Home Away from Home: Places to Check Out

Feb 27, 2020 • Rachel F.

When you become a student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., it becomes your home away from home. As a current student at Liberty, I have found it’s important to be involved with the local community and all that it has to offer. Lynchburg is full of must-see places to visit in Virginia. There are so many things to do, you’ll never be bored.

For students, a favorite is definitely the downtown area with many great places to eat and shop. As a Liberty student, you are surrounded by a city overflowing with places to see! While there are many incredible places to check out, here are a few top picks to immerse yourself in the Lynchburg culture!

Outdoor Activities

Surrounded by mountains, pretty sunsets, and great views, there are outdoor activities for everyone. With Lynchburg weather, there are so many things to do in Virginia outdoors. The Blackwater Creek Trail, Hollins Mill Park, Natural Bridge State Park, and the Peaks of Otter are great places to spend an afternoon with nature. Thirty minutes away is the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is one of the most visited parts of the National Park System. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a definite must see with its many trails and beautiful scenery, which is exceptionally stunning in the fall.

Museums and Landmarks

Founded by John Lynch, Lynchburg holds a lot of historic significance due to the role it played in American history during the Civil War. To learn more about the history of Lynchburg, you’ll want to visit the Lynchburg Museum and the American Civil War Museum in neighboring Appomattox, Va. Lynchburg is surrounded by history, especially with Appomattox Court House National Historical Park where the Civil War ended close by — there is so much to learn.

Coffee Shops

Like me and so many other students at Liberty, we are always checking out the different coffee shops in the area. While there are so many amazing coffee shops to visit, students love Golf Park Coffee, the White Hart Café, The Muse Coffee Company, Bean Tree Café, and Mission House Coffee. If you’re like me and your favorite place to study is at a coffee shop, then Lynchburg is right for you!

Shopping

Who doesn’t love shopping? Lynchburg has cute boutiques, antique stores, and hole-in-the wall shops. Cute boutiques include Bittersweet Boutique, Live Trendy or Die, and Penelope. Enchanted Antiques, Estates Revisited, and Buzzard’s Roost are unique antique shops to visit. Some hole-in-the-wall shops include Speakertree Records, Beeswax Candle Company, and Gilded. In addition to all the shops, Lynchburg is home to the third-oldest farmers market in the country, the Lynchburg Community Market.

Food

Restaurants in Lynchburg are one of a kind. There are so many good places to eat (I definitely can’t list them all!), but here are a few that students love. For dinner: Market at Main, My Dog Duke’s Diner, Benny Scarpetta’s, Waterstone Pizza, and La Carreta. For a delicious dessert, go to Rolled Cold Creamery, Cinn City, MayLynn’s Creamery, and Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts. Two places that are open seasonally but are definitely still student favorites are Mister Goodies Homemade Ice Cream and Rookie’s, an ice cream sandwich store.

Lynchburg is bursting at the seams with so much to do, and I love that there’s something for everyone. Coming to Liberty is an awesome experience in and of itself and being surrounded by the Lynchburg community makes it all the more exciting. We are so excited for you to be a student here and to be a part of Lynchburg, a lively and growing community!