Lynchburg

Lynchburg began in 1757 as a ferry town, fording traffic across the James River. The city is built on centuries of history, boasting strong connections to Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and other early American patriots. Because of the city's use by the Confederacy as a supply and hospital center, it served as a battlefield in the American Civil War. Lynchburg has been designated a portion of Virginia's Rail Heritage Region. Lynchburg's historic districts contain many beautiful homes from the 19th century.
Lynchburg's name is derived from its founder, John Lynch, who, at the age of 17, began a ferry service across the James River to facilitate travel to and from New London. He would later be responsible for the bridge which would make his ferry service obsolete. Despite common misconceptions, neither John Lynch nor Lynchburg is associated with the origination of term, "lynching," though it may have originated with John's brother, Charles.

Geography and climate

Lynchburg's nickname, the "City of Seven Hills," is very descriptive of the geography of the city. Though it refers most directly to the hills near where the city was founded, these hills extend far beyond the riverfront at the James River. The area includes much of Candlers Mountain.
Spring in Lynchburg is short-lived, often it is simply a period of wide fluctuation between mid-late winter and early-mid summer temperatures. Summers are humid and hot with temperatures generally reaching 90°F. Autumns are mild; temperatures stay somewhere between 40°F and 55°F. Once winter hits, temperatures will top out near freezing until February and, perhaps, beyond. Recently, winters have brought lots of snow to the Lynchburg area, bringing about three one-foot snowstorms each winter.
Generally, storms will pass through over the course of a few hours, but rain systems without lightning and thunder will stick in Lynchburg for days at a time, lending to the nickname "Drenchburg." When there is wind in Lynchburg, it tends to be a very high wind. Unlike nearby areas, the warmest part of the day in this part of Virginia is generally 5PM.

Information center

• Lynchburg Visitors Center

  phone: +1 434-485-7290
  address: 216 12th Street

By car

Lynchburg does not have direct interstate access. Instead, you can get to Lynchburg by one of three major U.S. Routes: U.S. 29 North and South, U.S. 460 East and West, and U.S. 501 North and South. U.S. 501, however, is generally only convenient for travel from the immediate northwest and southeast.
U.S. 29 merges with U.S. 460 at a three-way junction. When traveling to Lynchburg via U.S. 29S, a right exit is required to continue along U.S. 29S / U.S. 460W.
Drivers arriving in Lynchburg should be wary of exiting onto Candlers Mountain Rd in particular. The timing of the first two intersections off U.S. 460 tend to trap drivers at the first intersection at Mayflower Dr. Also, construction on a bridge just beyond Mayflower Dr will reduce traffic to one lane. (This construction should begin 16 Apr 2012 and should end no later than 23 Nov 2012.)

By plane

• Lynchburg Regional AirportAmerican Eagle operates a regional flight between Lynchburg Regional Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (). These flights operate on a schedule of approximately one plane arriving and departing every two hours. The airport offers a café with free wireless access.

By train

Lynchburg is the southern terminus of Northeast Regional from Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston as well as a stop on the Crescent between New Orleans and New York City. Both services are operated by Amtrak and have one departure per day. is located at 825 Kemper St, about one kilometer east of downtown.

By car

Driving is perhaps the most convenient way to get around Lynchburg. Apart from the Downtown area, most of the city is not very friendly to pedestrian traffic.
The Lynchburg Expressway connects most of the major roadways in Lynchburg, intersecting and merging with the business segments of U.S. 29, U.S. 460, and U.S. 501.
The city limits are very clearly marked and are drawn in such a way that some places within the city are inaccessible without first traveling outside the city. For instance, the planned community at Wyndhurst can only be accessed via Enterprise Dr, which terminates in two different counties.
Also note that a few major roads change names with no clear indication as to where these changes take place. For examples, Lakeside Dr becomes Forest Rd, Fort Ave becomes Timberlake Rd, and Memorial Ave becomes Fifth St.
Several lots and limited on-street parking are available in Downtown Lynchburg. Two lots, the Midtown and Clay Street Parking Decks, are metered, operating on the mPARK system used in several other cities in the United States and abroad.
During the afternoon rush hour (4:45PM - 5:45PM), Candlers Mountain Rd, Wards Rd, and Timberlake Rd experience significantly increased traffic.

By taxi

Several dispatch taxi services operate in Lynchburg.

• City Cab Company

  phone: +1 434 846-0231
  address: 413 Jackson St

• Allied Cabs

  phone: +1 434 845-7039
  address: 2109 12th St

• Gray Top Cab Incorporated

  phone: +1 434 845-4554
  address: 1107 12th St

• Hill City Cab

  phone: +1 434 845-8554
  address: 200 Oakley Ave

By bus

Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) offers bus services to the area. Single-direction trips are $1.50, and day and multi-day passes are available. Most routes run though the Plaza Shopping Center as a central hub and transfer point. Because of this layout, however, travel from some points in the city to others may take in excess of an hour in spite of being only a few miles away. GLTC also operates intracampus bus services to Liberty University. This service is free to students, faculty, and visitors.

