Natural Bridge State Park is much bigger than I thought. When you get there, you go into the…read moreVisitor's Center/ Gift Shop, pay the small fee and start your hike. The main star of the park is the natural bridge itself. It's probably a shorter walk to the natural bridge than it is around the gift shop. I did the Cedar Creek Trail which is only 1 mile long and relatively flat from the natural bridge to the end at the waterfall. The trail is paved a lot of the way and well maintained the rest. Along the way there is a small cave that you can explore, a creak to just sit and relax, and lots of historical markers along the way. I had no idea that Thoms Jefferson once owned this land and the natural bridge itself. There is an urban legend that George Washington carved his initials in the bridge (along with a gazillion others). This hike is quite relaxing and easy to do. We saw a deer along the trail that was less than 10 feet from me and could care less that I was there. There are several other hikes that time didn't permit me to take. These trails will take you to other waterfalls, caverns and even a 2 mile frisbee golf trail. The natural bridge is a must see as it is absolutely gorgeous but next time, I will make time for the rest.

Such a cute little area with the natural bridge. There is a Virginia state fee for adult to enter,…read moreit's nine dollars per person. If you've actually bought something from REI, the receipt concern as a free admission to the park. You'll have to check the fine print. I don't know if there's a minimum spin, but I know that last I went to REI one of the front desk workers told me that the receipt would serve as my admission. And indeed covered it so I paid $0 more entrance to the park To get to the start, you have to go down some stairs, but I did over here a couple of groups at depending on if you need, they can drive you to the start. Natural Bridge had a couple of chairs so I'm assuming that a tour or they are just spots for people to rest. If you continue walking down the trail, you'll also find some other school spots like the saltwater cave, the ghost river, and Lace Falls. When I went a couple days ago, there has been a drought which has caused lace falls to be a bit smaller than normal. The ghost River was a surprisingly cool attraction. As soon as you start walking close to the hole, you can feel the cool breeze and hear the gush of the water. Where the river starts and where the river hint, we have no idea but it's a cool thing to check out.

A little bit of unique history that gets driven by and probably criticized often, but is so unique…read moreit's awesome. Now this feels like something you'd do at Disney or a theme park, but it's not that at all, because it's as real as possible right to the north of downtown Buchanan. The stone pier you see today is the original from 1851 and this bridge spans 366 feet across the James River and is 57.6 feet tall. And it sways or swings and you can not only feel it, but you can see it too. And it's all made out of wood. Seriously I was hesitant at first, good thing I had my 3 boys worn me, afraid of nothing with death not even a thought (it's not that bad). The view from the bridge are breathtaking and because of the uniqueness of it, it's just cool. You feel like you've walked into yesteryear, where the civil war raged, which it did. Apparently the original bridge was burned down as a strategy by the Confederate General McCausland. We spent about 20 minutes taking it in and our confidence grew the more we tested the old rickety bridge. Good times by one and all and we enjoyed the park and basketball hoops right next to the parking lot for the bridge. It's a beautiful downtown with lots of history. Next time your pass Buchanan, swing on by for a walk on the swinging bridge and step into history.

Currently closed, which is a shame. The 366 foot long bridge dates back to some of the stone piers…read morebeing laid in 1851. Back then, the toll to cross the bridge was five cents with an additional five cents for each additional horse, mule or oxen. The bridge was burned by Confederate forces in 1864 to prevent Federal forces from crossing the river on their way to Lynchburg but was rebuilt after the war. In 1937, the neighboring concrete bridge over the James River mostly replaced the use of this bridge but the bridge still remained. There is a free parking lot on the south side of the river. I'm a little glad that it is closed as it helped me not have to make the decision to cross it on foot. I'm not sure I'm daring enough. [Review 13772 overall, 1093 of 2020, number 1207 in Virginia.]

Kai was a great, lively guide! Kai did a great job! The caves themselves are beautiful.read more

Really enjoyed it. Had a great guide, Luke. Nice history of a 200-year-old oldest in the country…read more They hold events there still, we can concerts. Large rooms, easy to see all the formations in the walkways are easy to pass through. Quite a few steps for those who are challenged to do physical walking but otherwise it's pretty cool. Been to quite a few caverns and this was one of the better ones and a lot to see.

What a great place!…read more April, who operates the mill, knows her craft and is happy to share it. Our tour of the mill was brief, but April was more than willing to answer our questions and go into any level of detail about the building, milling grain, etc. We purchased several items while there and would gladly go back.

I really love this spot. The grounds are beautiful and the mill is very charming. I've purchased…read moremany of their mixes and they are truly delicious! The owner kindly showed us around and her hospitality was appreciated.

I enjoyed learning the history of the bridge. The cave arches were breathtaking. I did not enjoy…read moreclimbing the stairs to return to the main building, but the experience was definitely a hike! I was excited to watch otters fish for food in the streams. The waterfall was not as grand as I expected it to be, but the natural scenery was worth viewing for $9. As a bonus, there is a trail to a cave.

