For Families
Charming, Family-Friendly Cities in Virginia
The Lynchburg region is the perfect home base for families seeking a balanced life where community pride and adventure go hand in hand. It’s a place that seamlessly blends small-town charm with a high-energy, modern spirit.
Enjoy four distinct seasons, each offering unique opportunities to get out in nature and enjoy everything from summer paddleboarding across acres of sparkling lakes to crisp autumn hikes surrounded by vibrant foliage. When you aren’t on the trails, explore our revitalized downtown, which is filled with youth theaters, public art and seasonal festivals. This is a college town with good sense — a place filled with community pride where neighbors truly look out for one another.
Who needs a reason to get outside when you live in the Lynchburg region? Our vast natural experiences and outdoor activities create exceptional family life in Virginia, offering countless opportunities for bonding and adventure across five distinct localities.
- Bedford County: Spend the entire day at Smith Mountain Lake State Park, where you can swim along the sandy beach, rent a boat, cast a line or hike miles of wooded trails that wind along the shoreline. If you’re after a view that feels worth the climb, the Peaks of Otter deliver sweeping mountain vistas that are sure to make your children’s jaws drop.
- Appomattox County: Prefer something quieter but still active? At Holliday Lake State Park, you’ll find calm waters for swimming and paddling, shaded picnic areas and campsites that make it easy to turn a day trip into a weekend. Just minutes away, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park gives a peek into a defining moment in American history.
- Amherst County: If you’ve got kids that like living on the edge, James River Foot Bridge turns an old rail bridge into a big adventure. Also check out the sprawling 190-acre watershed Mill Creek Lake — a hot spot for grilling, swimming, boating and more.
- Campbell County: Find intentionality in the southern part of the Lynchburg region with Campbell County’s ten parks, geocaching spots and vast agritourism scene.
You can even find exciting outdoor adventures in the urban core of Lynchburg like Percival’s Island, Blackwater Creek Trail and Ivy Creek Park. And when you’re ready to expand the radius a bit, some of Virginia’s most sought after nature experiences can be found about an hour away with the numerous waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains 1,000+ miles of award-winning trails.
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Tori Gilmartin
Stories from the LYH Region
You don’t have to live in the Lynchburg region to love it. Stay current on the latest happenings across the Blue Ridge — from restaurant openings to new housing developments.
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