Amherst County brings together a range of travel interests: Monacan history, the Blue Ridge Parkway, trails and waterways, as well as college landscapes and wineries. If you’re looking for a hotel in Amherst County, first consider what you want to shape your stay: cultural history, a scenic drive, nature watching, horseback riding, or wine.
Monacan History and Historic Places
For hundreds of years, Bear Mountain has been considered a spiritual center of the Monacan community. Bear Mountain Indian Mission School provided several hundred Monacan people with an education through seventh grade until 1964. Together, these details represent different aspects of Monacan history: the mountain’s spiritual significance and the school’s history.
The Monacan Museum presents key developments in Monacan history through artifacts such as pottery, pipes, games, beads, and tools. The variety of objects brings the historical focus to life and offers more points of reference if cultural history is a priority when choosing your destinations.
The Clifford-New Glasgow Historic District lies around the oldest continuously existing settlement in Amherst County and was a regional trading center in its early history. The historic house Mountain View is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Virginia Landmark. The two sites offer different ways to explore regional history: a settlement with an early role in trade and a house with two historic designations.
The Blue Ridge Parkway and Nature at Otter Lake
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile driving route connecting Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In Amherst County, the parkway is designated a National Historic Landmark. Its length offers a sense of scale for a scenic drive.
Otter Creek Lake, also called Otter Lake, is a 7-acre lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Amherst County. The Otter Lake Loop Trail offers a different kind of outing: it is approximately 1 mile long and passes through mixed deciduous and coniferous forest as well as a small wetland. These two measurements help put a long driving route and a comparatively short trail in perspective as different kinds of excursions.
Ducks, herons, shorebirds, and kingfishers are spotted at Otter Lake; sightings are seasonal and variable. Facilities include an accessible fishing pier and parking. Check details about these facilities before you go if they are important to your plans.
Landscapes and Activities at Sweet Briar College
The Sweet Briar College campus includes a 22-mile trail network, two lakes, vineyards, gardens, and wildflower meadows. Trails and a variety of landscape features are the focus. The college’s equestrian center is also on campus, spans 130 acres, and offers opportunities for riders of all skill levels. Advance arrangements may be required to participate.
Sweet Briar College Farm includes a vineyard of nearly 18 acres, a 26,000-square-foot greenhouse, an apiary with 20 hives, and a wine shop. Products and visitor arrangements may change. The farm adds winegrowing, greenhouse, and beekeeping to the college’s landscape and equestrian offerings.
Wineries and Wine
Rebec Vineyards offers winery tours and wine tastings in Amherst County. Lazy Days Winery is a family-run winery in Amherst County, Virginia, offering wine and scenic views. Their offerings differ: Rebec features tours and tastings, while Lazy Days highlights its family-run operation, wine, and views. If wine is one of your interests, you can consider these features when choosing your destinations.
Explore more destinations: 3, Big Island, Madison Heights, Dinwiddie County, Henry County, Floyd County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County.
For the broader travel overview: Virginia.
