located in the eastern part of Bedford
County. Named as one of Virginia’s top
10 attractions by readers of USA Today,
Poplar Forest was built in a grove of poplar
trees, and the octagonal house offers
great insight into the private side of this
extraordinary Founding Father. Guided
tours are available, and special events
are held throughout the year. Please visit
www.poplarforest.org for more
information.
Bedford County has more mileage along
the Blue Ridge Parkway than any county
in Virginia. With multiple exits from the
Parkway into Bedford, it is easy to explore
the Bedford Wine Trail, apple and peach
orchards, local artisan studios, as well as
25+ trails for hiking, biking, wildlife, and
horseback riding. You will need more than
a day to experience it all, so be sure to check
out the many different lodging options that
Bedford has to offer.
Start your visit at the Bedford Area
Welcome Center. From the Shenandoah
Valley, take exit 150A from I-81 to Route
460 east. The Welcome Center is located at
816 Burks Hill Road (Rt. 460 at Rt. 122).
You can also call 540-587-5681 or go to
www.destinationbedfordva.com. The
Welcome Center is open daily 9 a.m. – 5
p.m. (closed some holidays) and offers
free coffee and Wi-Fi, restrooms, a gift
shop, firefighter exhibit, RV parking,
picnic tables, electric car charging station,
and information about exploring the
area. Visitors can also purchase tickets to
the National D-Day Memorial inside the
Welcome Center, and take a photo with the
LOVE sign!
By Nicole Johnson
Spring 2020 | www.shenandoahvalleyguide.c com 45
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