Cooperative Living August 2014 - 35

IF YOU GO...
Make your first stop in Lexington at the Lexington Visitors Center
(106 E. Washington St., 540-463-3777, www.lexingtonvirginia.com). If
you visit on a Friday, you can take advantage of a free city walking tour at
3 p.m., April through November. The tour covers the historic downtown
area, the campus of Washington & Lee University (204 W.
Washington St., 540-458-8400, www.wlu.edu) and the campus of the
Virginia Military Institute (540-464-7230, www.vmi.edu).
The Virginia Military Institute owns two museums in Lexington, both
downtown and on its campus. They include the Stonewall Jackson
House (8 E. Washington St., 540-464-7704, www.stonewalljackson.org)
and the VMI Museum (309 Lechter Ave., 540-464-7334, www.vmi.
edu/vmi_museum). Also on the campus of VMI is the George C. Marshall
Museum (540-463-7103, www.marshallfoundation.org/museum).
If you get hungry while wandering the historic streets of Lexington,
check out Bistro on Main (8 N. Main St.,
540-464-4888, www.bistro-lexington.com). Here
crisp young waiters all dressed in black provide
the pinnacle of customer service. While I was here,
they took my coat and even helped me back into it
when my lunch was over. Try the Caesar chicken
wrap with beer-battered fries. Or head across the
street to the historic Sheridan Livery Inn
(35 N. Main St., 540-464-1887, www.sheridan
liveryinn.com), which originally housed a stableand-carriage
service. Try the savory cheese tart
and homemade ravioli! And if you need overnight
digs, the Sheridan also has a 12-room inn.
If you keep heading south on Route 11 out of
Lexington, be sure to stop by the multiple roadside
attractions in the area of Natural Bridge. If you're
hungry, stop into the Pink Cadillac Diner (4347
S. Lee Hwy., 540-291-2378, www.pinkcadillac
dineronline.com), a wonderfully nostalgic greasy
spoon that does indeed have a pink Cadillac
parked outside. Just to the south is the
Natural Bridge Zoo (5784 S. Lee
Hwy., 540-291-2420, www.natural
bridgezoo.com), a family-owned independent
zoo where I had my first
experience of having my legs licked by
Asiatic black bear cubs!
And then there is, of course, one of
Route 11's most famous roadside stops
- Natural Bridge Park
(15 Appledore Ln., 800-533-1410,
www.naturalbridgeva.com), a National
Historic Landmark that has frequently
made " Seven Natural Wonders of the
World " lists. Route 11, in fact, passes right over this natural stone
bridge. While you're here, you can also explore the Caverns at
Natural Bridge as well as various hiking trails. Stay the night across
the street at the Natural Bridge Park Historic Hotel (15
Appledore Ln., 800-533-1410, www.naturalbridgeva.com/
accommodations). 
August 2014/www.co-opliving.com
33
Above, a view of bustling
downtown Lexington.
Above, the interior of
Lee Chapel on the campus
of Washington &
Lee University. The wonderfully
nostalgic Pink
Cadillac diner (right),
complete with pink
Cadillac parked outside.
The Natural Bridge Hotel
(left) is right across the
street from the entrance to
the Natural Bridge complex
(below). A wax museum
and factory tour are
among the attractions for
visitors to the facility.

http://www.lexingtonvirginia.com http://www.wlu.edu http://www.vmi.edu http://www.stonewalljackson.org http://www.vmi http://www.marshallfoundation.org/museum http://www.bistro-lexington.com http://www.sheridan http://www.liveryinn.com http://www.pinkcadillac http://www.dineronline.com http://www.natural http://www.bridgezoo.com http://www.naturalbridgeva.com http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/

Cooperative Living August 2014

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