Discover Lynchburg in every direction. Information about tourism in the city of Lynchburg and the surrounding area

Happy May 1^st! During this time of year, so many amazing things are right around the corner. BUT let’s not forget the most important; Mother’s Day, of course

What would be your mother’s idea of a perfect day? We’re sure the words food, shopping, or flowers might be coming to mind.

Well we have great news; all can be found around Lynchburg. Here are some happenings around the city you and your mom won’t want to miss.

• The Academy of Fine Arts will be hosting their Mother’s Day Pottery sale Friday May 4^th through the 6^th. Why not spend the day shopping and let her pick out something special?
• The beautiful Avoca Museum in nearby Altavista will be holding their annual Tea & Tour event on Sunday the 13^th. Enjoy an elegant afternoon complete with entertainment and a bite to eat completely free for all mothers! Just stop in between 1:30 and 4:30.
•  Mother’s Day will be near peak bloom for the gorgeous antique rose collection at the Old City Cemetery. All are invited to stop by for the Mother’s Day Rose Walk between 3:00-5:00pm to take in the sights.
•  And last but not least, we can’t imagine any mother, or anyone else for that matter, turning down a brunch buffet!  So we would give some serious thought to paying a visit to the Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center on Mother’s Day from 11:30-2:30pm. Also, we hear Shoemakers Restaurant and many other eateries may be planning a special menu for that day as well! Be sure to check them all out.

We hope that your Mother’s Day Weekend is amazing. Because it is going to be a busy weekend with several area colleges having commencement on Saturday the 12^th, we highly suggest making restaurant reservations now to assure a spot at your favorite place. No mother wants to wait in lines :) And keep visiting our website for more ideas and happenings around the Lynchburg area!

Have fun!

It’s already April! Did this shock anyone else? March, we blinked and missed you!

Let’s consider how quickly this year is going by as a wake-up call to not let 2012 slip through our fingers. There are plenty of things that make April special, so why not take advantage? We bet we have something fun for you to do in Lynchburg to celebrate every occasion.

Reasons for Celebration:

Easter!

Who doesn’t love a good Easter egg hunt? In true Amazement Square fashion, they are taking this family tradition to another level to celebrate Family Health Month on April 7. Head out, or hop out if you will, from 10 a.m. to noon to participate in crafts, activities, and scavenger hunts for kids of all ages.

Wine!

It’s time to start keeping your ears open for all of the amazing events that our area wineries hold throughout the spring and summer. (Or just bookmark our website and we’ll do it for you. You’re welcome!) Peaks of Otter Winery is holding a FREE Open House to help you get in the spirit during the first two weekends of April. Enjoy a picnic, taste some wine, and get advance tickets for the upcoming Horse and Hound Wine Festival while you are there.

History!

Did you know that Lynchburg has 12 Civil War Trail sites scattered throughout the city? To celebrate the newest marker, stop by E.C. Glass High School from April 13-15 and participate in Civil War Trails Weekend! The Civil War HistoryMobile is even making a cameo, so don’t miss out!

Birthdays!

While your average Joe may not remember who was born on April 13, 1743, we certainly do! Head over to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest to celebrate his birthday from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free cake will be served with regular admission.

Gardens!

Historic Garden Week is April 21-28, and Lynchburg is jumping in on the fun. Garden Day in Lynchburg will be held on April 24, and many gorgeous homes and gardens will be open for touring around the city. Visit the Old City Cemetery, Miller Clayton House, Poplar Forest, and others to celebrate spring!

We told you there were plenty of reasons to celebrate in April! Keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter for even more fun things to do all month.

Isn’t there something about warm weather and baseball that puts even the least sports-minded person in a great mood?

In Lynchburg, this feeling can be found weekly at the Calvin Falwell Field. Built in 1939, the stadium hosted its first game between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The following 70 years would be spent continuing to keep professional baseball a part of Lynchburg’s culture.  Today, the Lynchburg Hillcats call the stadium home and draw crowds of fans to their games every spring and summer.

The 2012 Hillcats season will kick off with their first home game on April 6^th. Each game provides a different experience with themed nights, post-game fireworks, nightly concessions, promotions and fun contests for fans. Check for dates and info on the Hillcats website or keep an eye on our Events Calendar  for the home-game schedule.

