Big Spring in located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Most of you know that the property is surrounded by mountain views and green pastures. But what you may not have heard about is how great Lexington and Rockbridge County truly are. We found a gem when we moved here. We love it so much that we’re regularly trying to convince all our friends to move here too! And we’ve gotten pretty close so far!
Today is the first of many show casing our favorite small town in a new blog series called, Big Spring’s Backyard. There is so much to offer here, great food, beautiful views, local beer, historical sites and more! We’ll be sharing some of our favorite things about Lexington and Rockbridge County that will make you never want to leave!
First, we want to start with our county’s namesake, Natural Bridge. Only 20 minutes from main street Lexington, the state park is located in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Tourists travel from far and wide to see this natural wonder that’s located right in our back yard!
The history of the bridge is fascinating. The legend of the Monocan Indians claims that the bridge appeared just as they needed it to escape from their enemy, calling it a miracle. It is believed that George Washington surveyed the land for Lord Fairfax in the 1750s. If you look closely, you can even see the initials GW carved on rock under the bridge. Furthermore, the bridge was owned by Thomas Jefferson until his heirs sold it in the 1800s!
This park makes a great morning trip. Once you arrive, the bridge is only a short declining walk down to the river bed that flows under the huge stone arch. The park also includes Cedar Creek trail, a short 1 mile walk through the bridge. Stop and learn about Native American life at the Monocan Village, admire the creek, caves, and finish at Lace Falls. End the morning with lunch and you have yourself a beautiful day trip. Natural Bridge is the perfect activity for out of town guests, or to experience together as a newly married couple following your big day!
You’ve got to check out this Wonder of the World for yourself!! In the meantime, enjoy some of our pictures from our latest visit!
