I absolutely love exploring my town of Charlottesville, VA but sometimes it can be nice to do a quick getaway. The question then becomes where to go? Richmond is great but definitely gives a city feel. NOVA and DC can be expensive and I still wanted to be able to go out to eat, making a cabin visit less ideal. Then it hit me: Lynchburg, VA would be perfect!

Lynchburg is just over an hour away from Charlottesville by car and is currently undergoing a downtown revitalization. I think they’ve already done a great job and I am excited to see how much more they do. However, there was still plenty available for a nice 24 hour trip.

How to Spend 24 Hours in Lynchburg, VA

Where to Stay in Lynchburg, VA

For this visit, my husband and I opted for an Airbnb right in the center of downtown. We wanted to be walking distance of the restaurants and breweries and we were also bringing our puppy Ollie so we needed a dog friendly location where it would be easy to take him out at night. We found a lovely studio right on 12th Street but noticed there were a fair amount of good Airbnb options while planning.

If Airbnbs aren’t your thing, there are also some nice hotel options downtown. The Craddock Terry Hotel is located in the historic downtown along the James River so it’s a great option for being walking distance of the restaurants and breweries. They are dog friendly (we were looking to avoid a hotel for this visit) and, if you prefer to eat at the hotel, they also have a restaurant and bar on the premises.

The Virginian Hotel is another great spot. It’s still located downtown, though not in the heart of it so there’s a bit more walking. However, it’s a cool spot; they have the Marigold Cafe for coffee, the William & Henry Steakhouse for a nice dinner and Rooftop Bar & Grille for taking in the views of Lynchburg over a cocktail.

Shown above: The Marigold Cafe at The Virginian Hotel; The Craddock Terry Hotel exterior; 12th Street, where our Airbnb was located

Best Places to Eat & Drink in Lynchburg, VA

As we were traveling with Ollie, our concern was finding dog friendly locations and it wasn’t hard to do so. We spent our first afternoon visiting breweries. Starr Hill - my favorite! - has a location here located right downtown. Their outdoor space is lovely and they were super sweet to Ollie. We then ventured on over to Three Roads Brewing where we were told dogs aren’t just welcome but are encouraged so it made for another great spot.

For dinner I enjoyed a seafood trio of oysters, clams and shrimp while my husband had a burger at The Water Dog, which was just as dog friendly as you would expect for a place with dog in the name. In the morning we had a great brunch at My Dog Duke’s Diner (are you seeing a theme?) and then finished up our food tour later in the day with buffalo chicken salads at Bootleggers. It was really lovely being able to find nice spots with good food where we could bring Ollie.

Of course, these aren’t the only places to eat and drink in downtown Lynchburg. Champion Brewing Company recently opened a location in downtown Lynchburg I’d like to try. El Jefe is good for tacos and they, along with the new spot Fratelli Italian, are located in the same area as a new rooftop bar called No7 Rooftop Bar. You could make a whole weekend of it - there are plenty of options!

Shown above: Starr Hill on Main; Three Roads Brewery; outside at The Water Dog; Buffalo Chicken Salad at Bootleggers

Fun Things to Do in Lynchburg, VA

Since my husband and I weren’t in Lynchburg for long we limited our activity to visiting breweries, exploring downtown and doing the River Walk but there are plenty of options for exploration!

Looking around, it was easy to see there is something for everyone in Lynchburg. For people who prefer to stay active, they can rent bikes from Bikes Unlimited and explore the area. If someone is an art lover Randolph College hosts the Maier Museum of Art and, for the history buffs, you can try a self guided historic walking tour. Visiting with kids? Try Amazement Square. You can see all Lynchburg has to offer for visitors on their website.

All in all, I had a lovely time visiting Lynchburg and recommend it as a nice overnight getaway in Virginia.

Until next time, cheers and happy eating!