Our Happy Place
Fun Fact: Campbell County formed in 1781 and was named after Revolutionary War hero Brigadier General William Campbell.
Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg are historically and geographically intertwined. In 1786, Lynchburg formed as part of Campbell County, and later became an independent city.
Today, the juxtaposition of quiet, rural Campbell County with the vibrant city of Lynchburg makes for a fun getaway, and if there is a more dog friendly area of Virginia, we have yet to discover it.
Our pack enjoyed our 3-day weekend exploring Campbell County and its offspring city so much that we awarded 5 stars to all categories below.
- Accommodations⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Dog Friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- History⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recreation⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Restaurants⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Sightseeing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where to Stay
Photo from AirBnb
We highly recommend this dog friendly home with a fence in Lynchburg, available on AirBnb.
Friday
Yoders’ Farm, 1134 Browns Mill Road, Rustburg.
Closed on Sunday and Monday
Photo from Facebook-Yoders’ Farm
We didn’t want to miss out on fresh strawberries and other goodies from Yoders’ Farm, so we made this a top priority.
Thank goodness we did because those strawberries might be the best ones we have ever devoured.
Photo from Facebook-Yoders’ Farm
Established in the 1950s and now a 4th-generation family farm, Yoders’ offers a variety of seasonal produce. We suggest checking what’s available before stopping by.
Dogs are allowed in the parking lot only.
Campbell County Animal Shelter, 322 Dennis Riddle Drive, Rustburg
Closed Sundays
The Campbell County Animal Shelter might be the most important place you ever visit because that’s where you could meet your new best friend and soul mate.
Volunteers at the Friends of Campbell County Animal Control work hard to place incoming animals in foster homes and with adopters. Amazingly, they also keep overhead costs at zero so that 100% of donations go to the animals in need. (Here is the donation link.)
Check out the dogs and cats available for adoption here, and see below for the video of Showtime, the shelter’s longest resident.
Avoca Museum & Historical Society 1514 Main Street, Altavista
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
We were running late by the time we arrived at the Avoca Museum with a car full of dogs, and we had one hour before closing time.
However, it was now or never. We’d be heading home on Monday morning and Avoca wouldn’t open again until Tuesday. (Avoca is a popular wedding venue and is closed on weekends for tours so that weddings can take place.)
I rushed to the office and explained that I’d like to tour the house quickly while Mack stayed outside with the dogs, and then I’d give Mack a turn to see everything.
To my surprise, the tour guide suggested that we both take a guided tour together and bring the dogs with us. (Avoca, we award you 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.)
I can see why this is a popular wedding venue. I was suddenly ready to renew my vows here once I started touring the place.
This video provides a tour of the house and grounds
If the property could talk, we would learn about the Saponi tribe as well as both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Built in 1901, the Queen Anne-style stunner replaced two predecessors destroyed by fire. Previous occupants include Lynchburg founding family members and the last Confederate General killed during the Civil War.
The property also contains the Lynch family graveyard. See information about the 51 individual graves at FindaGrave.com.
Carter’s General Store, 6376 Bedford Highway, Lynch Station
Closed Sunday and Monday
We arrived hungry at Carter’s General Store, and were prepared to order the daily specials and homemade desserts as to-go items so we could eat them in the car.
I’ll take one of each.
Imagine how thrilled we were to learn that Carter’s offers outdoor dog friendly seating.
Fish Fry Friday!
In the time it took us to eat dinner, we felt like we had known the owners—Kyle and Cheri Goldsmith—for years. We learned that Kyle is a Carter on his mother’s side and that he reopened his family’s store in 2019 after renovating the building.
Photo from Facebook-Carter’s General Store & Deli
Like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, each visitor might experience Carter’s General Store differently:
“It’s like going back in time! This place was built in 1879 and it’s an American history museum.”
“What a great place to catch a live band, especially bluegrass.”
“They are an outfitter with boat rentals and a shuttle service to the Staunton River.”
