FIVE STAR STAY WITH THIS HARVEST HOST…read more This place was awesome. Hosts Janis & John were so welcoming. From their Alpaca Farm there are views of rolling farmland and mountains. They have tons of adorable Alpacas all with their own creative names and personalities to match! There's a lovely store where you can purchase hand spun alpaca yarn as well as assorted handmade item from both their own alpacas as well as lots of unique items imported from Peru. Things like hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, barn vests and throws just to name a few. As an avid knitter I was so excited to purchase some of their beautiful hand spun yarn. We also picked up a few pairs of socks made from alpaca that have even better wicking quality than merino wool. Perfect for hiking! Keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter! They have a lovely porch with comfortable chairs that you can sit and watch the sun set over the mountains. At night we left our windows open and enjoyed the peace and quiet. The only sound was the occasional alerts of their guard dogs ensuring their alpacas are kept safe. Both Janis & John were lovely. We very much enjoyed chatting with them. We will def be back!

A must see farm! Janice was very friendly and knowledgeable about her alpacas. We were able to feed…read moreand pet them. They are so much softer than I had imagined. Such sweet animals. We bought a few interesting gifts in her store that you could not find elsewhere. Perfect for those "hard to buy for" people! A lot of the items are made from the fiber of her alpacas. The views on her farm are simply beautiful.

I save the word "magical" for places that truly deserve it. Tantivy Farm is one of those places…read more This magical place is one where you can walk through lavender fields, eat lavender ice cream, shop for lavender products, and meet some farm animals. It's a family-owned farm run by super nice people, and it's a great place to visit when you're in the Lexington area. You can explore more than a thousand lavender plants of 20 different varieties here. I visited during the off season, when the lavender bushes were spent and dormant, but there were a few sprigs here and there, and even so, the rest of the garden was lush and beautiful. If you want to experience the lavender fields in full bloom, you'll want to visit in late spring through summer. Around the end of May to the end of June is when they do U-pick lavender, where you can pick your own lavender bouquets. The owners also produce and sell lavender products, dried and fresh wreaths, lavender food (including lavender ice cream!). Friendly farm animals also live on the farm, and you might be able to meet and greet them. These are the most content and happy animals I've encountered maybe ever. Could it be because they live on a lavender farm and they're absorbing the calming vibes of this medicinal plant? Most likely it's because the owners are super awesome and treat the animals like family. It's great to see. The farm is open May to December.

Very friendly. Great views. Wonderful ice cream. More lavender than I have ever seen.read more

A great place to come and learn about Railroad history. Definitely get for kids. And a most stop…read moreplace if you visit Clifton Forge.

This place in a word is charming! It's a gem for any train enthusiast. The museum was informative…read more Going through the display train cars was like stepping back in time. The best part about it was the mini train that people could ride around the track. The gentleman who was working that day looked like he loved his job and he was happy to share any information he had. Fun place to go in the middle of nowhere.

such a great little stop while camping in the area on a rainy afternoon. This center is home to…read more250+ consignment artists and offers classes! They have a gallery open to the public and display a wide variety of crafts and art mediums.

Don't miss this hidden gem! I highly recommend a stop at this regional arts and crafts shop and…read moreclass center in Clifton Forge, VA. They represent more than 260 artists from all over the Alleghany Highlands area (Southwest Virginia and parts of West Virginia). The friendly, volunteer staff were helpful and excited to share information about the handmade treasures found here. I was surprised by the variety of artwork and I want to highlight a few types that I loved: painting (realism, abstract, impressionistic, expressionistic, etc.) wood working (turned wood, live edge, sculpture, table ware, and decorative), jewelry making (custom designs in both traditional and modern versions), crafting (quilts, basket weaving, sewing, etc.), and photography (black and white, artistic, realistic styles and subjects such as nature, landscapes and local sites such as the Washington and Lee campus). Also, for the first time, I saw fly fishing lures displayed along with other crafts. Perfect, and well-deserved! I found this store after glimpsing the main sign on route 64. After you get off the exit (24 I believe), just follow signs into old town (historic) Clifton Forge and continue to Ridgeway Street. Note: this non-profit center appears to be located in a former retail space, so it is not a stand alone building, it is located in a row of shops (near Cafe Museo). Look for the Cafe Museo sign which is easy to spot. There is plenty of street parking. This place is a real treat and I wish I had more time to take one of their classes, add the walking tour of old town, and stop at one of the lunch spots nearby. I visited after a morning hike at Douthat State Park, but this shop is also easily accessible to visitors from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Goshen, Warm Springs, Lexington, Covington, or anyone passing through to Beckley or the the New River Gorge National Park or Gauley River National Recreation Area. Before the next holiday or family celebration, consider a thoughtful, handmade gift from this unique shop and support local artists in the area.

