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Top 10 Lynchburg Summer Hot Spots

July 2, 2019

Ahhh, summer in Lynchburg! It’s the time of year residents look forward to the most because, let’s face it – less traffic, more parking, less people in Target… what more could we ask for? If you’re here in Lynchburg enjoying the sunshine with us “year-rounders”, you may want some advice from those of us who have spent many summers here. That’s why Steph and Erin are here! We’ve made you a comprehensive list of our top ten summer recommendations – check them out below.

Spend some time at David’s Place

If you’re looking for a great place cool down in the sun, you should check out David’s Place pool. Rec Centers offers summer memberships for individuals or families from May – August. There are not many public pools around Lynchburg (unless you live in a community that comes equipped with one), so it’s definitely something you’ll want to take advantage of. What we love about this membership is that they offer family passes for you, a spouse, and up to four additional family members starting at just $175 (discounts for LU spouses and alumni too!). Couple this with an all access pass to the Montview Bowling Alley or LaHaye Rec & Fit and you’ve got yourself a full range of rec activities to fill your summer!

But First, Coffee

Recently I (Erin) was speaking to a friend who’s spending the summer working in downtown Phoenix, and she was discussing how compared to other cities she’s spent time in recently, Lynchburg’s coffee scene is one of the most expansive she’s seen. And she’s right! We have more local coffee shops here than many people realize. It would take too long for us to review each one, but we will offer up some suggestions.

Because Steph and I both live close to Wyndhurst, The Muse Coffee Co. is our favorite spot. We both usually order a double shot of espresso on ice with a dash of almond milk (and a pump of vanilla if we’re feeling crazy!), as well as avocado toast, which we can’t say enough about because it’s so good. There are other great food options at The Muse, such as the Daydream panini and the Breakfast Burrito. Their Christmas in a Cup drink is also a staple whether you order it hot, iced or blended.

Another coffee shop we like to highlight is Golf Park Coffee, and that’s because our friend Adam Shurr is the owner (this is also a plug for our podcast episode with him)! Golf Park has great coffee, whether you’re looking for a pour over, a latte or anything in between. The atmosphere is also perfect for summer; the large windows display the sunlight and make you want to stay all day.

Saturdays are for the Market

Saturday mornings in Lynchburg are always bustling on Main Street downtown. The Lynchburg Community Market is filled with local vendors selling fresh food, coffee, and even handmade clothing and jewelry. After purchasing from the vendors outside, there is an indoor area with more vendors you’ll have to check out. It’s the perfect way to get away from the heat and enjoy the brunch you’ve probably picked up from Father’s Table, Irene’s Country Cookin’ or Barb’s Dream Hut. You’ll undoubtedly run into friends at the Market; it really is a staple in our community. The Community Market itself (the indoor area) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 A.M. until 2 P.M., and the Farmer’s Market (the outdoor area) is open Wednesdays from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. and Saturdays from 7 A.M. until 2 P.M.

Millie’s: grab a refreshing treat!

Millie’s Living Café is located on the side of Health Nut Nutrition in Wyndhurst, and you won’t be disappointed to try it this summer if you haven’t already. If you’re looking for a refreshing smoothie, acai bowl or snack and you have any sort of health standards, you’re going to love Millie’s. Frequenting Millie’s is natural once you’ve been there at least one time, mainly because of the extensive menu with fresh, organic ingredients. If you’re a chocolate lover but want to have a healthy, refreshing summer treat, Erin’s recommendation is the Cacao Lover’s smoothie. The coco whip is everything you want in life!

Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway

We are so lucky to have the Blue Ridge Parkway right at our fingertips. Running from Afton, Virginia, all the way to Cherokee, North Carolina, the Parkway is a great place to drive and see the mountains, colorful trees and maybe even a bear! While the drive is definitely an adventure to go on in the fall (those oranges and reds on the trees are out of this world), the summertime views bring the mountain ranges to life. Hiking and cycling are other options for ways to get around the Parkway, but let’s face it – sometimes it’s nice to see beautiful views with a little A/C.

Dive in to Smith Mountain Lake

Located just over an hour southwest of Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake has fun options for when you want to take a quick day trip. The lake has a beach area that is perfect for laying out or having a picnic. There are also restaurants and shopping located close by the lake, making it an easy trip if you’re not in the mood to drive around town. There are pontoon boats for rent, which is undoubtedly a selling point for a trip to the lake. The boats aren’t very expensive when the price is split among a group of friends, and you can make a day out of it! So if you’re unsure of what to do over a weekend, round up your friends and take them to the lake!