“Get your fishing and hunting supplies at Carter’s.”
“Definitely go for the food. It’s so good and Carter’s serves breakfast all day.”
“Check out all of the quilts for sale.”
“Don’t leave without a block of Wisconsin Hoop Cheese.”
“Carter’s? Why, it’s the hub of the community!”
Wisconsin Hoop Cheese. Photo from Facebook-Carter’s General Store & Deli
I will add that we immediately got a good vibe from Carter’s General Store and were greeted like old friends. We are so glad we decided to stop by!
Saturday
Fishing with Guide Jeremy Cunningham
We can’t say enough good things about fly fishing guide Jeremy Cunningham and we highly recommend his services. Whenever Mack is anywhere near the Lynchburg area, he books a fishing trip with Jeremy.
On Saturday, Mack awoke early for a day of fishing with Jeremy Cunningham and let’s just say that Mack was not disappointed.
Lynchburg
Meanwhile, I applied rigorous dog-testing to 10 dog friendly spots in downtown Lynchburg:
1. My Dog Duke’s Diner, 1007 Commerce St., Lynchburg
Photo from Facebook
My Dog Duke’s Diner is as much fun as it sounds and serves amazing breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Be sure to arrive early because it’s a popular spot with both canines and humans and fills up quickly.
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Food was involved! 10 out of 10 paws.
2. Riverwalk Trail/Percival’s Island, Concord Turnpike & Washington Street, Lynchburg
It’s easy to walk on this flat, well-maintained trail. A couple of miles went by really quickly!
& even better, the trail’s LOVEwork is part of Lynchburg’s public art gallery.
What’s not to LOVE about this trail?
Dog Rating: No food but lots of friendly people, fun things to sniff, and we even saw an otter. 🐾🐾 🐾 6 out of 10 paws
3. White Hart Cafe, 1208 Main Street, Lynchburg
What better place for refreshments than the dog friendly White Hart Cafe? The only downside is deciding if I want Blueberry Lemonade, Lavender Lemonade, or a Clockwork Orange (Mandarin Cola with a shot of espresso and vanilla cream).
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Food was involved! 10 out of 10 paws.
4. Lynchburg Humane Society, 1211 Old Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg
The Lynchburg Humane Society frequently fills to capacity with amazing dogs who are down on their luck. If you’d like to help, here’s a donation link, and a list of cuties for adoption.
Dogs are family members you get to choose!
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Nice people should adopt all the dogs and take them on road trips around Virginia. 10 out of 10 paws.
5. Old City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg
We took a driving tour through the 27-acre Old City Cemetery which also serves as an arboretum and contains the largest collection of heirloom roses in Virginia.
Photo from Facebook-Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum
This cemetery is so beautiful that—no kidding—it’s also a popular wedding venue.
Established in 1806, the City Cemetery features five museums including the Pest House Museum which originally served as Lynchburg’s hospital.
The cemetery is unique because instead of serving one strata of society, the graves represent all segments, rich, and poor, Black, and White.
This inclusiveness extends to animals. A statue of St. Francis blesses the ashes of beloved pets at the cemetery’s animal scatter garden.
Photo from Facebook-Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum
The cemetery allows dogs with polite humans attached by leash and who pick up any waste.
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 No food, but Surprise! The cemetery has resident goats. 8 out of 10 paws.
6. Bootleggers, 50 13th Street, Lynchburg
Photo from Facebook Bootleggers Bar & Grill
A Bootleggers burger & fries sure hit the spot, and thank you Bootleggers for providing the veggie burger option and dog friendly seating!
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Food was involved! 10 out of 10 paws.
7. Monument Terrace, 9th Street, Lynchburg
In 139 steps, we ventured through history, beginning with the Civil War.
Through bold sculptures, detailed engravings and informative plaques, Monument Terrace commemorates the citizens of Lynchburg who served in our nation’s wars, including those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Monument Terrace also includes an interpretive marker for Desmond Doss. This Lynchburg native and World War II hero received the Medal of Honor for saving 75 lives during the Battle of Okinawa, and inspired the film Hacksaw Ridge.
