A great activity for the family on sunny spring/summer afternoons! We are vacationing for the week…read morein Clarksville on Buggs Island Lake, and we wanted to explore the area a bit more this afternoon. MacCallum More turned out to be a pleasant find tucked away in Chase City! We took the tour of the Hudgins House and their museum with Kat, the director and our tour guide for the day, and we thoroughly enjoyed it all. Walking around the gardens and taking pictures afterwards was also a delight. I recommend visiting this charming spot to anybody who appreciates gardens and local history!

FIRSTLY. Wear bug spray before entering the gardens. Lawd. We were annihilated within a matter…read moreof minutes/seconds. One of the three us tapped out after maybe 15 minutes while myself and the other went back to the car to get some OFF and push on. It's about a 6 acre garden with a bountiful of foliage. Not really any flowers. It's located in the middle of a neighborhood with homes surrounding the perimeter. There is only on street parking and admission is $5 per person for just the gardens and $10 if you would like admission to tour the museum and the gardens. It is a non profit, therefore admission goes towards keeping of the grounds. It comprises of many various stonework, statues collected from Europe and around the world through Commander William Hudgins' travels. I mean it has two anchors located inside these gardens. Some I have no idea how they even transported here. A lot of the stonework is weathered but has quite some age. But are very cool to see nonetheless. They have a restroom available inside the visitor centre, as well as a cute gift shop.

This is a hidden gem…read more Located like exactly 20 minutes west of short pump is the cutest reptile museum. I cannot recommend it enough. The staff were SO knowledgeable and kind. They do regularly come to Henrico library visits but you need to go in person to get an up close and personal visit with the reptiles. Very excited to see how they expand in the future.

What a hidden small town gem! We have a reptile loving kiddo. One rainy day we decided to visit in…read more Jake and his team were SO knowledgable and friendly. They clearly have a passion for what they do and love sharing that with all who visit. We had the best time! Lots of creatures to see, feeding time observations, and hand on experiences! If you have a reptile lover, this is the place for you. We will most definitely be back.

Fun and free activity. Great friendly and knowledgeable staff…read more Easy way to learn the history of the area.

Loved learning the history and being able to see the inside of the building. The staff was so…read morefriendly, helpful, and knowledgeable!

We went out to a campground for a trip during Veterans day weekend. Before we set out to return to…read moreVB I wanted to visit this interesting museum that was in the area. Unfortunately the weather was cold and windy the whole time. But low and behold rental golf carts. We zoomed around to each location and really had a great time. The staff were so informative and really cared about the history being displayed. I really recommend coming to visit as a family and learn more about the area and what things were like for our ancestors.

I'd past this on numerous occasions whilst driving south on I-81 and decided that this would be the…read moreday when I would visit and check it out, having long been interested in Frontier life, particularly in America. Immediately upon my arrival just before noon on a Saturday in early april, I wished that I'd arrived closer to the opening hour as the main parking lot was packed and I ended up about a 5 minute brisk walk to the visitors center. Since I travel 81 somewhat frequently, I purchased an annual pass which cost $30. Be advised that there is considerable walking necessary, a total of 2 miles according to my walking app and fitness tracker, and not all is level.i enjoyed all of the exhibits, some of which were oridinal (from England) and were reassembled here. There was a demonstration on making stew in early England as well as nail making. Ireland and Germany were featured along with living historian type people, all of whom were amazingly knowledgeable. Having some lung issues, I needed to bolt from a smoky dwelling,neither from the stove or a coal-fired nail forge. There is a small gift shop in the visitors center where I purchased a hood sweatshirt, lio balm, and "dirt-scented" soap ( I could not resist!) It's a fun place for my interests, and I shall return, likely in mid-June. Next time I'll arrive earlier!

American Civil War Museum @ Appomattox, VA…read more This place is a gem for people that love history! Cleburne's coat that he was killed in at the battle of Franklin had me in absolute aweeee! Thank y'all for preserving these artifacts for the people to enjoy. I would highly recommend this place! On April 8, 1865, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia paused its march a mile from the small village of Appomattox Court House. Lee intended to resupply there before heading to Lynchburg, Virginia, and then south to Danville, Virginia. Unanticipated was the arrival of Union cavalry coming from the south under Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's command. That evening Union Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer successfully led some of the cavalry against the Confederate supply trains at the nearby Appomattox Station. Although shaken, Lee hoped to break through to Lynchburg the next day. On the morning of April 9, Lee ordered his cavalry, under the command of Gen. John B. Gordon, to attack Sheridan's cavalry, which had blocked the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. Lee commanded an army of nearly 27,000 soldiers, which paled in comparison to Grant's force of some 63,000 troops, but he still intended to force his way through Union lines. The Confederate cavalry initially held their own and even succeeded in driving the Union horsemen from their position atop a nearby ridge. However, Gordon saw thousands of Union troops quickly approaching and sent word to Lee that his position was hopeless unless the infantry supported them. Lee's infantry, however, was engaged with Grant's Army of the James, which had approached the Confederates from the west under cover of night. Faced with no route of escape to Lynchburg, Lee agreed to negotiate terms of surrender. In a statement about her husband, Mary Custis Lee remarked that "General Lee is not the Confederacy." Her assessment was spot on, for the Confederacy still lived. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army--the next largest after Lee's still at war--was operating in North Carolina. Lt. Gen. Richard Taylor controlled forces in Alabama, Mississippi, and part of Louisiana. Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith's men were west of the Mississippi, and Brig. Gen. Stand Watie was in command of an Indian unit in the Far West. Nathan Bedford Forrest had men in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

This was an amazing museum with many beautiful pieces. Do y'all a favor and take a look. It gives a…read morebeautiful perspective and shows how far we have come since as a nation

Our 2 year old had a fantastic time and was nothing but smiles and giggles. If you have young ones…read moreI would recommend stopping by!