Visit Blackwater Creek Trails (Bike Shop)

Lynchburg is home to some of the most beautiful outdoor scenery and facilities, maintained by Lynchburg Parks and Rec. I (Steph) am a big fan of all LRC has to offer and have played in one of their softball leagues that last four years. Their staff works hard to provide and maintain a friendly community of rec facilities and trails for a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts. One of the many highlights of this area is the expansive Blackwater Creek, with miles of wooded trails that provide paved paths for you walk, jog, run, or bike. You can enter the trails from many different locations, which offers a variety of views and scenery. We suggest taking advantage of Bikes Unlimited (right off Jefferson Street), where their bike rentals start at just $12/hr.

Indulge your appetite at Skyline Grill

As if the beauty of the newly renovated Virginian Hotel was not enough, it is only amplified by the addition of the Skyline Grill located on its roof. With an open patio, amazing food, and views that span all of downtown Lynchburg, the experience will surely not disappoint. Going into their second summer, the restaurant’s cozy atmosphere and variety of seating areas provide for a relaxing evening for you and your friends. The views are just a perk, because the food itself is delicious. With a variety of tapas, salads, sandwiches and pizzas, we suggest trying a few different things to share amongst the table. For an appetizer, the charcuterie board (cheeses, meats, spreads and bread) is to die for. Some of our other favorites include the Thai Shrimp Salad, chicken tenders (MMM!) or the Margherita pizza. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

You Scream, Ice Cream!

Is it really summer if you aren’t eating a cold treat at least once a week? Lynchburg has some of the best dessert locations around. Since Erin and I both live in Forest, our number one recommendation is Rookie’s. We’re not ashamed to admit that we even grab a dozen cookies to go way too often (and maybe eat them all in one sitting). We recently sat down with one of the owners, Jordan Nickerson, on our podcast (spoiler alert – to air in the next couple weeks) and we fell in love with the little truck even more! Other than the taste itself, my favorite thing about them is how often they rotate their menu and provide fresh new flavors. My (Steph) favorite combo is The Classic cookie with espresso ice cream, but anything you try will surely not disappoint. Also, if you’re looking for a treat to bring to a get together, they sell cookies by the dozen for 10 dollars too!

For those of you who enjoy venturing downtown or live in the Boonsboro area, Maylynn’s is where you’ll want to go. Their brick and mortar location on Jefferson Street offers the widest variety of sweet treats from cups and cones to milkshakes, sundaes, cookie sandwiches and rolled ice cream (which is fun to watch them make)! They also have a food truck that offers a similar variety in the Boonsboro Shopping Center. Both locations offer outdoor seating (downtown has indoor seating too) and is the perfect little place to for your friends, family, or even a great way to end a date!

Appreciate the Arts at the Academy

We love the Academy Center of the Arts and we were ecstatic for the reopening of their theater this past winter! The historic theater on Main Street downtown originally opened in 1905, but was closed in 1958. Through a wide variety of dedicated members, their board and staff, they restored the building and reopened this past December. With our passion for the entertainment industry, we were so excited for what this would mean for Lynchburg in this new space (which is nothing short of breathtaking)! We’ve been to few shows and musicals together over the last few years, so the new opportunities the theater provides is exciting. In December they ran a Christmas Movie Marathon, where we saw the classic “Christmas Vacation” (Steph’s favorite Christmas movie), and in February attended an improv performance by Second City. Their event calendar is chock-full of a variety of shows. This summer includes a weekend of Newsies performances, The Lion King Jr., An Evening with Amy Grant, and many other shows. Tickets are different for each show and scaled based on section. Check out their calendar, which is easy to use and allows you to filter by many different criteria that makes it super convenient to find what you’re looking for at the right price. It shouldn’t go unmentioned that The Academy offers much more than shows at the theater too. This includes art classes, summer camps, warehouse concert series, galas, benefits, and more!

So there you have it – our top ten summer activities. Tweet us at libertysa and let us know what you’re up to this summer in Lynchburg!


Written by: Steph Ward & Erin Diaz

Steph is the Director of Student Activities. She has a B.S. in Visual Communication Arts: Graphic Design and a M.S. in Management. Steph oversees the overall calendar and vision of the Student Activities Department from promotion to execution and analysis. She also leads the Student Activities staff, comprised of 20+ full time and student worker employees.

 

 

Erin is an Assistant Director of Student Activities. She has a B.A. in English. Erin plans and oversees the execution of mid-scale events and concerts on the Student Activities calendar. She is the direct report for the event supervisors and event staff. Erin approves all content that is published and promoted from social media to the SA blog.