When planning trips for 2021, don’t forget Machen Retreat! Besides the peacefulness of time in the mountains, Machen is only an hour away from several scenic towns that would make great day trips for you and your family and friends.

Downtown Lexington

Lexington, VA is located south of Machen, right down Rt 678 in the Shenandoah Valley. This beautiful, historic town is home to Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company. Both colleges have museums open to the public featuring an array of fascinating historical memorabilia (scenes from the film Gods and Generals were filmed on VMI campus!). Lexington has a variety of fun shops and galleries to explore mostly located in restored buildings dating back to the 1700’s. Meals can be a simple as grabbing a large pizza or calzone at Salerno or enjoying a fine dining experience at The Red Hen.

Natural Bridge

Additionally, one of Virginia’s earliest tourist attractions, Natural Bridge, is only twenty minutes from Lexington! Discover more things to do and places to explore at https://lexingtonvirginia.com/