Location: Lexington
Top Things to do in Lexington
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What to do and see in Lexington, Virginia (VA): The Best Museums
Lexington, Virginia, is a college town rich with history, charm and natural wonders. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, its bustling downtown offers unique restaurants, artisan shops and galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy mountain vistas on a walk along the Woods Creek trail or on a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. History buffs can follow the Civil War and visit the final resting places of iconic figures like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
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1. Museum of Military Memorabilia
2. Artists In Cahoots
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Unique locally made fine arts & crafts. The oldest member run art gallery in Virginia. Opened in 1983.
Reviewed By ksbtherapist - Silver Spring, United States
Lovely collections of local artists' works at reasonable prices! The artists work at the shop themselves, so you may be able to meet the person who created the piece you just fell in love with. Delightful space to browse even if you aren't looking for buy, although if you are like me, you'll find unique gifts for any occasion, including a treat for yourself.
3. Earth, Fire, & Spirit Pottery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 28 reviews
Beautiful and unique pottery, jewelry, paintings, fine furniture, and metal work from 35+ local artists. The perfect one stop shopping for gifts for any occasion. Birthdays, Graduations, Weddings, Christmas, House Warming, you name it we have the right handmade item for it. We are second generation ceramic artists living and working in Lexington. Come check out what's new, hot out of the kiln.
Reviewed By johnsT8709FV - Mountain Home, United States
All I can say is wow walking among some great pieces of pottery making it so very hard to just walk away with just one work of art you will also find glassware, framed artwork, and more for all your gift-giving needs or just adding to your own personal collection.
4. Lee Chapel and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 537 reviews
Reviewed By snowtraveler49 - Memphis, United States
back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I had visited w/my mother & sister; this was my husband's 1st visit; I am distantly related to Robt E Lee & I met my husband when he was in Kappa Alpha (KA) Fraternity & I was a Little Sister @ a college in TN; KA was founded @ W&L, & Robt E Lee/Civil War figure largely into the traditions of the fraternity; the W&L campus is lovely (especially on a cloudy damp day w/fabulous fall color) & the Lee Chapel, though not overall grand, is striking when you enter & see the Recumbent Lee situated in the anteroom behind the platform/podium down front; our guide, Marie Shiraki, was SO knowledgeable & enthusiastic; we enjoyed the tour & also visiting w/her afterwards; the museum downstairs near the gift shop & actual Lee family crypt are interesting, & of course Lee's horse Traveler's grave site outside is a must glance; while anyone would surely be welcome, I doubt it would appeal to children unless they were old enough to have studied American/VA history pertaining to Washington & Lee/Civil War
5. Cyrus McCormick Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By karrrenbee - Fredericksburg, United States
We stopped here on a weekday morning because it looked interesting and was on our way home. There was one other family there when we arrived, and they were gone before we were done with our self-guided tour, so it was nice and quiet. It's a very low-key exhibit with a handful of buildings included, including a blacksmith shop, a grist mill and a water wheel, and a building that houses a small display with a model of the original reaper and some small model reapers, etc. The buildings are all kept up very nicely, with repairs done in an historically accurate fashion, and the surrounding area is pretty. There's a small picnic area near the pond that's on the grounds, which would be a very pleasant place to eat lunch. (The bathrooms next to the picnic area apparently close in the winter, though.) I'd definitely recommend this site. It was a relaxing stop with enough items of interest for everyone in our family, from our six-year-old to the adults. Even the kids who weren't as interested in the history of the Virginia reaper enjoyed crossing the bridges and looking at the water wheel. The tour is free and there's a small donation box in one of the buildings (mentioned only because I wish I had known that so I could have brought cash). It was chilly so we didn't go down the trail that's across the way, so I can't speak to that aspect of this site, but next time we're in the area I'd like to stop again and check it out.
6. Cabell Gallery of Virginia Art
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4 reviews
Good Art makes a Located in beautiful and and historic downtown Lexington Virginia, The Cabell Gallery focuses on fine art created by regional contemporary artists, both emerging and established. Our varied collection includes oil paintings, watercolors, clay works, furniture, jewelry,and art glass. Come see beautiful works of Virginia from Virginians. It's fine art in a comfortable atmosphere.
7. VMI Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By snowtraveler49 - Memphis, United States
I had visited late 1980s/early 1990s w/my sister & mother, but this was my husband's 1st visit; the museum has been expanded & improved from what I remember, though contents are not all new; there is a large firearms section my husband walked through that I skipped, but it would be of great interest to gun enthusiasts; the museum contents give insight into what it is like to be a VMI student & graduate, & show where some key graduates have gone & what they did as adults; @ both of my trips I was struck by the POW exhibit featuring James R Berger, who was a career Air Force man who recently died; he was a POW 2000+ days; the young pilot in training who was working in the gift shop was so enthusiastic & welcoming; the chapel upstairs in the same bldg & the courtyard outside are worth a glance; we saw no dedicated parking, but found a parallel parking space on the street near the Geo C Marshall Museum & walked over
