Lexington, VA | Travel Guide

Seven years after graduating, I returned to this small town—so I thought I’d write a travel guide for it 🧭! 📖 Background Lexington was a key stronghold for the South during the Civil War. Established in 1778, it was named in honor of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War (fought in Lexington, Massachusetts). Important note: This is NOT the Lexington where the “first shot heard round the world” was fired—don’t mix them up! A century later, the town still preserves many historic buildings and monuments to historical figures. You’ll even see some houses flying the Confederate flag. The local permanent population is around 3,000 people. It’s a very white, very conservative (politically “red”) area. When I was a student here, my class had 400 people—only 40 were non-white, and there were just 2 Chinese students (including me) in my year. As an Asian person, I never experienced racism during my four years here—but my Black roommate did. That said, Southerners are famous for their hospitality, so travelers don’t need to worry too much 😊. 👗 What to Wear Southern-style clothing often includes colorful dresses, known as “Prep style.” Popular brands include Lily Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines. Cowboy boots are also a cool, iconic choice 🤠. Many of my female classmates grew up in families that owned horses (real horses 🐎—not Hermès “Horses” bags, just to be clear!). 🍚 Where to Eat Here are the must-tries (and some realities about the food scene): Palms: Their chicken wings are a must-eat 🍗—locals rave about them! Sweet Treats: Great for burgers (simple but tasty). Napa Thai: Try their Pad Thai (it’s as good as it gets in town). Haywoods: A solid spot for steak 🥩. Sushi Matsumoto: Their lunch bento boxes are convenient and satisfying 🍱. The Bistro: Good for seafood if you’re craving it. Hard truth: This town is a “desert” for authentic Chinese food—there are no good Chinese restaurants here. Even the Japanese and Thai spots I mentioned aren’t fully authentic. If you’re living here long-term, you’ll either get used to “white people food” 💪 or learn to cook for yourself. But for a short trip, the spots above will do just fine! 🏨 Where to Stay The Georges: A local hotel on Main Street, built in 2014—but the building itself is a 19th-century historic structure. I haven’t stayed here yet, so I’m looking forward to someone sharing a review! Hilton: There’s a Hilton on the edge of town, but no Marriott hotels here—choices are limited. 🚗 Getting Around Best option: Drive yourself. This town has no airport or train station—it’s pretty isolated (in a charming, small-town way) 🚙. Public transit: There’s only one daily bus from D.C., and it takes 4-5 hours to arrive. Nearest airports: Roanoke or Charlottesville (home of UVA)—both are about a 1-hour drive away. Downtown itself is just one main street and a few cross streets—you can walk the whole thing in an hour max. But it’s worth exploring! The small shops here sell works by local artists, each with a unique style—you won’t find these items anywhere else outside the town 🎨. 📍 Key Spots to Visit Washington and Lee University: The 9th oldest university in the U.S. (Fun fact: Since I refused to donate after graduating, its liberal arts college ranking has dropped out of the top 10—oops 😂.) The campus buildings are open to the public during the day, so feel free to wander. VMI (Virginia Military Institute): Also located here, but some areas are not open to tourists—stick to the public zones. #OffTheBeatenPathTravel