If you’re coming “back to school” to visit a child or attend a sporting event in Farmville, you have many options when it comes to exploring all that there is to offer. We’ve rounded up a few suggestions. Perfect for enjoying on your own or with your new freshman, these ideas will take you all over town for adventure and fun.
Take a walk in the park
Sarah Terry Trail: a scenic spot for a 1.6-mile hike or run around Wilck’s Lake including six exercise stations. As an added bonus there’s a skate park, picnic area and two playgrounds nearby.
High Bridge Trail State Park: a hike back in time featuring the 2,400-foot-long railroad bridge that figured prominently in the last battle of the Civil War. Biking on the trail’s also encouraged, and rentals are available at the Outdoor Adventure Store in downtown Farmville.
Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park: site of the final battle of the Civil War on April 6, 1865. Tours of the Overton-Hillsman House that served as a hospital during the battle can also be arranged.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park: experience the final chapter of the Civil War at this nearby national park. Most buildings are original and have been restored as they were on April 9, 1865. The American Civil War Museum is also located in Appomattox.
For more contemporary history there’s the Robert Russa Moton High School, now the Robert Russa Moton Museum and a National Historic Landmark. It’s considered the student birthplace of America’s Civil Rights Revolution.
Stroll downtown
Put your shopping shoes on and visit downtown Farmville. Start with Green Front Furniture, which features 12 buildings including three renovated 1840s tobacco warehouses. Every building’s stocked with fine furnishings, rugs, imports and accessories.
If art’s your vibe, pick up a handcrafted gift or take a class at Mainly
Clay or Red Door 104, then take in an exhibit at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts.
For the latest in trendy fashions, the place to go is Penelopes on Main Street. If you like retro, don’t miss Mottley’s Emporium or hunt for vintage gift at the Funky Flamingo.
Wine and dine
When you’re ready to relax in a scenic spot with a glass or two of wine The Virginia Tasting Cellar has it all. Or you could enjoy live music, chic decor and more at North Street Press Club. Make it a night on the town at the Hotel Weyanoke’s Catbird Rooftop Bar. Enjoy a panoramic views of Farmville while sipping handcrafted cocktails, craft beer or wine.
On Main Street you can experience a trip down memory lane or the latest in Tex-Mex cuisine. You won’t want to miss the 1950s-era charm of Walker’s Diner where home-cooked meals are the order of the day, or for Tex-Mex with a twist, check out One19’s tastefully off-center approach. When you’re ready for a specialty coffee or tasty sandwich or salad, Uptown Coffee Café can’t be beat.
Walk through history
Enjoy an authentic stroll through history on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College or Longwood University.
Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney’s the oldest privately chartered college in the southern United States. Patrick Henry and James Madison were among its first trustees.
Established in 1839, Longwood is the third-oldest public university in Virginia and one of the hundred oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. It was from this campus that students watched General Grant’s forces pursue Confederate troops through town on the way to Appomattox.