• Daura Gallery

  phone: +1 434 544-8343
  address: 1501 Lakeside Dr
  Open during the college academic year only.

• Maier Museum of Art

  phone: +1 434 947-8136
  address: 1 Quinlan St

• Sandusky

  phone: +1 434 832-0162
  address: 757 Sandusky Dr
  This historic house served as the Union Headquarters during the Civil War Battle of Lynchburg. Sandusky is open by appointment.

• Point of Honor

  address: 112 Cabell St

• Monument Terrace

  address: 9th St and Church St
  Commemorates Lynchburg citizens who fought and died in the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. A 139-step staircase, the terrace's base is at the intersection of 9th and Church Streets and ends at Court Street in front of the Lynchburg Museum.

• Old City Cemetery

  phone: +1 434 847-1465
  address: 401 Taylor St
  The oldest continuously-operated public cemetery in Virginia, museums on-site give a glimpse into rituals of mourning over the centuries.

• Lynchburg Museum

  phone: +1 434 455-6226
  address: 901 Court St
  In the former Lynchburg court house. Parking is available in the Clay Parking Deck immediately behind the building.

• Miller Park

  address: 2100 Park Ave
  37-acre park includes a pool and a beautiful historic aviary, now used as a banquet hall.

• Riverside Park

  address: 2270 Rivermont Ave
  47 acre park includes the Sprayground, an outdoor water playground.

• Peaks View Park

  address: 199 Ivy Creek Ln
  250-acre park includes may trails, sports fields, a frisbee golf course, and picnic facilities.

Lynchburg's hills make the city great for hiking and recreational biking. Percival's Island Trail, which connects with the Blackwater Creek Trail, forms a 13.5 mile paved trail that travels through Lynchburg. The trail can be accessed at three major points off Washington St, Jefferson St, and Langhorne Rd. The trail follows both the James River and the Blackwater Creek. Off of the trail there are several hiking and mountain biking opportunities. Liberty University also maintains a mountain biking and hiking trail on Candlers Mountain.
Lynchburg hosts a minor-league professional baseball team as well as colleges with active athletics departments.

• Bikes Unlimited

  phone: +1 434 385-4157
  address: 1312 Jefferson St
  Offers bicycle sales, repair, and rentals. Near the connection between the Blackwater Creek Bikeway and RiverWalk trails.

• Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre

  address: 4000 Candlers Mountain Rd
  This year-round ski resort is made possible with an artificial terrain technology that makes the resort the first of its kind in the United States.

• LaHaye Ice Center

  phone: +1 434 592-3953
  address: 1971 University Blvd
  Open year round, hours subject to change for summer.

• Lynchburg Hillcats Baseball

  phone: +1 434 528-1144
  address: 3180 Fort Ave
  Class A Advanced affiliate to the Atlanta Braves. Free parking for all games behind the stadium.

• Liberty Flames and Lady Flames

  phone: +1 434 582-7328
  address: 1971 University Blvd
  NCAA Division I teams representing Liberty University, playing mainly in the ASUN Conference. The football team is independent (not in a conference) in the top-level FBS. The main sports venues are on campus, most notably Williams Stadium (football) and the Vines Center (basketball and women's volleyball; also hosts many university events). The school is preparing to build a smaller on-campus venue to be known as Liberty Arena; once it opens in 2020, all of the teams that now use the Vines Center will move there. A few games that are expected to draw very large crowds will remain at the Vines Center.

• Lynchburg Hornets

  phone: +1 434 544-8286
  address: 1501 Lakeside Dr
  NCAA Division III teams representing Lynchburg College, playing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

• Randolph WildCats

  phone: +1 434 947-8536
  address: 2500 Rivermont Ave
  NCAA Division III teams representing Randolph College, playing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

• Renaissance Theatre

  phone: +1 434 845-4427
  address: 1022 Commerce St

• Liberty University Tower Theater

  phone: +1 434 582-7328
  address: 1971 University Blvd

• Lynchburg College Theater

  phone: +1 434 544-8380

• Randolph College Theater

  phone: +1 434 947-8562
  address: 2500 Rivermont Ave

• Regal Cinemas River Ridge Stadium 14

  address: 3411 Candlers Mountain Rd
  This theater is accessible through the mall. Premium 3D showings.

• Cinemark Movies 10

  address: 3700 Candlers Mountain Rd
  Commonly known as the "Dollar Theater," this theater shows second-run films at a discounted price. Premium 3D showings.

• Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival

  phone: +1 434 826-0391
  address: 134 Chapel Road Sweet Briar, VA 24595
  Put on annually by Endstation Theatre Company, resident theatre company of Sweet Briar College. Features outdoor theatre.

• Givens Books and Little Dickens

  phone: +1 434 385-5027
  address: 2236 Lakeside Dr
  Independently-owned bookstore also serving as a teacher supply, toy store, and café. Sells new, used, and antique books.

• Outdoor Trails

  phone: +1 434 386-4302
  address: 4925 Boonsboro Rd #2
  Wide selection of quality camping, hiking, and other sporting goods. Prepare to be greeted by two well-behaved dogs, both good with children.

• Lynchburg Community Market

  phone: +1 434 455-4485
  address: 219 Main Street
  Indoor/outdoor farmers' market and more. Seasonal offerings, several locally-owned restaurants, and many locally-made crafts.

• Easter Island

  phone: +1 434 237-4700
  address: 5505 White Oak Dr
  Quirky shop with locally-crafted jewelry, a wide selection of incense, clothing, unusual musical instruments and other things.

Budget

• La Carreta MexicanAuthentic Mexican restaurant with several locations in the area.

• phone: +1 434 528-6800
  address: 2245 Langhorne Rd

• phone: +1 434 239-9701
  address: 8004 Timberlake Rd

• phone: +1 434 237-4009
  address: 120 Simons Run

Texas Inn

phone: +1 434 846-3823

address: 422 Main St

Mid-range

• King's Island Restaurant

  phone: +1 434 384-0066
  address: 2804 Old Forest Road
  Voted best Chinese year after year.

• WaterStone Pizza

• Sakura

  phone: +1 434 237-3900
  address: 6113 Fort Ave
  Low-key Japanese restaurant. Not a dinner-and-show restaurant, but great food.

• Depot Grille

Splurge

• Bull Branch

  phone: +1 434 847-8477
  address: 109 11th St

• Koto

  phone: +1 434 237-9134
  address: 2160 Wards Rd
  Teppanyaki-style Japanese steakhouse with sushi bar. Offers free dinner meals for birthdays (dine-in only, show ID for verification).

• Shoemakers American Grille

  phone: +1 434 455-1510
  address: 1312 Commerce St
  Offers private rooms and extensive wine selection.

• Inklings Bookshop & The White Hart

  phone: +1 434 455-1659
  address: 1208 Main Street

• The Drowsey Poet

  phone: +1 434 845-8800
  address: 3700 Candlers Mountain Rd

• The Muse Coffee Company

  phone: +1 434 237-8878
  Local coffee roaster.

• The Muse Coffee Company

  address: 1509 Enterprise Dr

• The Muse Eight-Thirty Club

  address: 1415 Kemper St

Phase2 Dining & Entertainment Club

phone: +1 434 846-3206

address: 4009 Murray Place

• The Residence Bed & Breakfast

  address: 2460 Rivermont Ave

• Federal Crest Inn

  address: 1101 Federal St

• Norvell-Otey House

  address: 1020 Federal St

• Craddock Terry Hotel

  phone: +1 434 455-1500
  address: 1312 Commerce St
  On the waterfront of the James River a few hundred feet off of Main St.

• Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center

  address: 2900 Candlers Mountain Road

• Hilton Garden Inn

  phone: +1 434 239-3006
  address: 4025 Wards Rd

• Wingate by Wyndham

  phone: +1 434 845-1700
  address: 3777 Candlers Mountain Rd

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +1 434 528-2500
  address: 601 Main St

• Extended Stay America

  phone: +1 434 239-8863
  address: 1910 University Blvd

For emergencies occurring on the campus of Liberty University, call the

Liberty University Police Department

• Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

  phone: +1 434 525-1806
  address: 1542 Bateman Bridge Rd, Forest, VA 24551
  Open from Mar 15 to Dec 15.

• National D-Day Memorial

  address: 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford, VA 24523

• Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

  phone: +1 434 352-8987 ext 26
  address: VA 24, Appomattox, VA 24522
  Site of the surrender of the Confederate States of America. Reduced fees after Labor Day and before Memorial Day.

• Peaks of Otter Visitor Center

  phone: +1 540 586-4496
  address: 85919 Blue Ridge Parkway, Bedford, VA 24523
  Base for two popular mountain hikes.

• Crabtree Falls

  address: 11581 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Rt 56, Montebello, VA 24464
  Crabtree Falls is the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Viewing area at the base is handicap accessible.

• Natural Bridge

  address: 15 Appledore Lane, Natural Bridge, VA 24578
  Tickets for cavern and other Natural Bridge attractions are available separately or as a package.