Looking for scenic western VA (Roanoke, Lexington: rental car, rental, taxi)

[BereniceUK]

I'm visiting WV in October,arriving in White Sulphur Springs by Amtrak. From there I'll take a taxi to Lewisburg but thought it would be nice to take a short detour into Virginia en route to Lewisburg (yes,I do realise that I'll be going in the opposite direction!). Is Alleghany a good place to head for? I'd like to take a few photos along the way so I'm looking for a scenic area and a relatively unspoilt town/village. Or would Crows be a better choice? I can't go too far eastward from White Sulphur Springs so I guess I'm going to be pretty limited in what I can see.

[seanpecor]

I'm drawing a blank. The most unspoiled Virginia county in that general area is almost 2 hours in the opposite direction. I'm thinking of Monterey in Highland County.

Probably the most scenic VA route in October not far from Lewisburg will be a loop that brings you down Route 311 as far as you're comfortable going. You won't get much in the way of "scenic historic town" but you'll get some beautiful landscape shots. In the mountains on the higher sections of 311 you'll have more fall foliage, whereas in October, generally in the valleys and piedmont highlands of Western Virginia, foliage might not be at its peak. Here is a reference shot from October 27th in Boones Mill, Virginia:



Sean

[BereniceUK]

Thanks for your response. As a result of it I've been looking at a map and have decided to spend my one day in a rental car in western VA. I'd like to drive from Lewisburg WV,where I'll be staying,to the Natural Bridge near Lexington,back to Clifton Forge and Covington and then along the Rich Patch Road to Paint Bank and from there back to Lewisburg.

[Cdshiflett]

Berenice........ That can easily be done in a day just start early. You can follow old rt 60 east from Lewisburg or take I-64 east. If you take the interstate make sure you get off at exit and follow 60 east for about a mile until you come to Humpback Bridge. One of the last remaining hump backed covered bridges in this country.



from there I'd get back on the interstate and proceed to Lexington. Should you need any information please stop by the Lexington visitor center and we will be glad to assist you. Please note that Lexington is a very quaint historic town and one can spend all day in the various shops and museums.



I would then follow Rt 11 south to Natural Bridge. You will pass the Safari Park and Foam Henge along the way.


You can actually do a loop back to Lexington through Buena Vista by following Rt 130 East through the little town of Glasgow and turning left onto Rt 501 North for about 9 miles.



There you can pick up rt 60 west back to Lexington. I would actualy follow that over North Mountain for some wonderful scenic pictures. You can pick up i-64 west at several different points along the way. You will want to get off I-64 w at exit 27 and take a left following signs through Clifton Forge Va. You can get back on the interstate on the other side. Rt 18 from Covington is a great ride up and over Potts Mountain to Paint Bank and then back towards Lewisburg. It will be a long ride and day but very much worth the trip.



30 Minutes from Lewisburg to Covington
45 Minutes from Covington to Lexington
10 Minutes from Lexington to Natural Bridge
15 Minutes from Natural Bridge to Buena Vista
45 Minutes back through Lexington on Rt 60
about 1 hr 30 minutes on Rt 18 to Paintbank and on to Lewisburg

Hope this helps
Have fun.

[SCBeaches]

I was just up at the Natural Bridge 4 weeks ago...loved it! It is in a very pretty area.

[BereniceUK]

Cdshiflett, thank you so much for your post, extemely helpful and I think I'll be following your suggested route (although knowing me, if I see something interesting signposted I'll make a detour - I'd like to see the coffee pot-shaped building near Buena Vista).
Now all I need is a dry day!

[Cdshiflett]

I left out the exit # for Humback Bridge, that is exit 10. The coffee pot building is located on rt 60 about a half mile before you get to Buena Vista.

[BereniceUK]

Well, I had my day out in Virginia - it was wonderful

Didn't go according to plan because I found that none of the banks in Lewisburg WV (where I was staying and where I rented a car) would change $ Traveller's Cheques. And there's no Bank of America in WV so that meant I had to drive to the nearest branch which was in Roanoke VA. Very glad I did, had a lovely time wandering around the city centre streets and up to St Andrew's Cathedral.
From there I drove to New Castle for a quick break and a look round, then up to Paint Bank which was everything I'd hoped it would be...and more. And of course the scenery around Paint Bank is stunning, very beautiful. I had a beautiful hot and cloudless day for my adventure (first time I've driven in the US) and hope to re-visit one day.

[boonelsewhere]

wellcome to the beautiful part of Virginia.
but "HOT" that is a surprise to me, we have very nice clear sky a little cold but nice.

Originally Posted by BereniceUK

Well, I had my day out in Virginia - it was wonderful

Didn't go according to plan because I found that none of the banks in Lewisburg WV (where I was staying and where I rented a car) would change $ Traveller's Cheques. And there's no Bank of America in WV so that meant I had to drive to the nearest branch which was in Roanoke VA. Very glad I did, had a lovely time wandering around the city centre streets and up to St Andrew's Cathedral.
From there I drove to New Castle for a quick break and a look round, then up to Paint Bank which was everything I'd hoped it would be...and more. And of course the scenery around Paint Bank is stunning, very beautiful. I had a beautiful hot and cloudless day for my adventure (first time I've driven in the US) and hope to re-visit one day.

[Cdshiflett]

aw..... We have a Bank of America here in Buena Vista... you'd of past it. But very glad you enjoyed your trip.