Local Attractions

When no activities are scheduled, our students are notorious for finding unique ways to have fun around Southern Virginia.

Here is a list of some of the local attractions and fun activities our creative students have discovered in the Buena Vista area:

Things to Do Outside

  • Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, named “America’s favorite drive” and it’s just a few miles from campus.
  • Hike along the Appalachian Trail, the nation's longest marked footpath.
  • Tube down the Maury River and wind your way around Buena Vista and Lexington.
  • Summit Mcafee’s Knob to experience an awe-inspiring view of the Jefferson National Forest.
  • Hike at Crabtree Falls, the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.
  • Paddle boat and swim at Douthat State Park, named one of the nation's ten best state parks by the Outside Family Vacation Guide.
  • Hike around Apple Orchard Falls, one of Virginia's tallest and most beautiful waterfalls.
  • Climb Cole Mountain, which offers spectacular panoramic views of the stunningly beautiful region.
  • Go swimming and picnicking at Cave Mountain Lake, nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Places to Eat

There is a great selection of local restaurants as well as many of the popular restaurant chains you already know you love.


Restaurant Description Address
Don Tequila’s Mexican food, cheap, delicious, and a campus favorite. 2255 Beech Avenue
Buena Vista, Va.
Franks for the Memories Open when it’s warm, a sidewalk café with panini’s, smoothies, and of course their signature hot dogs. 2117 Magnolia Avenue
Buena Vista, Va.
Canton Chinese food you will learn to love. Eat-in or take-out, either way it’s the best and only Chinese food in town. 2172 Sycamore Avenue
Buena Vista, Va.
Salerno’s A local favorite for pizza, subs, and pasta with great weeknight specials. Answer their daily question for a free drink. 115 South Jefferson Street
Lexington, Va.
Macado’s Located in the historic Wilson Walker House, Macado’s has more sandwiches than any other menu around. 30 N. Main Street
Lexington, Va.
Lee Hi’s Open 24 hours a day, it’s the campus-wide favorite for getting a late-night meal. 2516 North Lee Highway
Lexington, Va.
Pink Cadillac Diner A 50’s themed diner with its very own Pink Cadillac right outside. This is a great place for burgers and shakes. 4347 South Lee Highway
Natural Bridge, Va.
Gertie’s Country Store A little store out on the country roads of Virginia where you can get a great burger, BBQ sandwich, and even sign your name on the ceiling. 563 Tye River Turnpike
Vesuvius, Va.

Check out more dining ideas in the area.

Go to the Movies

Put a twist on the classic evening of dinner and a movie by going to one of the few operating drive-in movie theatres in the country, or see a top hit shown right here on campus for free.


Theater Description Address
Valley Cinema's A great place to see a show for cheap without leaving Buena Vista. 2275 Beech Avenue
Buena Vista, Va.
Hull's Drive In Old-fashioned drive in theater-one of the few remaining outdoor movie screens-open seasonally. Get two movies for the price of one. 2367 North Lee Highway
Lexington, Va.
RC State Theaters Located in charming downtown Lexington, a classy location for seeing a show with friends. 12 West Nelson Street
Lexington, Va.

Also, always check the Southern Virginia calendar for the monthly big screen Movie Nights sponsored by the Southern Virginia Student Association.

Activities Unique to the Area


Destination Description Address
Foamhenge A local replica of Stonehenge made completely of foam. Highway 11 South
Natural Bridge, Va.
Virginia's Safari Park A drive-through park where you can feed animals from your car and pet a giraffe all in the same day. 229 Safari Lane
Natural Bridge, Va.
Theatre at Lime Kiln Beautiful natural outdoor theatre provides a wide variety of entertainment from music and dancing to the classics of Shakespeare. Lexington, Va.
Blackfriar's Playhouse Replica of the Globe Theater in England and host to the world’s greatest Shakespeare troupes. 10 S. Market Street
Saunton, Va.
Lee Chapel Built at the request of Civil War General Robert E. Lee who is buried underneath, now a memorial and a museum. 204 W. Washington St
Lexington, Va.
Stonewall Jackson House Learn about the life of Stonewall Jackson by touring his home and seeing life as he lived it. 8 E. Washington Street
Lexington, Va.

Also check out the George C. Marshall Museum and the Virginia Military Institute Museum.

Find more local attractions

Things you MUST do while at Southern Virginia University:

  1. Learn the fight song
  2. Go to Lee-Hi’s at some late hour of the night
  3. Win an intramural t-shirt
  4. Have a picnic on the Parkway