Our stay at Thousand Trails Lynchburg marked another memorable trip — one we had originally planned for April but never made it for reasons now forgotten. This time, though, we made it, and although we didn’t get to everything on our list, we made some great memories along the way.
Monday, 6 October 2025: We kicked things off with a real hike — our first, we’d say — on the Fallingwater Cascades / Flat Top Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway. After exploring waterfalls around Seneca earlier this year, we finally felt ready to venture deeper into the woods. Christmas and birthdays had us geared up: wooden walking sticks, new hiking boots from MO’s Boots in West Jefferson, and a hydration backpack.
The trailhead sign said the falls were 2000 yards in. The trail, though man-made, blended beautifully with nature and was well maintained — but not without its challenges. The descent (and eventual return climb) pushed us, but reaching the bottom was rewarding. There, we met a couple who let us know the trail was actually a loop. We followed their advice and finished the full circuit. Great choice — and the weather was perfect today.
After the hike, food was calling. There weren’t many options along the Parkway, but a search led us to Moore’s Country Store. From the outside, it looked like a modern gas station, but inside, it was loaded with delicious options. We didn’t order much, but seeing those potato wedges took us back to childhood. The Hardy family calls them “Holly Taters,” a nod to the ones from the old Holly Farms Restaurants.
Back in Lynchburg, we weren’t done yet. We headed downtown to walk the Riverfront Park Trail, parking at Percival’s Island. Construction rerouted us, but we eventually connected with the James River Trail, including a cool pass through an old train tunnel. That led us to the Hollins Mill Park Trail, looping back to our car — or so we thought. About 2.5 miles in, the trail was unexpectedly closed. With no way back but the way we came, we let Uber save the day. Adventurers, indeed.
Tuesday, 7 October 2025: We spent Tuesday morning exploring downtown Lynchburg, starting with Monument Terrace — a solemn, moving tribute to veterans, with names etched into each level of the long stairway. Just below sits the Lynchburg Museum, and we ducked into a tiny, packed antique shop called Buzzard’s Roost, full of forgotten treasures.
Depot Grille was our lunch stop — good food right on the lower edge of town.
Then we drove to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, his retreat home, carefully restored to reflect his time there. The tour offered a fascinating glimpse into his private life.
On the way back, we stopped at a few shops: Peddler Antique Mall (classic booths full of knick-knacks and nostalgia), Vintage She Shed (a garage-turned-boutique full of farmhouse-style décor, handmade goods, and clothing), and finally The Bookshop on the Avenue. That place was a surprise — three full floors of used books, neatly organized and totally overwhelming. We ended the day at Walmart to restock the essentials.
Wednesday, 8 October 2025: Wednesday was a work-from-camper day, hanging out with Boo and soaking in more beautiful fall weather. That afternoon, Kennon and Denise visited — they live just 90 minutes away. Together, we went to Yoder’s Farm, where we picked up candy, freezer jam, and even a frozen breakfast meal for later.
Dinner with the Baileys was just around the corner at The Colonial — an old-school family restaurant with a full menu. It was the kind of cozy, familiar place where you know the food will be good before the plate even hits the table.
Thursday, 9 October 2025: Another workday, another peaceful day around the camper. After work, we went out to The Courthouse Café, a hole-in-the-wall place we’d passed several times. It was always busy — and now we know why. Great food, excellent service, and an entertaining cook who kept things lively while turning out a great meal. The perfect way to wind down the trip.
Friday, 10 October 2025: We had planned to visit the Appomattox Courthouse, a National Park Service site, but due to the government shutdown, it was closed. Luckily, we could still explore some of the area ourselves. We walked the Robert E. Lee Trail, saw the location of his headquarters during the surrender, and took in several roadside historical markers. We also walked a bit of the Appomattox grounds, soaking in the quiet history. Stunning countryside!
Craving Chinese food for lunch, we were let down when our first buffet option wasn’t serving, but a quick search led us to Choice Hibachi Buffet in Lynchburg — and wow, it delivered. The place was packed, and the food was excellent. On our second trip to the buffet, we found an entire country cooking section — pot roast, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread. It was like getting two meals in one. We’d absolutely go back.
Next stop was Patrick Henry’s Red Hill in Brookneal. It was another excellently restored historic site with well-maintained grounds and lovely views. A peaceful, educational afternoon.
Saturday, 11 October 2025: Saturdays in the fall are for football — but first, we visited the Lynchburg Community Market, a vibrant place with local produce and handmade goods. Not wanting to do too much, we headed back to Rustburg and returned to Courthouse Café for lunch — as good as the first time. That makes dinner and lunch… now we just need to try breakfast!
Afterward, we stopped by Yoder’s Farm again, this time looking for fresh-cut flowers. The field wasn’t open due to the wind, and the store had sold out — until Beth found a vase full of them at checkout. A lucky find!
Back to the camper for FOOTBALL!! (UT v. Arkansas – Go Vols; ETSU v. VMI – Go Bucs – both wins!!)
Sunday, 12 October 2025: Sunday brought rain and chilly temps, so we kept things simple. First up: breakfast at Courthouse Cafe. Third visit, third excellent meal — 3 for 3.
The rest of the day was low-key, capped off by discovering “The Kingdom”, a six-hour documentary on the Kansas City Chiefs on ESPN. It was a great way to pass the time until the night game: Chiefs vs. Lions. Go Chiefs — another win!
Monday, 13 October 2025: Another workday, and a busy one. That evening, we went to Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizza for dinner, where we discovered a unique twist on bruschetta and two excellent meals (plus leftovers!). A definite highlight — more details saved for the food review page.
We also stopped by Dollar General to check out some clearance finds Olivia had spotted. While we didn’t find the same items, Beth still found some hidden gems — and Kevin came up with a new spending rule: “All she can carry!” (Little did he know how much I could carry!)
Tuesday, 14 October 2025: Tuesday was our final workday and a chance to prep the camper before heading out. We wrapped up the trip with dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s, which hit the spot. Bonus: we scored a free birthday dessert — their classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet. So good.
This trip was packed with a lot of time well spent — on trails, in small shops, around shared meals, and with friends and family. We didn’t get to everything, but that’s part of the charm. There’s always more to see — maybe next time.