Top 10 Things To Do In Lynchburg, Virginia

things to do in lynchburg
Melanie
Melanie 
Published
| 4 min read

Lynchburg is steeped in history, as proven by its eye-catching architecture, some of which date back to the 19th century. It even served as the South’s capital for a brief period sometime in the 1860s. Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge, the city, which is dubbed as the City of Seven Hills, also boasts gorgeous natural attractions. In the past years, it has seen a lot of development: travelers who prefer more modern entertainments, such as foodie destinations, art galleries, and other urban activities are bound to find some activities that they will like here. Check out this list for the top things to do in Lynchburg, Virginia.

1. Bond with the animals at SeaQuest Lynchburg

Lionfish
Source: Pixabay

As the name promises, you will see plenty of sea creatures at SeaQuest Lynchburg, but there is a lot more to see here beyond these. The animals, which number over a thousand, come from owners who can no longer take care of their pets, are rescued, or were injured and need help. Make sure to check their website to find out when the park will re-open. Guests can feed some of the animals, including the birds, the stingrays, and the sloth, for additional fees.

SeaQuest Lynchburg

Address: 3405 Candlers Mountain Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502, United States

Website: SeaQuest Lynchburg

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 7pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm

Price: 15 USD onwards

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2. Go back in time by visiting The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum

AnneSpencerGarden
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Loslazos used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Anne Spencer House was the home of Anne Spencer, an acclaimed lyric poet during the Harlem Renaissance. Their home, where she did most of her writing, features memorabilia and different artifacts from a bygone era. A stroll along the garden will allow you to see the beauty that inspired her works. Appointments need to be made in order to take a tour around the house. The garden is open from dusk until dawn, but do visit their website before your visit there make sure that they have already re-opened.

The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum

Address: 1313 Pierce St, Lynchburg, VA 24501, United States

Website: The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum

Price: Anne Spencer House: 10 USD onwards; Garden: free

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3. Sample the goodies sold at Lynchburg Community Market

Buying apples
Source: Pixabay

Lynchburg Community Market is one of the oldest markets in the country. Besides fresh produce, you can also buy baked goodies, handicrafts, accessories, and more here. What’s great about this market is that you can actually order what products you want to get from the website so all you need to do is to pick them up upon your visit, so you don’t have to worry about getting disappointed that the goodies you want to get have already been sold out.

Lynchburg Community Market

Address: 1219 Main St, Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

Website: Lynchburg Community Market

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 7am - 2pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

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4. Learn more about the history of the city at the Lynchburg Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you’re a history buff, be sure to visit this museum so you can learn more about the city’s rich story, starting from the pre-colonial period to the present. The museum is housed in a former court building. Should you have any additional questions about the displays, the staff there are more than willing to provide more insights about Lynchburg’s history. You can enjoy views of the city from here. Do visit their website to get updates on when they will re-open.

Lynchburg Museum

Address: 901 Court St, Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

Website: Lynchburg Museum

Price: Free admission

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5. Bond with nature at Blackwater Creek Natural Area

Blackwater Cooperative WMA - Entrance Sign
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bitmapped used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Want to take a break from exploring the indoor attractions of Lynchburg? Explore its natural beauty by heading over to Blackwater Creek Natural Area, which features a number of hiking and biking trails that will take you into the woods so you can spend a relaxing time amid the greenery. The main trail takes you through an old train tunnel, which is always fun to explore. Do visit the official website to double-check if they’re already open before heading here.

Blackwater Creek Natural Area

Address: Lynchburg, VA 24501, United States

Website: Blackwater Creek Natural Area

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

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6. Take your kids exploring at Amazement Square

Kids at a museum
Source: Pixabay

If you’re traveling to Lynchburg with your children, consider visiting Amazement Square, an interactive museum where kids can have fun playing and learning. There are plenty of activities awaiting visitors, and there are even some that adults will enjoy trying out. Please visit their website to know whether Amazement Square is open during your visit to Lynchburg.

Amazement Square

Address: 27 9th St, Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

Website: Amazement Square

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Tue)

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7. Percival's Island Natural Area

Riverwalk sign, Lynchburg, VA IMG 4101
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Billy Hathorn used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Percival’s Island Natural Area is another option available if you want to spend some time amid nature. Once an old abandoned railroad bed, this attraction was converted into a park and now features hiking and biking trails that traverse the island. There are some spots here where visitors can do some fishing - of course, however, compliance with the State of Virginia fishing regulations is necessary. Visit their website to check if they are open during your visit.

Percival's Island Natural Area

Address: 1600 Concord Turnpike, Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

Website: Percival’s Island Natural Area

Opening hours: 5:30am - 8pm (daily)

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8. Go skiing at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre

Snowflex 3
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Wolfy54 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre is the first synthetic ski slope in North America. Head over here to go skiing, tubing, and snowboarding no matter what the weather is. This attraction is open for anyone of all ages. If, however, you don’t want to hit the slopes, there’s a viewing deck where you can catch all of the action.

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre

Address: 4000 Candlers Mountain Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502, United States

Website: Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre

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9. Pay a visit to the historical home Point of Honor

things to do in Lynchburg, Virginia
Source: Photo by Flickr user Eli Pousson used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Point of Honor serves as a silent witness to key points of Lynchburg’s history. The land once served as the hunting grounds of Native Americans. It then became converted into farmland. It was also used as a venue for people to settle disputes of honor, hence its name. Over the years, the house has seen a lot of remodeling and renovations, and traces of these different stages can be seen in its structure. Do check the website to find out when this attraction will re-open prior to your visit.

Point of Honor

Address: 112 Cabell St, Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

Website: Point of Honor

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 4pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm

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10. Stroll along Diamond Hill Historic District and enjoy sights

Diamond Hill House 2 Dec 08
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pubdog used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

As you may have noticed on this list, Lynchburg is a place where you can see buildings that span generations, and Diamond Hill Historic District is a place where many of these are clustered together. The area features a number of homes dating back to the 19th century, many of which follow the Colonial Revival and Georgian Revival styles of architecture. According to stories, the district got its name from the triangular shape of the lots here.

Diamond Hill Historic District

Address: Lynchburg, VA 24504, United States

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Live it up in Lynchburg

Lynchburg is a fantastic city that combines modern attractions with traditional sights, with a splash of natural attractions thrown in the mix. If you want to enjoy a holiday that takes you to the road less traveled, consider spending it in this southern city and see what it has to offer to its visitors.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Melanie is a freelance travel writer. She considers freelancing for Trip 101 to be a combination of two of the things she loves: writing and traveling. She has gone sightseeing with family,...Read more

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