This is a perfect place to take a road trip break! We did exactly that on a recent drive from…read moreAsheville to Richmond. The visitor center was easy to find and the building reminded me of those found at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson. Coincidentally, Thomas Jefferson also owned the land on which the Natural Bridge is located. After paying your admittance fee at the center, you head down several stairs and will pass a small waterfall. Very soon thereafter, you will see the Natural Arch. There is a flat path that leads you through the arch where you can continue your stroll along a steam for about 15 minutes to see a larger waterfall. "Saltpeter Cave" can also be found along the path. It was interesting to read that Mr. Jefferson leased out this shelter for the excavation of potassium nitrate which was eventually used to make gun powder. While I would not make the Natural Bridge a destination trip, it is definite worthwhile to explore if passing through the area.

While visiting friends in the Lynchburg area, we went here and opted for a self guided tour. The…read morehouse is small and a lot of it is not been restored. Similar layout concept as Monticello but on a smaller scale. It is a beautiful area and the house is very interesting. The grounds around the house have not been maintained well which is unfortunate. The garden walls are collapsing and several dead trees/plants. However, I know that this is a foundation and funding can be an issue. They also put on plays on the south lawn at various times which would be a fun event to attend. There is also a new looking walking trail on the entrance drive in and it had a lot of people there on the morning that we visited.

Historical site. Ole…read moreTom Jefferson really knew how to build them - an excellent example of octagon construction and out buildings... assuming you put aside the fact that is where the slaves were working and all. Nice piece of property in the Forest area of VA, this was Jefferson's summer home. Considering it is a bit of a task to get to in 2015, it must have really sucked to make the trek on horseback way back in the day. Worth a visit if in the area to at least get a glimpse into how they lived 200 years ago - right down to the functional outhouses. They really lived pretty well back then - I guess if you had the money. There are guided tours for a donation that gets you in the main house. I'm not sure on the paid tour if they point out where ole T.J. was boinking Sally Hemmings... You can walk the grounds for free. A nice day out for the family.

My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed a brief rest stop while driving north on I-81 from…read moreBlacksburg, VA to northern VA. On the plus side, it's free and has an open, dog-friendly grassy area. We gave our 9-year old miniature poodle some time to walk around. It also has a small historical display and pretty landscape with the Blue Ridge mountains in the background. The only minus is that it did not seem to have a full-fledged restroom facility in late April 2025, so you may be limited to a port-a-potty that is infrequently cleaned. However in the summer months, an indoor restroom may be open in the historical display area of the mill. In any case, the farm is a nice place to stretch your legs or take a short break from driving. Dog and kid-friendly!

You can see a museum full of interesting artifacts, a blacksmith's shop, gristmill and lots more…read moreMcCormick Farm. Best of all, it's free! This is the former home of Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the mechanical grain reaper. At this beautiful farm, you can learn about agriculture, see the old grist mill, walk along a nature trail to see cows in the pasture, and have a picnic in the picnic area. Pets are also welcome! I met the resident cat who roams around. Perhaps you'll meet him, too. Also, I got to see a calf take its first steps while I was there! This is a pretty neat place. This place is also known as the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and is part of Virginia Tech University.

I've stopped in the Lexington Visitor Center during pretty much every visit to Rockbridge County,…read moreVA and am impressed by how consistently friendly and helpful the staff are. I don't know whether they are employed or volunteer their time, however their knowledge and passion for the history of the environs is impressive. It is conveniently located in historic Lexington and is located just a few doors down from the Stonewall Jackson House & Museum. If you've not been to Lexington in the past or would like more ideas about places to see, this is a great stop. They have a private parking lot AND clean public bathrooms! ( I like the clean part!) PS. A special thanks to Etta with whom I had a delightful discussion!

The Lexington Visitor Center is an excellent place to begin a visit to this historic town. You will…read moresee highway signs announcing it along I-81 and in town. Displays showcase the principal attractions. The helpful docent at the desk will give you a walking tour map and mark it up with a suggested route. A tour will usually begin with the Stonewall Jackson House just up the street. Free parking is available all day at the visitor center, though the parking lot fills up. Restrooms.

We chose to park in the West Trailhead side and walked in from that direction of the tunnel. We…read morestarted out with our flashlights on but wanted to walk the tunnel without the flashlights. The Experience was fantastic. We did turn on our flashlights when we saw people approaching so we would not startle them. It is dark, damp, and cold in the tunnel. You hear the little water falling inside. We had pocket warmers and I think they were needed. We were both happy we had our pocket warmers. The hike to the tunnel has wonderful forest views and an excellently maintained trail. They also have some plaques with historical information on them. We really thought that was a nice additions to our hike. Both sides of the tunnel has picnic tables. The picnic tables are brand new this year. We stopped and had lunch. There are 2 parking areas. East Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel and West Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel. Both have a porta potty but no running water. So you will want to take some hand sanitizer. Easy hike, 4.6 miles. Out and back. 370ft elevation gain. The best maintained trail I have ever seen. Hiker friendly, kid friendly. Dogs on leash, Forest view, tucked away on the side of a mountain, Historical tunnel view. Some of the trail is paved, then gravel, and then dirt with gravel mix. Make sure you leave no trash behind

We had a group of eight for the hike. We started on the east side. The walk through the tunnel…read morewas great. I was thankful that started on the east side because it was a pretty steep and long climb after the tunnel. It was 4.5 miles total for the walk. To have the steepest part at the middle was perfect rather than having it at the end. Highly recommend. The tunnel is not claustrophobic at all as it is large inside and you can see the end the entire time. It was a perfect fall hike with the leaves changing. We stopped at Blue Mountain Brewery afterward (only 6 minutes away) for lunch.