The Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles through natural beauty starting at the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains south to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina.
Access to the parkway is just 8 miles from Jellystone Park™ Natural Bridge. The parkway includes numerous overlooks to take in the stunning views and is maintained under the National Park Service. Besides the spectacular scenery, visitors can stop at several points of historic interest.
It’s 1864. Them wacky Yankees is at it again! Tryin’ to use living dinosaurs as weapons of mass destruction against the South. But ole Dixie has more than a few tricks still left up her sleeve.
Experience a wooded, walking adventure of the wildest, weirdest, craziest dinosaur park the Washington Post has called Amazing! Brilliant! Hilarious! This is definitely not your father’s dinosaur park!
The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They feature multiple hiking trails for various fitness levels.
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,181 mile long marked hiking trail running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. In Virginia, it passes close to Jellystone Park in Natural Bridge.
The Natural Bridge is a geological formation carved by Cedar Creek (a small tributary of the James River) when it flowed through the local limestone eventually eroding it to just the roof of a tunnel 215 feet in the air.
Descend more than 34 stories underground to explore the natural beauty of the Natural Bridge Caverns. Take the 45 minute guided walking tour.
The Jefferson National Forest is a great place for hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, mountain biking and much more.
The Natural Bridge Zoo Park is and always has been privately owned and has never accepted any sort of federal, state, or local funding. The Natural Bridge Zoo opened its doors to the general public in 1972 and has been growing ever since. The main purpose for Natural Bridge Zoo has always been the propagation and rearing of threatened or endangered species. We try to offer students and the general public the opportunity to learn about the living animals, birds, and reptiles that share the earth with us. Many children have little or no contact with natural living things in their daily lives. While television programs are educational, there is nothing like standing next to a giraffe, getting nuzzled by a llama, hugging a baby dromedary camel, or gazing into the eyes of a huge white tiger to make you feel and appreciate our wonderful world of animals.
Observe history in this carefully preserved downtown on the National Register of Historic Places. Stonewall Jackson’s house is there, as well as VMI, Washington and Lee University and the Museum of Military Memorabilia. Natural Bridge is just 15 miles from Lexington, Virginia.
Tour Boxerwood Gardens in Lexington Virginia, a wonderful nature center and woodland garden. The gardens feature self-guided tours, explorations and special events. Boxerwood is also a fantastic stop for the kids. The play trail is a natural playground designed especially for children, giving them the chance to learn about nature while playing in it!
Visit this historical military educational facility located less than 20 minutes from Natural Bridge, sometimes called the West Point of the South.
In nearby Raphine, VA, Rockbridge Vineyards hosts daily wine tastings of their award winning wines.
The Vista Links is an 18-hole, par-72 public golf course located in Buena Vista, Virginia.
See outdoor theater in Lexington, Virginia including classic theater, concerts and other live entertainment.
Located in Bedford, Virginia, the town suffering the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation, this memorial honors the Allied forces that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 during World War II.
Shop at more than 40,000 square feet of quality antiques and crafts.
Observe Wade’s Mill, a working, historic flour mill, dating from about 1750.
Take in this 600-acre facility in Lexington that includes a 4,000-seat indoor arena, eight barns that can accommodate 1,200 horses, nineteen show rings, two additional indoor arenas and an internationally rated cross-country and combined driving course. They host more than 100 events annually.