Lexington Inspiration Guide - 7

PETS ARE

F: COURTESY OF VIRGINIA SAFARI PARK

Welcome!

FIDO CAN HITCH A RIDE and
experience Lexington, Buena
Vista and Rockbridge County
by your side. From our outdoor
spaces and attractions to lodging
and dining, there are more
than 75 places your dog will be
welcomed when you spend time
in our part of the Shenandoah
Valley.
Peruse the trails with your best
friend at the lead. We especially
enjoy Woods Creek Trail,
Jordan's Point Park, Boxerwood
Nature Center & Woodland
Garden and of course, our
seven-mile rail trail, the Chessie
Nature Trail. From steep terrain
to meandering pathways along a
riverbank, you're sure to find your
own perfect stretch of solace.
Many of our favorite places to
visit are pet-friendly, too. Be sure
to keep your companion leashed
and clean, and you can enjoy
Wade's Mill, Cyrus McCormick
Farm, Tantivy Lavender Farm,
Rockbridge Vineyard, Lexington
Coffee Roasters and Hull's DriveIn north of Lexington.
To the south, Great Valley
Farm Brewery is a beautiful
place to soak in the views with
a pint of craft beer while your
pooch soaks up the sun. Explore
Natural Bridge State Park with
your leashed friend and rest for
a moment at Cedar Creek Café.
Within site of the grand limestone
arch, it's a shaded creek-side
eatery that begs you to linger.
When visiting Buena Vista,
make Glen Maury Park your key
pet-friendly place. Open fields for
frisbee are a plus! Their in-park
Holy Cow! ice cream parlor has
the cool treats you'll both need to
chill out from all the fun.
In downtown Lexington, pets
are welcome on the patios of
Sheridan Livery Inn, Pure Eats,
Blue Sky Bakery, Sweet Treats
Bakery and Salerno. Cap off
a great day of exploring by
allowing your pup to pick his
own treat at Lexington Pet Place
before taking a narrated tour of
historic downtown with Lexington
Carriage Company.

For more pet-friendly
places to stay, eat and
explore, visit
LexingtonVirginia.com/Pets

and deer-amble near
your vehicle looking for
handouts.
Experience the
wackiness that is Dinosaur
Kingdom II, a dinosaur
park that reimagines
the Civil War by pitting
Stonewall Jackson and his
southern soldiers against
Yankees armed with, yes,
fearsome dinosaurs.
Natural Bridge
Zoo, helping protect

endangered species for
more than 45 years, offers
guided Interactive CloseEncounters.
For respite, check in
at the Natural Bridge

F

Thirsty? Rockbridge offers a bevy of places for beverages.
Craft beer-ophiles will want to check out the family-friendly
vibe and stunning views at Great Valley Farm Brewery in
Natural Bridge. Or the award winning Devils Backbone
Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen-both recommended pit
stops along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. Wine
lovers can enjoy a bottle on the patio at Rockbridge
Vineyard in Raphine.
Another anchor for a trip to Rockbridge is Natural
Bridge State Park located 13 miles from Lexington
(insider tip: to get to Natural Bridge from Lexington, old
U.S. Route 11, also called The Great Wagon Road, offers
way more pastoral and scenic views than from I-81). The
Natural Bridge is just that: an awesome 215-foot tall
limestone arch from which Rockbridge gets its name
that used to be owned by none other than Thomas
Jefferson. Today, visitors can enjoy six miles of hiking trails
throughout the preserved terrain. The most popular and
accessible is Cedar Creek Trail that leads under the rock
bridge, past Monacan Indian Living History Exhibit to
the 30-foot Lace Falls.
The area outside the park has emerged as a destination
in its own right. The Caverns at Natural Bridge, located
just outside the park and the deepest on the East Coast,
descend more than 34 stories underground
leading to
F
structures like the Colossal Dome room. Take the family
for a swim and maybe an overnight camping sojourn at
nearby Cave Mountain Lake. Enjoy a slow, meandering
drive through the 180-acre Virginia Safari Park where
more than 1,000 free roaming animals-bison, llamas,

Historic Hotel and
Conference Center.

Sample a slice of
homemade pie at Natural
Bridge General Store
and Café.

Along Route 11 in
nearby Fancy Hill, check
out the famous country
ham sandwich with
hoop cheese at Layne's
Country Store. Stop for
a beer at Great Valley
Farm Brewery or sip
hard or soft apple cider
while strolling through the
labyrinth of 2,000 dwarf
apple trees at Halcyon
Days Cider Co. While
you're at it, pick up a crate
of Asian Pears, some local
raw honey or marmalade
at Virginia Gold Orchard.
Rockbridge, the 11th
largest of Virginia's 95
counties, is a rambling,
rural delight!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

LexingtonVirginia.com/
BucketList

LEXINGTONVIRGINIA.COM 7
http://www.LexingtonVirginia.com/bucketlist http://www.LexingtonVirginia.com/Pets http://www.LEXINGTONVIRGINIA.COM
Lexington Inspiration Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lexington Inspiration Guide