Go Hillcats! !

Although the weather already feels like it here in Lynchburg, spring officially begins in a few short weeks on Tuesday, March 20^th. This time of year is perfect for taking advantage of so many things Lynchburg has to offer . (Think miles of beautiful biking and hiking trails. Or afternoon drives down the Blue Ridge Parkway. We could go on and on.)

But this spring if you’re ready to conquer those home improvement projects you’ve been putting off all winter, or if gardening is what really gets you amped for warmer weather, then you need to be in downtown Lynchburg next weekend. The Central Virginia Home and Garden Expo, which takes place annually in March, will be held at the Lynchburg Armory starting March 16.  Walk around, meet with vendors, and get inspired!  Admission is only $3 and the event lasts all weekend long.

Ladies, if your already downtown for the Home and Garden show don’t forget to stop in at the Lynchburg Women’s Show a couple of blocks down at the Holiday Inn Hotel. Lynchburg exhibitors will be featuring everything from food to jewelry for a day dedicated to all things women. Admission is just $5 and we hear they are giving away some killer prizes.

Plan a day of it ladies and gents, you deserve it!

See you in downtown Lynchburg!

Pens down, people!  It’s almost the weekend which means it’s time to get some Friday night plans in the works.  If you are tired of the usual dinner and a movie, we’d like to encourage you to take advantage of a few Friday night traditions in Lynchburg that are so good you might even make them a tradition of your own.

If you have never checked out the Ellington, there is no better time to do it than on Ellington Fridays. For around $10, you can listen to music from local artists, snack on appetizers, and dance the night away. The unique setting and history of the venue makes for an amazing atmosphere and unique Lynchburg experience. Ellington Fridays are every 2^nd and 4^th Friday of the month, so check it out tomorrow to hear acoustic group Jenny Reynolds and Cherry Hill.  On March 9^th, hear the pop, jazz, and R&B styles of artist Lew Taylor.

For all of you party animals who aren’t quite ready to head home after the show, we have just the place to keep the good times rolling.

If you have ever wanted to try salsa dancing, Lynchburg Salsa makes it as easy for you as possible. Every Friday in downtown Lynchburg, people head out to this venue to either learn some new moves or show some off.  A lesson from 9-10pm followed by social dancing until close only costs about $5, and no experience or partner is necessary. So grab your dancing shoes and any willing participants and give it a try! Check out their website for all the info you need to know.

Have fun! We hope your Friday night in Lynchburg is amazing. Remember to check our Facebook page and website for more weekend suggestions.

Tying the knot this summer? Whether you’re planning your dream wedding this season or standing on the sidelines as a bridesmaid, Lynchburg has everything you need to make the day a success!

With the Blue Ridge mountain backdrop and fair seasons ahead, Lynchburg is the perfect location for a wedding. Not to mention, the area is home to several of the state’s most beautiful wedding venues and churches.

Still need to do some planning? Don’t worry! Lynchburg has you covered and you can rest assured that you will be hooked up with some of the best, most professional vendors around. This past Saturday, Feb. 4, the annual Bride of the Year Luncheon was hosted downtown at the Tresca on 8th. This event packed the Tresca (a gorgeous venue option for those who are looking) with brides, mothers of the bride, bridesmaids and friends. All attendees were able to meet several of the top-rated vendors and have a lunch catered by the best caterers around. The Bride of the Year was selected and received a large gift package complete with an all-inclusive Honeymoon from Travel Lovers, a Lynchburg area travel agency. 

If you missed the Bride of the Year event, there is still plenty of fun for you to take part in. The Lynchburg Bridal Expo is this Sunday, Feb. 12 from 12-4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown Lynchburg. Another honeymoon package will be given away and this time, 65 vendors will be present to assist you in all your wedding needs! Admission is only $5.

A similar show will be hosted at the The Barrick-Falwell Lodge at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre on April 15. Come out from 5-8 p.m. to see what the lodge has to offer, meet and greet with more vendors and once again, have the chance to win several prizes including a Romantic Get Away Package from Travel Lovers! Admission is $5. Be sure to pre-register!

Check out other venues, caterers and more at www.discoverlynchburg.org. Lynchburg is the perfect place to ‘Let the planning begin’!

Doesn't Lynchburg just look romantic?

