What is your favorite thing about springtime? I love the beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs that begin to appear during March and continue into early summer. From crocuses, daffodils and tulips to azaleas, forsythia, and blooming trees of many varieties, the splendor of springtime is wonderful for all to see.
This photo is from the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., one of the most beautiful places there is in the spring. But you don't have to travel out of town to enjoy the colors of spring. Dogwoods will be in bloom on Fort Avenue and on Main Street. Riverside Park will be filled with many blooming cherry trees.
Check out the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid event calendar any time for all of the best local events. Find 25 Amazing Family Photo Shoot Locations in Lynchburg and Central VA on our website.
Here are some beautiful places to Find Your Family Fun® during springtime in the Lynchburg area:
Local Gardens
The Awareness Garden is located at 1700 Old Langhorne Road at the Ed Page Entrance to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway. This garden, honoring families, friends and caregivers whose lives have been touched by cancer, includes a memorial brick patio, a lovely fountain, and a variety of flowers and flowering trees and shrubs that provide splashes of color from early spring through late fall. The Spring Brick Dedication Ceremony takes place in mid-May.
Old City Cemetery is located at 401 Taylor Street, just off 5th Street. The 26-acre public cemetery features hundreds of plantings, including a butterfly garden and lotus pond, shrub garden and a wonderful collection of antique heritage roses. Near the chapel, there's an old-fashioned swing that's perfect for family photos. Each spring, Old City Cemetery hosts the Antique Rose Festival in May.
The Dorothy Crandall Bliss Botanic Garden at Randolph College is a hidden gem, located at 2500 Rivermont Avenue. The plants in the hillside garden are labeled. There's a peaceful pond and benches as well as a winding path through the gardens. Park on Rivermont Avenue and walk down Norfolk Avenue and you'll see the garden gates across the street from Rivermont Pizza.
The Anne Spencer House and Garden is located at 1313 Pierce Street. Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer lived in the house with her husband. Edenkraal, the garden cottage, served as Anne Spencer's writing retreat. Plantings line the fences around the garden and pond. The roses are especially lovely during late spring and early summer.
Riverside Park is located at 2238 Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg. Riverside Park has over 49 acres of rolling parkland with lovely stands of trees and walking trails, both paved and wooded. The cherry trees are especially beautiful in early spring. Be sure to visit the Miller-Claytor House garden, located near the Sprayground and Playcore playground area.
Wharton Garden is located in the heart of Bedford between Robinson Way and North Bridge Street, beside the Bower Center For the Arts. Kids of all ages will love the children's Storybook Garden, featuring vignettes from children's literature. Your littles will also enjoy the Turtle Climber, Log Roll, Mushrooms, See Saw, Chess and Checkerboard, resting at the Fun Table, playing in the playhouse, walking along the reading walk while reading the monthly Storybook, and learning from the Pollinator Garden.
The National D-Day Memorial is located at 3 Overlord Circle in Bedford, up the hill from the Bedford Visitor Center. There are many plantings and gardens throughout the grounds of the Memorial.
A springtime walk along Rivermont Avenue is a great way to spend time outdoors. Park at Riverside Park, along Rivermont Avenue, or at Virginia Baptist Hospital and enjoy a stroll on The Avenue with the family.
Take a walk in Downtown Lynchburg. Whether you walk along the Bluffwalk between Jefferson and Commerce Streets, take a stroll on Main Street, or explore Monument Terrace at 9th and Court Streets, there are many spring flowers to see along the way. Be sure to bring your phone or camera along for some great selfies of the family enjoying nature!
Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway and stop along the way for photos or to share a picnic lunch. Check out our guide to Hiking Off the Blue Ridge Parkway for family-friendly hikes to enjoy in any season.
Historic Garden Week in Virginia
Historic Garden Week takes place the week of April 20-27, 2024 throughout Virginia. Historic Garden Week celebrated 90 years of tours in 2023. Visit the website to see Garden Week tours available throughout Virginia.
Garden Day in Lynchburg takes place on Tuesday, April 23 from 10 AM - 5 PM. Hosted by Hillside Garden Club and Lynchburg Garden Club, you can purchase advance tickets at the website to visit local homes and gardens in Lynchburg.
Road Trip Gardens
Maymont is a 100-acre historic estate and park, located at 1000 Westover Road in Richmond. In addition to the gardens, visitors can tour Maymont Mansion during some times of the year. Maymont Farm and the outdoor wildlife habitats are very popular with families too.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Richmond. Lewis Ginter is one of the top gardens in the U.S. with more than 50 acres of themed gardens, including a Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Asian Valley, and Cherry Tree Walk. In addition to springtime, we love to visit Lewis Ginter for the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights during the holidays.
U.S. National Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue, NE in Washington, DC. This huge collection of gardens spans 451 acres with almost 10 miles or roadways winding through the gardens. Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress. The Arboretum is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and sees over 600,000 visitors every year. The azalea garden is our favorite, but there are numerous other gardens and collections.
United States Botanic Garden is located at 100 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, DC. It's worth a road trip to visit this garden in any season, but it's especially beautiful in springtime. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is the oldest continuously operating botanic garden in the United States. There are thousands of plants to see and the indoor Conservatory is absolutely breathtaking in the spring.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Washington, DC from March 20 through April 14, 2024. The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are stunning during early spring, but it's tricky to get there at just the right time. You can follow the Cherry Blossom Watch Facebook page or the National Park Service's website for updates about projected peak bloom dates.
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