LYh Legacy Tour
Forged by vigorous industry, Lynchburg, Virginia has always been a cosmopolitan oasis within the otherwise pastoral Central Virginia. Also known as Hill City, our view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and place beside the historic James River has made us a unique destination for travelers seeking new adventures while being surrounded by natural beauty. To help you in navigating your group’s new adventure, we have curated just a few of our legacy experiences—the places and attractions that people tell their friends and family they must go to while they’re here. This is Lynchburg.
DAY ONE
Welcome to Lynchburg! After traveling you must be hungry, the Depot Grille is a fun railroad-themed family restaurant is a local favorite and housed in a former freight station, that serves up Steak and Seafood. The Depot’s eclectic dining space uses church pews for their booth seating and the bar back is an old pharmacy display case. Order the ribs, you won’t be disappointed!
After eating, stop at the Lynchburg Museum at the Old Courthouse! Explore the rich history of Lynchburg and Central Virginia through rotating exhibitions and their permanent collections. The Museum shares stories about the fascinating people and events that shaped our region through rotating exhibitions and permanent collections.
Next up, the Historic District Driving Tour step-on guide will take you through Lynchburg’s seven nationally designated Historic Districts. These prosperous neighborhoods sprang up during the mid to late 19th century when tobacco tycoons, shoe production, doctors, and attorneys made Lynchburg one of the wealthiest cities in the nation for its size.
After checking into your hotel, experience the food renaissance happening in LYH, Michelin star chefs and Food Network veterans have set up shop on cozy Downtown streets and quiet nooks. Dinner is on your own this evening, so walk through the doors of any of our restaurants and you’ll be met with extraordinary flavor and attention to detail that will make you want to stay for hours, or at least until the Motorcoach takes you back to your hotel.
Lynchburg Museum
DAY TWO
Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum was the home to an internationally acclaimed poet who was part of the Harlem Renaissance, Anne Spencer was the only black woman and the only Virginian included in the Norton Anthology of Modern American and British Poetry. Take a tour of the house and garden that many Civil Rights luminaries visited during her lifetime.
Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum Established in 1806, this restored public cemetery is a Virginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. Features include five small museums equipped with push-button audio. Interpretive plaques, signage, and brochures are available throughout the 26-acre site.
After visiting the beautiful City Cemetery it’s time to visit the Historic Sandusky. Built in 1808, it is one of the Lynchburg area’s first homes to display the architectural details and refinements characteristic of Federal-style mansions. Taken over and used as a Union headquarters during the Battle of Lynchburg, the home is now the site of the Historic Sandusky Museum and Civil War Center.
After all the exploring you must be hungry! Lunch at Charley’s Restaurant is the perfect place to rest. The restaurant was founded in 1980 by former Major League Baseball player Charley Sands, Charley’s has grown into one of Lynchburg’s favorite restaurants with steaks, seafood, salads, and more. Just a short drive from Charley’s is Poplar Forest.
Poplar Forest was Thomas Jefferson’s secluded retreat but now sits as a National Historic Landmark. Jefferson sojourned to Poplar Forest between the ages of 66-80 to rekindle his creativity, spend time with his grandchildren and escape the crowds at Monticello.
Dinner at Shoemakers American Grille, Shoemakers is located in the Craddock Terry Hotel and treats guests to big-city dining in the heart of Downtown Lynchburg. Offering fine cuisine in an upscale industrial setting, its shoe-themed rooms and décor reflect Lynchburg’s past as one of the nation’s leading shoe-manufacturing cities during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries.
Performance at the Historic Academy of Music Theater, now part of the Academy Center of the Arts complex, is one of Lynchburg’s most notable historical treasures. The theater closed in 1958 and has lain silent and all but abandoned for four decades…until now. The theater has undergone extensive restoration to return the building to its original state and reopened its doors in December 2018. Enjoy the show!
Poplar Forest
DAY THREE
Point of Honor is a historic mansion that gives an insight into life during the early 1800s and a peek into the lives of all who lived and worked in this remarkable home. Exploring the house and grounds of the original owner and builder Dr. George Cabell, whose patients included American patriot Patrick Henry. Point of Honor also provides guided tours year-round for all ages!
Your final stop is the Lynchburg Community Market, which is a perfect example of the buy-local trend. With local vendors and a variety of products, this market is a must-see, not to mention the third oldest continuously running farmer’s market in the Country.
