Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, Lexington, Virginia, is a town that blends college-town energy and mountain charm with natural beauty and history. I recently joined journalists from across the country to experience how this small town and its neighboring communities of Buena Vista and Rockbridge County live large in their big backyard.
That big backyard was the initial draw for me. The itinerary included a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, on my bucket list, and an opportunity to step out onto the Appalachian Trail, another of my fascinations. That was enough to seal the deal, before I really was aware of how interesting Lexington, Virginia, was.
After an early morning flight on American Airlines from Evansville to Charlotte, North Carolina, and onto Roanoke, Virginia, Lexington is an easy 55-minute drive. (Or carve out 8.5 hours and take the scenic route from Evansville by car.) I checked into my room at The Georges, a boutique hotel occupying five historic buildings; I stayed in the Livery in a luxurious suite.
A Town Built on History
Soon after arriving, I climbed in a horse-drawn carriage driven by Angel McCreery of the Lexington Carriage Company. Your visit should begin here, too: Carriage rides commence April 1-Oct. 31 across the street from the Lexington Visitor’s Center. The narrated tour covers several blocks Downtown. McCreery explains that settlement in Shenandoah Valley began about 1730. European settlers came south through what is now Highway 11 to go around the Shawnee territory. “The town was here for 50 years before they named it,” McCreery says. “People just called it ‘that little town by the rock bridge.’”
Carriage tours pass the home of Civil War Confederate Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, the campuses of Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University, and Oak Grove Cemetery.
Established in 1777 and organized a year later, Rockbridge County named Lexington its seat, its name honoring the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began the American Revolution. The 2.5-square-mile city lies along the Maury River, between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountain ranges.
Lexington’s compact Downtown tells centuries of stories in a few walkable blocks. We ventured to the Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839, where cadets — 1,600 are enrolled as full-time undergraduates — march past stately brick barracks surrounding the impressive VMI Parade Ground. Its museum displays weapons, clothing, class rings, and other artifacts to tell the history of what is sometimes called the “West Point of the South.”
From VMI, we walked to Washington and Lee University, the nation’s ninth-oldest college, where its brick, white-columned buildings known as the Colonnade overlook a sprawling lawn. Its name reflects contributions of the nation’s first president, George Washington, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The latter, once the college’s president, is interred in a family crypt in the University Chapel. In 2016, Washington and Lee University installed a permanent historic marker, “A Difficult, Yet Undeniable, History,” to recognize enslaved African Americans who were owned by the school prior to the Civil War.
‘The Most Sublime’
For all its charm, Lexington’s greatest draw may be what surrounds it. A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway opened into ridgetop views and the first tinges of fall color. From the Parkway, we spotted trees with white blazes, indicating the Appalachian Trail was crossing. Seven miles west of the Blue Ridge Parkway and within Rockbridge County is the quaint town of Buena Vista. Glen Maury Park, featuring 315 acres of outdoor adventure and beautiful vistas, overlooks the town.
At Natural Bridge State Park, we descended 137 stairs to see what Thomas Jefferson called “the most sublime of nature’s works.” He liked the landscape so much, he bought it in 1774 from King George III for 20 shillings. Since 2016, it has been part of the Virginia State Parks system. The 200-foot limestone arch stands above a shaded gorge carved from Cedar Creek. Visitors follow the trail to a small cave, an underground river, and waterfalls. Natural Bridge also is an International Dark Sky Park. Later, our group took a wagon ride to Jefferson Point for a ranger-led look at the night skies with a telescope.
Made by Hand
Lexington’s makers are as much a part of its landscape as its mountains. At Seasons’ Yield Farm, we met the husband-and-wife bakers behind a wood-fired sourdough operation born from a single cookbook, “Tartine.” Owner Daniel Shear retraced his family’s story, which began baking in the house under cottage law. “That’s why we have five children,” he quipped.
Ecco Adesso Vineyards — “Here Now” in Italian — spans 350 acres at 1,800 feet, with an alpine, chalet-style estate reached by a long drive. We sampled flights and a sparkling wine in the cellar; the 2022 New World VA Chardonnay, a 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medalist, stood out. The property features event spaces, distinctive lodging, trails, waterfalls, springs, an orchard, and 20 acres of vines.
Tantivy Lavender Farm provided a fragrant finale. Owners Brian and Penny Ross walked us through a portion of their 54 acres with 1,200 plants. The farm also is home to six donkeys, a miniature horse, lambs, goats, and peacocks.
Savoring Lexington
Lexington offers an elevated dining scene for a town its size, bolstered by tourism and the universities. Each of our stops was local, beginning with Sweet Things Ice Cream Shop, owned by lawyer-turned-ice cream maker Chris Williams, who serves homemade scoops in locally famous hand-rolled waffle cones. Candy jars draw children on their way home from school. Next door, Legendary Eats delivers New York-style bagels and sandwiches named for movies, video games, and mythological beasts.
Harden’s, a short walk from The Georges, is a gastropub with one of the town’s largest bars in a cozy, elegant ambiance. I had the classic Steak Frites, while others enjoyed smashburgers and the Korean rice bowl. At Heliotrope Brewery, we enjoyed wood-fired pizzas — cut with table-side scissors — and small-batch ales. I tried INVEIGLED, a tart, delicious brew made with local grain and roasted Virginia beets. The Patton Room at The Georges hosted our farewell dinner, with service from Haywood’s, recognized for its Southern bistro-style cuisine, including signature oysters and ribeye steaks.
On our last morning, I stopped in Pure Eats; it had caught my attention on the carriage ride. Located in a former Pure Oil gas station, it’s known for house-made doughnuts, breakfast burritos, local burgers, creamery milkshakes, and regional craft beers.
As part of the statewide VA250 initiative celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, Rockbridge County will host special events and tourism opportunities throughout 2026.
“Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County offer that perfect blend of small-town charm and big outdoor adventure,” says Sheryl Wagner, executive director of Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism. “Whether you’re strolling historic Downtown streets, exploring our mountain trails, or connecting with local makers and farms, every experience here feels genuine and welcoming.”
Small towns often promise authenticity; Lexington delivers.
