5 Best Places in Amherst, Virginia

Amherst County Virginia is in the Central part of Virginia at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Amherst Virginia has a few spots that my family loves to visit during the summer. It's fun to just get out and explore the county we have lived in all our lives. You'd be amazed at how many things you didn't know Amherst Virginia has until you explore it. I've found five places that I think anyone would love.

1 - Crabtree Falls has upper and lower falls. Its a great place for swimming in the lower falls. Getting to the lower falls you will walk five hundred feet, for the upper falls you walk two miles. It's a bit further for crabtree meadows which takes three miles of walking and the Appalachian trail takes 3.6 miles of walking. Better have your hiking boots on for these falls. There have been twenty three deaths at Crabtree Falls. The rocks are very wet and slippery due to plant growth and you need to stay to the trail for viewing the falls. Climbing on the rocks or trying to walk the rocks could cause your to slip and become injured or even fall to your death. Its a beautiful place but it can be dangerous. Crabtree Falls is located in Tyro Virginia just fifteen miles from Amherst.

2 - Peaks of Otteris a great place for fun and romance. There are six trails to choose from within the peaks and three more trails about eight miles away.The trails are steep and you can get short winded fairly quickly if you aren't in shape. Its a long hike to the top of the peaks but once you are up there the view is just breathtaking with views of trees and flowers for as far as the eyes can see. I have to admit its the perfect spot for a marriage proposal. There is also a bus that can drive you to the top if you don't want to take that long hike up the peaks. You can see for miles once you get to the top. In the fall the leaves on the tree are colorful and full of beauty. The peaks of Otter is located at mile post 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Peaks of Otter is open seven days a week until October 31, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3 - Mabry Mill is an awesome place to visit on Sundays when musicians and dancers perform. Singing songs from the past and present has never sounded better than hearing it here in a spot that is so calm. Its a perfect place for friends and family to take a mini vacation for a day. There is also a picnic area to have lunch and during summer months craft shows are done by local volunteers from National Park Service. There is a trail surrounding the mill with exhibits of the way life use to be in Virginia. The blacksmith shop has exhibits of how things use to be made by hand. Years ago when things were made like this it lasted a lot longer. Mabry Mill use to be a sawmill and gristmill. Many families come here just to get pictures of the mill because you just don't see things like this anymore. Mabry Mill is located at mile post 176.2 and open seven days a week until October 31, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4 - If you love to walk, jog or ride bicycles then Percival's Island is the place to go. The trail is one and a half miles long and worth the trip to visit. It runs along the James River so if you want to do some fishing bring a fishing pole and worms. Every time my family has walked the trail we have seen deer jump out from the edge of the woods as if we weren't there. The wildlife is not afraid of people along this trail. When you first enter the trail you walk across an old railroad bridge that crosses over the James River. There are areas along the trail that you can stop and rest or even eat a picnic lunch. There are a few trails that go off the main trail and they lead to some great fishing spots. Some of the biggest catfish have been reeled in from this area. Its truly nature at its best. Percival's Island is open from sunup to sundown seven days a week and is located at College Drive and Breckonbridge Street in Lynchburg Virginia.

5 - The James River is the perfect spot to float, raft or kayak. Amherst Virginia has a place called James River Float Companythat offers tubing and kayaking to guests. Renting tubes or kayaks is a great way to see the beauty of James River. For twenty dollars a person you can relax on tubes while chatting with friends and family. The tube trip has put in and take out points. You can have as many people as you like during the float down the James River. The more friends and family you have the more fun you can have. The James River Float Company has been making people happy for about three years now. They are open seven days a week and located at 122 Rock Hill Road Madison Heights, Virginia 24572.