Lexington, Buena Vista, and surrounding Rockbridge County offer numerous attractions for people of all ages. In addition to the cultural, athletic, and other activities offered by the three colleges, attractions include the Virginia Horse Center, trails and vistas along mountain streams and the spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway, antique shopping, and visits to the area's numerous historic sites. The area is easily reached by Interstate Highways 64 and 81 as well as U.S. Routes 60 and 11. Nearby towns with points of interest are Staunton, Waynesboro, Roanoke, and Clifton Forge.

The Virginia Horse Center
is a comprehensive facility for all equine disciplines and breeds at the regional, national and international levels. The Center offers a beautiful 600+ acre complex which can board up to 700 horses. Two cross-country courses host events through Intermediate level. Major events at the coliseum can accommodate over 4000 spectators.

Washington & Lee University was founded in 1749. It is a four-year liberal arts college with a well respected law school. George Washington endowed the school with 100 shares of James River Company stock in 1796. This gift saved the school from closing. Robert E. Lee became president of the college after the Civil War in 1865.

Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839, is the oldest state supported military college in the nation. Its mission is to provide an undergraduate educational program of the highest quality within a military environment.

The Chessie Trail - The Chessie Trail lies along the right of way formerly occupied by the C& O rail tracks that connected Lexington with the main line near Buena Vista. In August of 1969 hurricane Agnes dumped over twenty inches of rain in the Valley; as the Maury River rose the raging waters destroyed the railway bridge at East Lexington just downstream of the dam and ripped up most of the tracks. The C & O decided to abandon the right of way and agreed to give it to the Nature Conservancy which in turn deeded the land to VMI with the understanding that the trail would remain open to the public.

The Blue Ridge Parkway
is a 469 mile recreational motor road that connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks while protecting the cultural and natural features of the region. Designed as a "scenic drive", the Parkway provides both stunning scenery and close-up looks at the natural and cultural history of the mountains.

Fishing On the Maury River - The Maury is excellent for float fishing from Rockbridge Baths downstream to Glasgow. There are public access spots at various parks and waysides for cartop boats and canoes if desired. Excellent smallmouth and sunfish fishing can be enjoyed only yards from the cabin. The dam at Lexington has excellent smallmouth bass, rock bass, and redbreast sunfish opportunities.

Hiking The Appalachian Trail - The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,167-mile (3,488 km) footpath along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in north Georgia. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is used by day, weekend and other short-term hikers, section hikers and thru-hikers. Thru-hikers hike the entire length of the Trail in one season.