Tucked away on Ashwood Park Road in Forest are The Shoppes at Ashwood, located in the historic Ashwood Manor and offering everything from Avon to Antiques.

For any history buffs out there, the land that Ashwood Manor stands on was once a part of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, gifted to his daughter Martha as part of her dowry.  The Shoppes at Ashwood provide a fun shopping experience in a unique setting, with a broad collection of new and used products including collectibles, gifts and gift baskets, books and children’s clothes. Be sure to visit the ladies boutique to sort through vintage clothing and accessories, shoes, designer labels and stylish jewelry. The historic mansion also houses a vast selection of home goods such as candles, rugs, furniture, paintings, photography and more. Bring your kids along and let them browse through the collection of toys, children’s books and dolls as you savor a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Shopping is not the only thing you can do at Ashwood Manor.  The shoppes also hold arts and crafts classes, including basic drawing, watercolors, mixed media and more and taught by talented art instructor Karen Mahanes.

Whether you’re looking to consign any gently used clothing, pick up a few new outfits for yourself or search for the perfect gift, The Shoppes at Ashwood provide a lovely escape from the everyday shopping experience.

The Shoppes at Ashwood are located at 1197 Ashwood Park Road and open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call them at 540-597-7396, find them on Facebook or visit them online to check for specials and events, like their upcoming wine festival!

Lots of Lynchburgers are taking advantage of this warm February weather by breaking out their sneakers and hiking boots to hit the trails at Blackwater Creek or mosey up a mountain for breathtaking views. For top-notch outdoor wear, gear and equipment, check out Outdoor Trails, Lynchburg’s premier outdoor equipment and clothier. Family-owned and operated since 1995, Outdoor Trails has locations in Lynchburg and Daleville, each offering a vast variety of hiking, climbing, backpacking,camping and canoeing gear and supplies.

The shop offers products by high-quality  brands like  Patagonia, Teva, Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Birkenstock, The North Face, Vasque, Merrel, Keen, Chaco, Osprey, Gregory, Petzl, Mad River Canoe and Cloudveil. Whether you’re a steady walker, fearless climber, hiker, camper or paddler you are sure to find the gear, clothing and accessories to fully prepare you for your next outing. Have little outdoor fanatics? Fit your kids in the finest gear with a large selection of youth and infant clothing and accessories. Find your inner ohm with the shop’s selection of yoga-wear, check out their travel section for the perfect luggage, or snag a deal on their 40-50% off sale rack.

Visit Outdoor Trail’s Lynchburg location in the Boonsboro Shopping Center and chat with their experienced staff about premier local hiking and camping spots, or pay some special attention to the shop’s loyal mascots, two perky pups named Gizmo and Tigger.

Outdoor Trails Lynchburg is located at 4925 Boonsboro Road. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For questions about products or outdoor opportunities in the area, give the shop a call at (434) 386-4302. Check out specials and sales at www.outdoortrails.com, and don’t forget to like them on Facebook!

“I love the relationships I get to build with the women who come to shop,” explains Montgomery, who has always been a fitness enthusiast. She opened the shop in August 2010 with the goal of providing comfortable, stylish clothing for women who lead active lifestyles. “Our clothes are really versatile and unique,” says Montgomery, who finds her products all over the country, from California to Canada. “We try to carry lines that you can’t find anywhere else around here.”

Lynchburg’s only exercise boutique, Shelly’s carries high-end activewear lines like Avani and Rese Pilates, offering a variety of tanks, tees, shorts, pants, sports bras and accessories. The merchandise at Shelly’s is not only for the avid exerciser; there is also a selection of comfortable loungewear and everyday wear perfect for hanging around the house or running errands.

With miles of scenic running and biking trails and hikes with breath-taking views of the Blue Ridge mountains, staying active in Lynchburg can be beautiful and fun. To help you look and feel your best while keeping fit and healthy, Shelly’s Women’s Activewear Boutique provides casual and workout wear suitable for walking, running, yoga and Pilates.