I've visited here thrice over 2 decades and learn something new every time. I went on a Saturdsy in…read moreearly April was was unreasonably warm at 80 degrees. Our tour guide Wanda was informative. A family with 4 children between ages 3 to 8 were the others on my tour. The parents indicated that they were being home schooled which to me explained their good behavior and genuine interest in history. Understandably, the presentation was geared to the 4 children which I was fine with. The adjoining museum holds a surprising amount of Jackson paraphernalia, and the attendants were most helpful. Heard of Stonewall Jackson but interested in Major Jackson the family man and husband? Then check this out!

I did not visit the house but I stopped and reviewed this wonderful historical marker that is…read moreplaced outside. It's worth pointing out that we're in the south and Virginia fought for the Confederacy which may be a problem for some. The marker has the same text on both sides, reading "Virginia Military Institute instructor Maj. Thomas J. Jackson (1824-1863) and his second wife, Mary Anna Morrison (1831-1915), bought this house in 1858. Built ca. 1801, this typical middle-class dwelling was the only house Jackson ever owned. Enslaved African Americans Amy, Hetty, George, Cyrus, and Emma worked and lived on the property. Jackson left Lexington in April 1861 to fight for the Confederacy. Later known as "Stonewall," he became a lieutenant general. Mary Anna Jackson moved to North Carolina but owned this house until 1906, when it became the community hospital. The house has been a museum since 1954 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places." This is marker number Q-11-a and was erected by the Department of Historic Resources in 2021. [Review 19589 overall - 1426 in Virginia - 560 of 2023.]

I was there about 12 years ago.....sure it's corny, but my 35+ year old son and his family loved…read moreit.....so many toys from the 80s and 90s....it was fun....I know my review is very different from the others, but if you enjoy a low-key walk down memory lane, this is for you. It's just fun, not everything has to be the Smithsonian.

First off the entrance to the Toy Museum is right below the Natural Bridge gift shop. Second, you…read morewill need to know that you cannot take pictures. And third, not all the toys are safely behind glass cases so if you bring the kids you better beware if they have itchy fingers. Now if you are a fan of 80s toys, Star Trek toys, Star Wars toys than you will love it. Of course there are other toys from different eras, but most of the toys are 80s to early 90s toys. I mean I even a She-Ra toy that I received for my birthday as a kid. On top of that I also saw some M.A.S.K toys, Centurions, He-Man, original Star Trek and Next Generation figurines, first generation Star Wars toys, Planet of the Apes figures, early 80s Lego Sets, a Teddy Ruxbin that is still in its box and a talking Mother Goose. There are many other toys and most are displayed in their original box . You just have to see it for yourself. This is a definite must see if you are a child of the 80s-90s, Star Trek fan, original Star Wars fan or just a kid at heart.

The Monacan Nation is a loose conglomeration of people which struggled to gain tribal recognition…read morebut were ultimately successful. When I visited, they said they were cutting back hours due to limited funding, though they didn't help themselves by showing me in without asking for their posted admission fee (which I eventually paid after reminding them). The spot is quite rural and bucolic. The museum itself is a couple of rooms, a short video, and there is an opportunity to ask questions to a tour guide in my experience, which myself and others engaged in. The tribe's history is interesting, and includes some commentary on eugenics in the Virginia government that merits exploration. Art objects included one donated by the Australians who visited via Kluge-Ruhe and its exchange program. There was also the opportunity to look at a schoolhouse and a church. The place is not quite what I expected, being Southern American as well as Native American, but it is interesting to stop and learn if you can find a day when it's open.

My kids love yellow brick road! The firefighters come to visit, the children love watching the…read morehelicopter take off at the nearby hospita ,the trips to Boxerwood, practicing yoga, and the best teachers ever!! This place has so much to offer.

The Good: The are very active in getting the kids out into the community. Trips to the local…read moreretirement home, hospital, and Boxerwood Gardens are great for the kids. Many of the staff are well trained with college degrees. They plan daily activities and actively work on developing skills. The Bad: The teacher-to-kid ratio is too high for adequate attention in the 3-5 year old classes. The 3-5 year old classes are combined. Some 3 y.o. kids are barely potty trained, while other 5 y.o. kids can read and write, and they're all in the same room. The whole place closes any time they feel like it. Last week it was because too many teachers were sick. This week it's because it's raining too hard. Previously they closed for a staff training day. It's very expensive. At least half the parents are on welfare and get free care for their children. The cost appears to be offset by charging working parents more. There aren't many other choices in Lexington, so you're kinda stuck with this place. Overall it's not a bad daycare. I'd love to see them working on the negatives and make it better though!