5 minute read
A Dining Getaway In Lynchburg
By Kandy Derden. Seasonal Eatings Managing Editor.
My first visit to Lynchburg was when I was in high school. My parents invited my grandmother along so I wasn’t given any input on where to go, what to do or who to see. Fast forward 50 years. This time things were different. I still didn’t have much say in what we did or where we went. However, it didn’t matter because my traveling companions enjoy all the same things I like.
We stayed at the Craddock Terry Hotel, a unique destination because it is housed in a former shoe factory. The rooms have been refurbished into homey suites with large bathrooms and lots of details to make your stay enjoyable.
Let’s start with breakfast. As a guest you may make your breakfast selection from the choices given and have it delivered to your door first thing in the morning. It comes in a rather unique container. Since the entire place is based on the shoemaking theme, there is a shoeshine box in each room. Leave it outside your door at night and they will deliver your Shoeshine Box Breakfast via the same container. We had a yummy muffin, fresh fruit and juice the first two days.
On day three we opted for something different because, well, who doesn’t love fresh, hot cinnamon rolls for breakfast? No one I know. We love them but not just for breakfast. We’ll eat them any time we can, which is most any time of day. On occasion I’ve made them in the afternoon in preparation for the next morning. For some reason someone always manages to convince me we should do some ‘quality control’ before then.
Such was the case while visiting Lynchburg. Adjacent to our hotel was a shop called Cinn City. I stopped in around 2 p.m. and purchased some wonderful smelling cinnamon rolls straight from the oven. I didn’t even try to resist them. Fortunately, I picked up extras so we still had some for breakfast the next day. They were still just as good as the afternoon before. The same can be said for the next day also. Day three the same. Ready for this? The last two were eaten four days after purchase and by warming them slightly in the microwave, they were just as soft and gooey as day one. As a disclaimer I should point out that the sales clerk told me it would work best for reheating if we left the icing off. She was right. I added a bit of butter on top, popped them in the microwave and then added the glaze, allowing it to ooze into every cinnamon crevice. Delish! It would have been worth the trip to Lynchburg just for that.
But wait, there’s more!
Our hotel offers bicycles for those who wish to ride through the area. There is a lovely, paved trail suitable for cycling, skateboarding, scooters, jogging or simply walking.
This hotel is also an excellent spot for large groups. There was a wedding on the premises the day we arrived, but there was still ample parking. An employee was stationed nearby to assist guests by providing information, directions or help with carrying gifts and packages to the wedding venue or luggage to hotel guest rooms. Even with a party in full swing, our rooms were quiet and comfortable.
For lunch one day we visited Waterstone Pizza, a restaurant in the hotel. Rather than pizza, we opted for sandwiches which were served with some of the best French fries I’ve eaten. One member of our party ordered an Italian Sub with a variety of meats and toppings. Another enjoyed Waterstone Scampi while I stuck with something a bit more traditional. I had a chicken parmesan sandwich.
Shopping for souvenirs can be time consuming if you don’t really know what you want. It can take even more time is you do know what you are looking for but can’t find it. For example, over the years, my souvenir shopping has been reduced to three things: a deck of cards decorated to represent the region, a glass paperweight for my collection and/or a refrigerator magnet. We never saw playing cards at any of our stops, paperweights get heavy and are bulky to wrap for travel protection. So this trip was all about magnets.
I found a lovely shop close to our hotel and had a very nice chat with the owner while making my selections. In addition to a representative magnet, I found some lovely items to use as prizes for our recipe contest in our sister magazine, Seasonal Eatings. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to visit Accents, home of Great Gifts and Home Décor.
One evening during our stay, we ate at Shoemakers American Grille. Like Waterstone Pizza, this restaurant is located within the hotel building. Experience fine dining with a unique selection of appetizers, an exclusive wine list and great entrees. We each had steak, although each was different. One chose ribeye, another a NY strip and I opted for the filet mignon. Each was prepared beautifully seasoned with a delicious garlic butter and attractive sides.
Our biggest dilemma was making a decision regarding dessert. With the server’s help, we finally chose a local specialty called Derby Pie. They started with a basic pecan pie but made it better by adding bourbon and chocolate chips inside. Then they added a topping with a vanilla sauce very similar to ice cream. Just when you think some things can’t be improved upon, they come up with something which makes a classic dish even better!