Great stop for the granddaughters, age 9 and 8. Great stop for someone with a sense of humor, kids…read morewho love dinosaurs or just needing to give the kids a moment to run. It Was campy and over the top but hey... I think it was meant to be. The rating is strictly for young kids. Adults, don't waste your time. The price was a bit high but the kids got to squirt a "Bigfoot" who was also armed with a squirt gun.

My husband and I (we live in NC) and 2 of our friends (they live in Ohio) toured the house and…read moregardens in September. Shaun Spencer-Hester gave us a wonderful tour! She really brought Anne and Edward Spencer back to life. She was a pleasure to be with and made our tour so enjoyable! I am from Lynchburg, Va. I had heard of Anne Spencer, since I was a child, from my father. What a joy it was to see her home, her garden and purchase her book - Half My Life (great read). Amelia Jane F.

This famous poet's home is a museum now. It is viewed by appointment only, but is worth it. There's…read morealso a garden in the summer. Great for poetry enthusiasts and others who appreciate literature.

This is a must see if you are in Lynchburg. The tour only takes 30-45 minutes and is extremely…read moreinformative about the struggles the black community endured. My tour guide was Paul who is a local to Lynchburg and has many personal stories of the athletes! He's also very sweet and a joy to be around! Paul made the tour personal and informative in a way that I will remember always! 10/10 highest recommended place to visit while here.

We caught the Rhythm of Yesterday and Today exhibit. Clean and well kept - in fact quite pretty,…read morethe house that makes Legacy Museum was a great pit stop on the way to our family reunion. Anyone interested in learning more about local black history, especially in the larger African American historical framework, would find this place enjoyable. Although it was quite small, we took away quite a bit of info not just on central Virginia black history but Lynchburg history in general. The pictures were great and the artifacts even better. We were lucky to get a tour by one of the board members. Thankful that this place exists so the history is preserved with it. Wish more new of it. They ask for a donation of $5 I believe but we left $20 for the two of us since it's a nonprofit.

Was there a long time ago. It's a good place for folks that want to more about Crewe and trains.read more

This place is a gem. Crewe is likely not your destination, but a place you pass through (like to…read moreget to Farmville for example) but if you happen to be in the area on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you should definitely see this place ! The website hasn't been updated in years and Facebook reviews mention they aren't open on their posted hours so we didn't know what to expect. We didn't even know if there was admission! Turns out admission is FREE but they appreciate donations. My little 5 year old is a train enthusiast thanks to Thomas the Train and The Polar Express. He was so excited to learn this place exists and taking him here was the only way to get him to agree to taking him to our Alma Mater Longwood. He had the best time. The museum has a lot of old time train memorabilia and pictures hanging on walls . The women who were overseeing the museum (maybe the owners) let my son ring the bell and play with the signal lights ! It was cutely decorated for Christmas(their Christmas tree has ornaments made of trains!). It also has a wonderful room with a beautiful village set up (also nicely done for Christmas) and model trains that whizz by. The yard has several trains and a caboose where you can go in and look around. My son couldn't get enough of it. This place is run by people who love trains. It's a tiny workforce operation who are in dire need for volunteers, so please be patient if they aren't open on their posted hours and come back. Definitely call ahead to be sure someone can show you around. It's worth every moment. If you have a child (or friend or family member) who loves trains , you really need to bring them here.

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is a perfect pairing to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Get the…read morecombo ticket, you'll save a good deal of cash! There are guided tours available on a schedule, but we preferred to wander at our own pace. You can go in the house, just be nice and don't touch stuff. They had a free kennel on site, but we couldn't figure out how to work it, and dog's are allowed to stroll the grounds, so we just took turns going inside. I loved walking on the roof, and the cellar was extremely interesting! The shape of the home was intriguing, and there was a ton of information available to read and discover!!

Had the opportunity to travel back East to enjoy some fall activities with friends from my DC days…read more We chose to attend the annual Thomas Jefferson Fall Wine Festival at Poplar Forest. Something we used to do as a group. I once worked for a vineyard in Leesburg VA that closed in recent years yet reminisced with the owner of Notaviva a nearby vineyard that knew the owners. The Founder of Notaviva wrote a book about thier wine and farming journey, pairing elements of wine and music. I really enjoyed the cabernet franc from the property. It may be a surprise that you can order the wine in a bag. Not a bottle and not a box, but a packable bag! It was a beautiful November 70 degree day and the event provided programs, glasses and live music to name a few things. A beautiful day at this historic property. #FallFestival #WineFestival #JeffersonsPoplarForest #CentralVA