Lexington Inspiration Guide - 6

INSPIRATION GUIDE

literally at every turn-but don't let those other-era touches
fool you! Inside those lovingly preserved historic buildings,
an entrepreneurial spirit pulses.
In the last handful of years, Lexington has emerged as
an excellent place to launch a business while still harboring
that friendly, small-town vibe. Downtown restaurants serve
up cosmopolitan cuisine and inspired cocktails. Due to the
high concentration of artists drawn to Rockbridge County
(the landscapes are truly a painter's paradise), local galleries
are stocked with works captivating enough to belong on the
walls in any big city. Consider it a small town with big-city
hustle.
To experience Rockbridge County's bucolic countryside,
visitors can take a quick 15-minute drive from Lexington
to access the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway. It runs
along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers
gorgeous bird's eye views of the valley and the southern
Appalachian Mountains. Hikers and backpackers can pick
up the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail not far from the city
of Buena Vista or the town of Glasgow.

A . WA D E ' S M I L L B . N AT U R A L B R I D G E C . V I R G I N I A H O R S E C E N T E R
D . A P PA L A C H I A N T R A I L
E . B L U E R I D G E PA R K WAY
F. V I R G I N I A S A F A R I PA R K

LEXINGTON | BUENA VISTA | ROCKBRIDGE

A, B, C: COURTESY OF ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL TOURISM / D: CHRIS WEISLER / E: STEVE SHIRES

Spend a day kayaking or
tubing on the James River.
Because Rockbridge is big
horse country, a visit isn't
technically complete without
at least checking out some
kind of equestrian event-
dressage, jumping, barrel
racing, a good old fashioned
rodeo-at the Virginia Horse
Center four miles from
downtown Lexington.
Music, notably roots and
bluegrass, is the heartbeat of
this county. Visitors during
the warmer months are
encouraged to check out
sounds at Lime Kiln, a turnof-the-century lime quarry
and kiln turned magical
outdoor theater. And Friday
nights are big at Clark's Ole
Time Music Center, where
music and dance have been
celebrated since 1994.
In the summer, there's also
the "Friday's Alive" concert
series in Davidson Park
downtown Lexington or
"Fridays in the Park" series at
Glen Maury Park in Buena
Vista.
For history buffs who love
artisanal baking, Wade's
Mill in Raphine is the
oldest continuously working
commercial gristmill in the
Shenandoah Valley, stonegrinding local grains since
1750. Gift a bag of 100
percent natural, additive and
preservative free flour to the
folks back home.

Lexington Inspiration Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lexington Inspiration Guide