Shelly’s Women’s Activewear Boutique is located at 4119 Boonsboro Road, with hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Can’t make it into the shop? Browse Shelly’s online selection at www.Shellys-boutique.com, or call the store at 434-485-8222.

Ask any old-time Lynchburg local about the Dahlia, and you will get avarietyof responses, ranging from tales of barstool glory days to scrunched-face grimaces. “That was the type of place visited and didn’t tell your wife about,” notes one Lynchburg lifer.
Although the original Dahlia — first opened in 1947— was a staple of Lynchburg’s nightlife, it had the reputation of being a bit of a dive. The spot was closed in 2008 and spent a few years becoming a mossy Bedford Avenue eyesore. However, since being purchased by James West, owner of the neighboring Blue Marlin Seafood, the restaurant has been reopened and revamped.

Since its debut on Christmas Eve, the Dahlia has become a local hotspot. With a terrific feature in the Lynchburg News & Advance, the restaurant and bar has received even more traffic, from the working crowd dropping by for lunch to a rowdier bunch at night. With only eight tables and a handful of bar stools, the space is always packed and alive the buzz of laughter and conversation.

The Dahlia’s menu features unique choices ranging from Beer Cheese Soup to Organic Salmon, so whether you’re a lover of pub-grub, southern style fare (just what exactly is a hoe cake, anyways?) or high quality seafood, you are sure to find something appealing. With a fresh new face and glossy wood interior, the Dahlia is back in business and ready for action.

Stop by the Dahlia, located at 2221 Bedford Avenue, or them a call at (434) 846-0601.

Kasey Forehand was having lunch with her husband in November, 2009, when they decided that what Lynchburg really needed was a high quality lingerie shop. Flash forward to October, 2010 and the opening of Boudoir, a lingerie and sleepwear boutique located in the Boonsboro Shopping Center, 4925 Boonsboro Road .

“My goal for our selection is to have at least one thing for every possible kind of woman who could walk into the shop,” Forehand explains. From your typical black lace negligees and hosiery to cotton loungewear, shapewear and pajama sets, Boudoir covers a large range of style and taste.

While robes and pajama sets were best sellers over the holidays, Boudoir’s designer bras fly off the shelf faster than any product in the store, and with Valentine’s day just over a month away, Boudoir is already stocking up.  For the holiday, the boutique will be transformed into a one-stop-shop with fresh flowers, homemade chocolates and spa certificates to Bodyworks Day Spa and Salon. The shop will hold extended hours from Friday, February 11^th to Monday, February 14^th.

The boutique’s atmosphere is pure girl, from its hot pink and black décor to its plush sofas and a floor space just begging for a fashion show. Looking to spoil the special woman in your life, or searching for the perfect location for your next girly pow-wow? Boudoir After-Hours, the shops private event service, allows you to host your next bridal shower, baby shower, lingerie shower, private fitting or girl’s night out at the boutique. You can choose from pre-packaged events or pick options a la carte, from sweet treats to champagne and photo packages.

The shop holds hours Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call them at 434-384-2722, visit them online, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @votreboudoir.

There are a lot of different things about Lynchburg that a lot of people don’t know about. A lot of people have lived here their whole lives and don’t know some of Lynchburg’s Best Kept secrets.

One of these secrets is the tunnels in Downtown Lynchburg. There is an old tunnel underneath Jefferson Street near Amazement Square. Many people pass through here every day, but very few have noticed this. The tunnel has been filled in.

There is so much history here and we still have old buildings and old tunnels from the past. There are places, such as Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, and history from the Battle of Lynchburg during the US Civil War. There’s so much to discover and explore!

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Are you looking for something fun and exciting to do in Lynchburg this summer? Come try Rise Up Climbing. It’s an indoor climbing gym in Lynchburg that has a lot of different programs going on such as summer camps, events, open climb, basic skills classes, birthday parties, private groups and much more!

