Best Things to Do on a Road Trip from Bridgewater, Virginia and Buena Vista, Virginia

Road trips are always a fun way to embark on an adventure, and Virginia has plenty of scenic routes and entertaining landmarks for travelers to explore. On a trip starting from Bridgewater, Virginia, and Buena Vista, Virginia, there are unique and exciting places to visit, each with exceptional features to make your experience a memorable one. With Staunton, Virginia, being the midpoint to the trip, the town offers an incredible collection of attractions that speak to both history and culture.

Visit The Natural Bridge

One of the top places to visit on the road trip is the Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County. Visitors can explore this magnificent limestone gorge that is over 400 million years old. The Natural Bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, who visited the area in 1774, and it is now a National Historic Landmark. It's a great place for hiking and taking stunning photographs of nature and the area surrounding it.

Fun Fact: The Natural Bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and sold it in 1774 to British colonist Thomas Young.

Drive through Crabtree Falls

Located in the George Washington National Forest, Crabtree Falls is Virginia’s highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall. Measuring around 1200 feet in total height, it's a must-see attraction for anyone who loves waterfalls. Driving through the scenic byway or hiking one of the trails that lead to the base of the falls provide visitors with spectacular views of the waterfall.

Fun Fact: The water from Crabtree Falls ultimately flows into the James River, which supplies drinking water to over 2 million people in eastern Virginia.

Explore the Frontier Culture Museum

For visitors who want to learn more about the state’s history and culture, the Frontier Culture Museum is a must-see attraction. The museum is an open-air museum that takes you back in time to learn about the history of America's early settlers. The museum features six different farms, including three farms from 1700s Great Britain, and three from colonial America in the 1820s.

Fun Fact: The Frontier Culture Museum is an outdoor museum that showcases the life of early settlers in the Shenandoah Valley.

Experience The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is Virginia's most famous scenic drive, offering breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains and the surrounding valleys. It stretches for 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and passes through Bridgewater. The Parkway offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to take in the beautiful panoramic views, which is especially vibrant in the fall when the foliage bursts into vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Fun Fact: The Blue Ridge Parkway is America's longest linear park that stretches from Virginia to North Carolina, but only crosses over one traffic light.

Visit the Virginia Safari Park

The Virginia Safari Park is an exotic animal park located in Natural Bridge that provides visitors with a unique and unforgettable experience. The park features the “Drive-thru Safari” that takes visitors on a three-mile safari through free-roaming animals. Visitors can get up-close with tigers, giraffes, rhinos, and other wild animals, making it an exciting attraction not to be missed.

Fun Fact: The Virginia Safari Park is home to over 1,200 free-range animals, including the largest herd of giraffes in the United States.

In conclusion, this road trip itinerary from Bridgewater to Buena Vista, Virginia, and making a midway stop at Staunton is one of the best ways to explore the natural beauty and history of Virginia. The trip route is approximately 95 miles which should take around two and a half hours of drive time. With a mix of natural attractions and historical sites, this trip guarantees to make for an unforgettable adventure.