I could watch this movie again and again. Even if you’ve already seen it, we recommend watching this Oscar winning movie during your trip and look out for local “Easter eggs.”
If you’re in town on a Friday, be sure to stop by at noon for the Support Our Troops Rally. A tradition since the 9/11 attacks, the rally occurs every Friday rain or shine to show support for current military and veterans.
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾 The steps were fun, but where’s the food? It’s dinner time somewhere. 6 out of 10 paws.
8. Lynch Bug Sculpture at Amazement Square, 27 9th Street, Lynchburg
This arthropod is larger than life, features a steel exoskeleton, and can boast that it’s a Lynchburg public art gallery exhibit.
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾 No food involved. 6 out of 10 paws.
9. Waterstone Pizza, 1309 Jefferson Street, Lynchburg
It’s dinner time and fortunately Waterstone Pizza provides dog friendly and fisherman friendly seating on its patio.
Dog rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Food! 10 out 10 paws.
10. LOVEworks, Craddock Terry Hotel, 1312 Commerce Street, Lynchburg
It’s difficult for me to pick a favorite LOVEworks but this one might be a “shoe” in. The dog-friendly Craddock-Terry Hotel shows some love to the building’s past life as a shoe factory and provides another stop on Lynchburg’s public art gallery tour.
Dog Rating: 🐾 Where’s the food? 2 out of 10 paws.
Anne Spencer, American Treasure
The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, 1313 Pierce Street, Lynchburg
Anne Spencer in her wedding dress, 1900.
American Poet and Civil Rights Activist Anne Spencer lived in Lynchburg for much of her life. Her husband built their Lynchburg home which served as an intellectual gathering place. Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, and James Weldon Johnson are a few giants of the Harlem Renaissance who visited the Spencers.
Home of Anne Spencer, Lynchburg, now the Anne Spencer Museum
Anne’s garden became her refuge for writing as well as her muse.
Dogs are welcome to visit the garden with their humans.
Gardens of Anne Spencer-Photo from Facebook.
Anne Spencer published 30 poems in her lifetime and in 1973 became the first African American woman featured in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry.
Anne Spencer’s poem, Translation, was published in the Book of American Negro Poetry in 1922.
Sunday
Long Island Park and Boat Landing, 801 Railroad Avenue, Long Island
Jake, my kayaking partner
We spent most of the day at Long Island Park because, with a picnic lunch and plenty of snacks, why would we want to leave? We had lovely hiking trails and the Staunton River for kayaking and fishing. What a way to spend a day.
LOVEworks
Campbell County, we love you!
Know before You Go
Campbell County
- This county map combined with GPS made our trip planning easier.
- Campbell County’s Outdoor Guide is chock full of fun activities, and be sure to read the Blue Ridge Outdoors article about trophy fishing in Campbell County including the reservoir for the Leesville dam.
Lynchburg
- Lynchburg’s Visitor Guide is a terrific resource.
- See BringFido.com for all of Lynchburg’s dog friendly restaurants.
- For biking and hiking all throughout Lynchburg, see this trail map.
- Lynchburg is full of LOVE signs. See if you can find them all.
Road Trip Reads
These books added context for our visit and can be found on Audible for easy road trip listening.
This historical novel takes the reader into both sides of the conflict at the Battle of King’s Mountain, a turning point in the Revolutionary War when Campbell County’s namesake, Brigadier General William Campbell, led the Patriots to victory.
The heroism of Desmond Doss during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 is one of the most inspiring stories of all time.
We highly enjoyed The Unlikely Disciple, a tell-all about the semester Kevin Roose spent at Lynchburg’s Liberty University, including his interview of Jerry Falwell. It’s funny, touching, and thought-provoking. It’s a great read.
Roving through Virginia with Rover 
Leave a reply to Mack and Lisa Cancel reply