemporary northern Italian cuisine in a sophisticated, yet casual setting. It’s strong relationships with local farmers highlights the best ingredients of central Virginia. Whether on their patio or seated inside in the upscale casual atmosphere you will find gourmet salads, pastas, Tuscan grilled meats and fresh seafood. Make a Garden Day toast with one of their signature cocktails like the Peach Bellini!
The Farm Basket – Set overlooking Blackwater Creek, get ready for a cozy alfresco dining experience, or grab an indoor table and enjoy the views. The Farm Basket has a local reputation for relaxed charm and extraordinary fare and signature dishes. Enjoy scratch made café soups and seasonal salads, unique baked goodies including apple dapple cake, lemon nut bread, and delicious drinks like their raspberry iced tea. Their shop includes must have kitchen supplies, exotic foods, gift-ables and garden plants.
Waterstone Pizza – Located on Lynchburg’s thriving Jefferson Street in Downtown, Waterstone is a metropolitan escape that redefines the idea of “casual” with a unique and fresh approach to dining in an urban atmosphere. Whether on their outdoor deck or inside, you’ll find their menu offers a savory blend of hand-tossed, fire roasted pizzas topped with gourmet ingredients, market fresh salads, as well as grilled Panini and focaccia sandwiches on their freshly baked bread. Wine and beer are available along with specialty martinis for a fun twist to the day.
After a lovely afternoon enjoying the rest your garden tour, check into one of our beautifully appointed boutique lodging options:
Penny Loafer, official Craddock Terry Hotel greeter
The Virginian Hotel – A centerpiece of Downtown Lynchburg since 1913, The Virginian was thoughtfully restored to its historic grandeur and refreshed with modern amenities. Settle into your spacious guest room with comforts like complimentary Keurig® coffeemaker and cozy bathrobe. Start your day at the coffee shop, see Lynchburg from a new vantage at the rooftop restaurant and bar or call room service to have your meals delivered. And make sure to get a picture on their grand marble staircase.
The Craddlock Terry Hotel – What was once a turn-of-the-century shoe factory is now a residential-style boutique hotel blending the urban architecture of two landmark brick warehouses with the fashionable styling of a modern hotel. The 44 luxurious guest rooms and suites are incredibly spacious, and due to the nature of the buildings’ origins, provide different architectural elements plus dramatic views of the James River, historic downtown Lynchburg, or the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Stylish AirB&B’s – Offering beautiful, welcoming spaces where guest can feel they belong, these appointed rooms and homes are a sophisticated choice for overnight stays in Lynchburg.
Continue your Garden Day experience dining at one of our chef-inspired eateries:
Order a signature Shoemakers Cocktail
Grey’s on 5th – On Historic 5th Street, Grey’s eclectic ingredients make for unique, delicious dishes like Apple Cider Salmon, Trout Cakes and Chicken Fried Cauliflower. Sit on their garden patio or light filled interior and catch up with friends over a signature Lavender French 75!
Shoemaker’s Grille – In the heart of Downtown Lynchburg, Shoemaker’s exposed brick, wooden timbers and duct work reflect the many personalities of this converted tobacco warehouse. Fine table linens with distinctive place settings add to the unique atmosphere of the beautifully appointed space. Their menu features Fine American cuisine including steaks, live Maine lobster and fresh seafood dishes, as well as an exquisite wine selection. Or relax in the impressive bar and lounge with a signature cocktail or glass of wine, and the open-air courtyard offers outdoor dining.
The Dahlia – The Dahlia is your premier choice for authentic pub-grub and excellent seafood. Being one of the oldest restaurants in town, they are a real community restaurant. Sink your teeth into delectable dishes made with the utmost culinary experience from appetizers and salads to surf & turf and sandwiches, they have it all.
After a restful night’s sleep, make one last stop at one of our historic sites before heading home:
Point of Honor in spring
Anne Spencer House & Garden – A Virginia Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, a walk behind the home of internationally acclaimed Harlem Renaissance poet and Civil Rights leader, Anne Spencer, reveals her beautifully restored garden, lily pond and her famous writing cottage, Edankraal. Push the voice box buttons to hear about Anne’s life and her time with notables such as opera stars Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson and Civil Rights luminaries Thurgood Marshall and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Point of Honor – Point of Honor was a 740-acre plantation purchased by Dr. George Cabell in 1805. Today the 4-acre historic site includes a house museum, kitchen dependency, and restored gardens, all with scenic views of Downtown Lynchburg and the James River. A large enslaved community operated the plantation and helped to build the refined, Federal-style house for the Cabell family in 1815. Advance tickets are required for guided tours.
Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum – Established in 1806, this extraordinary 27-acre public garden and “history park” is a village of five small museums interpreting the stories of the diverse population of the nearly 20,000 buried here. Three quarters of those interred here are of African descent, both enslaved and free. The cemetery’s Confederate section contains the graves of more than 2,200 soldiers from 14 states. The grounds are filled with hundreds of varieties of native and heirloom plants, including the largest public collection of antique roses in the state.
Thank you for celebrating Historic Garden Week in Virginia with us and we look forward to having you come back again soon!