On day 49 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Lewisburg to Lynchburg. We drive through the Greenbrier Valley, which is known as one of the most beautiful landscapes in West Virginia. Here are rolling farmlands, forested mountainsides, small villages, and the Greenbrier itself, the longest free-flowing river in the state.

The very luxurious Greenbrier Resort is also located along the river in a picturesque and picturesque setting and is therefore very popular as a wedding location. The resort in the Allegheny Mountains borders the east coast. In the early days before the Civil War, the American nobility was drawn to the cool summer breezes and the mineral water springs that bubbled up from these mountains. The stately grandeur of The Greenbrier is its unmistakable sprawling Georgian architecture with beautiful gardens. It is a timeless classic that maintains a high level of elegance, well worth a short visit to take some photos.

After crossing the state line between West Virginia and Virginia, we stop at the Humpback Covered Bridge to take photos. This wooden bridge is one of the few surviving covered bridges in the United States built higher in the middle than at either end, giving it a curved shape; hence the name "humpback". The bridge was built in 1857 and is also the oldest surviving covered bridge in the state of Virginia. The bridge spans a tributary of the Jackson River known as Dunlap Creek for 33 meters. The humpback whale is 4 feet (1.2 m) higher in the center than at either end.

We drive on beautiful winding mountain roads, sometimes of lesser quality, so be careful to the next stop at Roaring Run Furnace, it is a historic iron furnace in Jefferson National Forest near Eagle Rock. It was built about 1832 and reflects the national and rural economy of the iron industry in the 19th century. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It's a short walk from the parking lot.

In Buchanan we cross the James River on the Buchanan Bridge, on the right side you have a view of the Buchanan Swinging Bridge of 110 meters long and 17 meters high. The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is a historic landmark and the only one of its kind to cross the James River. Parts of the large stone piers were built in 1851 for the Buchanan Turnpike Company's toll bridge. The toll for each person was five cents with an additional five cents for each horse, mule or oxen and five cents for each wagon. The Bridge is open to visitors and you can park across the street at the gas station if you want to take a short walk across this historic bridge.

We drive an approximately 32-mile loop on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the scenic views of the Great Valley. There are several viewpoints along this route to stop briefly for a photo. You should definitely stop at the Great Valley Overlook. Here, the valley is bounded between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. Both ranges are subsets of the larger Appalachian Mountain range that runs from Georgia to Maine. The view of the Great Valley Overlook here is a sweeping 180° view.

The lunch stop is scheduled at Peaks of Otter's Lake View Restaurant, a renowned restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular views of Abbott Lake and Sharp Top Mountain. The restaurant has a menu featuring fresh and local ingredients and regional specialties and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in season. Enjoy lunch on the terrace with a great view.

After lunch we continue this drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first stop is at the Falling Water Cascades. From the parking lot, you can hike the Fallingwater Casades Trail, a 1.5-mile loop trail to the falls. If you like, you can also hike the Fallingwater-Flat Top National Recreation Trail, which is a 6.5-mile hike that takes you past more small waterfalls.

After about 32 kilometers of driving we arrive at the Otter Creek. This is an artificial lake formed by damming Otter Creek. It is a popular tourist attraction as both the lake and the dam are very beautiful. The Otter Lake Loop Trail is a 1.6 km (1 mile) trail that goes around the lake in 45 minutes.

After this stop we drive to the Lynchburg, the end point of this day. Depending on the time, you can visit the Lynchburg Museum in the Old Court House. The museum shares stories about the people and fascinating events that shaped the region. Exhibits include antique toys, military items from all wars, fine art, furniture and silver made in Lynchburg, costumes, historic photographs, sports and music memorabilia, three media programs, and much more. The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College is also recommended. It houses an excellent collection of American art, mainly paintings, works on paper and photographs from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Located on the Randolph campus and open to visitors year-round, the museum serves both the academic community and the general public, offering rotating exhibits, rotating displays of the College's permanent collection, and educational programs.


We will stay overnight at the Craddock Terry Hotel, once a turn of the century shoe factory, now transformed into a unique luxury hotel in downtown Lynchburg, of course there are other hotels as an option, but this will be a great experience. Another Lynchburg must-visit is the iconic Depot Grille in downtown Lynchburg. This restaurant was converted from Lynchburg's own freight train station in 2004. The Depot Grille offers a wide variety of handcrafted cocktails, wines by the glass or on tap, and fifteen local craft beers on tap! Enjoy a menu that offers everything from crab dip to pork ribs that fall off the bone.