It’s that time of the year, love birds. Valentine’s Day is a couple weeks away, so we are giving you plenty of time to pick which amazing experience you are going to have with your sweetheart this year in Lynchburg. Whether you make a reservation at one of our amazing restaurants or spend the day wine tasting at an area winery, we are sure we have just the thing to make the Mr., Mrs., or Miss in your life very happy.

Coming from out of town? No problem. The hotels and inns in the area are prepared to make your Valentines weekend in Lynchburg very special. In the Hotel Specials portion of our website, you can browse through hotels like the Craddock Terry, Acorn Hill Lodge, and Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast to find the perfect setting for your romantic getaway. From bottles of champagne to couples massages, you are sure to find something that sounds perfect.

Lynchburg is jumping with unique activities this time of year for you and your favorite squeeze. You can learn to make authentic vintage valentines at Old City Cemetery, pamper yourself at the ‘Gathering of Goddesses’ at Amazement Square, or enjoy an evening of entertainment with ‘Sonnets and Chocolates’ at the Fine Arts Academy.  And as always, keep up with our events calendar to see what else is going on during Valentines Weekend or any day here in Lynchburg.

Have a great time with your Valentine!

You are in for a TREAT in Lynchburg.  There are plenty of activities to take advantage of when looking for a thrill in the city; however, a few are perfect for the cold weather months.

Rise Up Rock Climbing is Central Virginia’s premiere indoor climbing gym.  This place boasts around 6,000 square feet of climbing!  The 40 walls change regularly and are suitable for all skill levels from beginner to advanced.  Not quite ready to give it a go?  Take the basic skills class and you will be up there no time!

And just another added bonus for you all of you who haven’t quite ‘started’ that New Year’s resolution; indoor rock climbing is known to burn up to 700 calories per hour!  Friendly reminder

Another spot for Lynchburg adventure seekers happens to be Lynchburg exclusive.  Snowflex, a year-round synthetic ski-slope on Liberty Mountain, was the first of its kind in the United States when it opened in 2009. Today it is the perfect place to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and tubing all year long!

If you aren’t up for the challenge, grab a hot chocolate and take a seat at the bottom of the hill to enjoy the show.  Professional snowboarders and skiers are frequent visitors and amazing to watch.

Admission is $5 during the week and $7 on the weekends.

Have fun, snow bunnies!

If you have any suggestions of your own for thrill seekers in Lynchburg, discoverLynchburg would love to hear from you!  Tell us here, on our Facebook page, or tweet us @discvrLynchbrug!

Old Man Winter has finally decided to pay a visit to Lynchburg, forcing the warm-blooded to put away the flip flops and accept the fact that it is January. On the bright side, Lynchburg has no shortage of indoor activities to keep the good times rolling until spring arrives. discoverLynchburg will keep you updated on some of these great places over the next couple of months.

Is there ANY better winter activity than ice-skating?  Nope, it is the classic cold-weather pastime.  Therefore, why not head over to the LaHaye Ice Center here in Lynchburg?  Built in 2006 by Liberty University, it allows guests the opportunity to ice-skate year round in a state-of-the-art facility.  It’s a
great place to take the family, a group of friends, or even a first date to ‘break the ice’. (Sorry, couldn’t resist)

They have public skate hours almost every day and an adult general admission ticket costs about $5.

Bundle up and have fun showing off your skating skills!

Remember to check back here for more opportunities to take advantage of what Lynchburg has to offer during these long winter months!

Monday January 16^th marks the 26^th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed in our country. Interestingly enough, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was no stranger to Lynchburg. In 1962, he spoke at E.C. Glass High School Auditorium inspiring hope and encouraging the audience to “make the American Dream a reality.”

Not to mention, 5^th Street in downtown Lynchburg was later named Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in his honor.

Lucky enough to get the day off?  Instead of just ‘observing’, let’s celebrate the fact that King Jr. was here in Lynchburg 50 years ago!

You may find yourself asking, “What might one do on MLK Jr. Day?”  Fear not. discoverLynchburg has you covered.

The Lynchburg Museum at the Old Court House and Point of Honor are inviting all
visitors to tour for FREE on this day from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  Check out what these museums have to offer at
http://www.lynchburgmuseum.org/. See you on Monday!