The summer camps are for kids ages 9-14, and it will be a great experience. These kids will learn climbing,  and how to do basic movements and turns through climbing. Not only will they learn a lot about climbing, but they will learn about more important life lessons, such as team building, respect for teammates, and other such things that kids learn through sports.

The summer camps are a great way to get your kids off the couch and having them stay active, athletic, and involved. It will also be educational and they will learn different basic things about geology. So come, get ready for the fun! It’s going to be a great summer at Rise Up Climbing.

The three sessions are from July 12-16; July 26-30, and August 9-13 and you can register your child online at http://riseupclimbing.com/index.php/summer_camp/ . It’s a day camp that goes from 9:00-3:00 and is $190 per session. Members of Rise Up Climbing will have $20 discounted off the original price and siblings will have $25 discounted as well.

There will also be fun events going on this summer. The next event is Get Outdoors 3: New River Weekend, which will be June 19-20th. This place has some of the best stone in the country and it will be a fun trip!

There are also open climb classes Friday 4-7 and Saturday 2-4. There is no pre-registration and it costs $4. There are staff there who help you learn how to climb and help those who are new.

The basic skills classes are Mondays and Fridays 7-9 and Saturdays 1-3. Pre-registration is needed for these classes and you must be at least 14 years of age. These classes teach you the safety that you will need when climbing on your own. You will learn how to put on a harness, tie yourself into a rope, and belay for a partner. These classes are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

Does your child have a birthday coming up? Rise Up Climbing has fun birthday parties, so come celebrate.  It will be a lot of fun where the kids can climb in the gym and afterwards play in the party room. The invitations can even be downloaded online. You need to pre-register to have a birthday party and the cost is $18 for members and $20 for non-members. So come, and have fun!

Do you want to meet here after a business meeting? Are you looking for something to do with a group of your friends? Whether kid, teen, or adult, Rise Up Climbing has private groups, where the staff can teach you the skills you are learning, or can teach you how to climb.  Pre-registration is needed and the group needs to be at least 6 people.

It’s important for kids to stay active and stay healthy and Rise Up Climbing can not only accomplish that, but can make it fun for kids to learn how to climb. This is an opportunity for kids to learn a new sport and to have fun. Their location is 1225 Church St. Lynchburg, VA 24504 and their phone number is (434) 845-7625. So, come and try it out today!

I visited Isabella’s this Sunday (4/19) with three of my friends. The first thing that struck me was the homage to the old Isabella’s in the Vestibule – the walls were yellow and the painting of Isabella hung on the wall. However, this is the ONLY remembrance of the past. The new restaurant is chic, metro, funky, and very sleek. It is decorated in muted grays with minimal decor. There is a great lounge section with funky Zebra stools in the bar area. There is a back room with a fireplace that can be curtained off for private parties. And the best part is that they kept the old Meriwether’s bar which keeps the place feeling like home to those of us who miss it.

Okay – on to the really good stuff. Besides having excellent service, we were treated to some culinary delights that will keep this self-proclaimed culinary snob coming back for more.

Our first course was a little decadent for a Sunday afternoon, but we wanted to celebrate and decided to start with cocktails. Anyone who has been to Isabella’s before knows that they offer amazing Bellinis and this was the perfect way to start our brunch.

Of the four of us who ate, three ordered the Italian Eggs Benedict served on Rosemary Focaccia, with Pancetta, spinach, and a basil hollandaise. I LOVE eggs Benedict and this one ties for my most favorite EVER. The bread was nice and crusty, the pancetta added the perfect balance of salt, the eggs were cooked to perfection, and the hollandaise was light with a subtle hint of basil. We all cleaned our plates!

One guest got the Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes and I can happily report that these are not your Mother’s pancakes. They were huge, fluffy, loaded with blueberries and yummy!

Reviews of Isabella’s Italian Trattoria:

http://www.10best.com/

http://www.yelp.com/