1. Liberty Flames Pride Burns So Bright It Could Melt Your Face Off
Lynchburg's Liberty University has a top-notch NCAA Division I athletics department with the Liberty Flames. The sports program is so crazy good, the school regularly competes for—and wins—the Sasser Cup, given to the university with the best sports program in the whole Big South Conference.
2. Lynchburg Has A Drinking Club With A Running Problem
Sure, there are running teams and major athletic programs, but sometimes Lynchburg locals just want to run for fun. Enter: The Seven Hills Hash House Harriers, the international group's local chapter of non-competitive social—and yes, okay, drinking—clubs that also happen to enjoy running and other activities.
3. Lynchburg Locals Love Boating On Virginia's Largest Lake
Smith Mountain Lake is the biggest lake that is entirely within the borders of the state of Virginia, with more than 500 miles of shoreline. Locals snap up most of that shoreline when the temperatures start to rise.
4. Wile E. Coyote Couldn't Stop These Guys
The Lynchburg Road Runners Club puts on themed races throughout the year, including the Jingle Ball Run. And while they love to run for fun, even better is that they support local and national charities with their races.
5. People From Lynchburg Never Have Unsatisfied Taste Buds
It's not just barbecue in Lynchburg. Check out the Muse Coffee and Roastery for lunch paninis and a latte, the Texas Inn for diner food, Dish for tapas, Rivermont Pizza for a slice, or—if you're feeling fancy—Shoemakers American Grill for, well, a really nice date.
6. Everybody Has An Opinion About Phase 2
Love it or lovingly hate it, most Lynchburg locals have an opinion on Phase 2 Dining & Entertainment, as it’s the city's only major club-style concert venue, and it attracts national bands and recording artists to its stage.
7. You're Gonna Need A Lot Of Napkins
Lynchburg loves its barbecue, particularly from places like Pok-E-Joe’s, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, and True Blue BBQ. The only problem is how to best clean your hands afterward.
8. Springtime Is Hillcats Time
The Lynchburg Hillcats Class High-A baseball team are seriously good, and while locals show their support at all home games at Calvin Falwell Field, the mascot Southpaw returns the love throughout the year at community events.
9. (Lynchburg,) Virginia Is For Lovers
"LOVE" artworks pop up all over Virginia, but the one in Lynchburg on the James River Heritage Trail is totally unique. The LOVE sign stands for all of the outdoor activities locals and visitors can experience in Lynchburg, such as bicycle wheels for all its trails and canoe paddles for its boating.
10. What, You've Never Heard Of A Batteau?
First of all, batteaux are 18th and 19th century cargo boats. Second of all, Lynchburg locals and visitors dress in traditional garb of that time period and take an eight-day journey down the James River from Lynchburg to celebrate their history, sponsored by the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society.
Third of all, it is awesome.
11. Lynchburg’s Farmers’ Market Is Historic, But The Food Is Super Fresh
The Lynchburg Community Market is one of the oldest (and best) farmers’ markets in the entire United States. And no worries, it's open year-round, so you'll always be able to get fresh produce, crafts, antiques, and so much more.
12. Wedding Proposals In A Cemetery? Not Weird In Lynchburg
Lynchburg's Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum is one seriously gorgeous cemetery. So much so, that it’s a popular spot for local couples to get engaged. It's the most visited historic site in the city and its only public burial ground.
13. Lynchburg Is So Academic It’s A Wonder It Doesn’t Explode From All The Brainpower
There are not one, not two, but—count them—six colleges and universities in Lynchburg: Central Virginia Community College, Liberty University, Lynchburg College, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, and Virginia University of Lynchburg. Whew, that's a lot of brainpower for one community.
14. Lynchburg Is Basically A Living History Book And A Half
If you're talking U.S. history, Lynchburg is certainly the place to be. It's home to more than 40 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and inside the Lynchburg Museum System, locals and visitors can revisit the city's past of tobacco farming, Quakers, and the Civil War.
15. Try To Find Better Views Than This Picturesque Spot, We Dare You
The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks that you can see throughout Lynchburg. But at the top of these peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the real view.
16. You Can Thank Lynchburg For Tomatoes
It's hard to imagine, but once upon a time, people thought that tomatoes were just poisonous apples. At the Miller-Claytor House in Lynchburg, legend has it that Thomas Jefferson proved everyone wrong by taking a huge bite out of a tomato growing in the garden. You can visit the dismantled house now at its Riverside Park location.
17. Are Your Feet Getting Tired? There's A Reason
If walking around Lynchburg all day has your feet tired, it's because the city is known as the "City of Seven Hills," or "The Hill City"—so yes, it has a lot of ups and downs.
18. From Poets To Actors, Lynchburg Raises Stars
American poet Anne Spencer, who was a crucial voice during the Harlem Renaissance and the first black woman to have her works in the “Norton Anthology of American Poetry,” was born in Lynchburg. Actor Dylan Baker, known for his roles on “The Good Wife” and in “Spiderman 2;” actress Connie Britton, known for “Nashville” and “Friday Night Lights;” and Skeet Ulrich of “Scream” fame were all either born or raised in Lynchburg.
19. You Can't Put A Price On Art This Fine
Lynchburg is truly committed to promoting fine art in its community with the Academy of Fine Arts, a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for education in the arts. Dance, theatre, and visual arts can all be seen in the historical Academy of Music Theatre and its complex.
20. It’s Impossible Not To Be Super Fashionable In This City
With all of these incredible women's fashion boutiques in town, it'd be hard not to look drop-dead gorgeous every day of the week. There's Bittersweet Clothing and Accessories, Penelope, and Gladiola Girls, so just try not to spend your entire paycheck.
21. Lynchburg’s Got The Longest (And Prettiest) Waterfall East of The Mississippi
Crabtree Falls holds the record for the longest waterfall this side of the Mississippi with five cascades, but that's not what makes it so great. As a bonus: It's stunning, and you can get right up close.
22. This Children's Museum Isn't Just For, Well, Children
Lynchburg likes its children's museums to be hands-on, and Amazement Square gets kids right up into the action. But no, it's not just for kids. The museum hosts Museum After Dark nights where the parents get to have as much fun as their children do.
23. In Lynchburg, It’s Not Fun Unless It’s A “Sprayground”
Yes, you heard everyone correctly. It's not the Riverside Park Playground, it's the Riverside Park Sprayground. And this little waterpark is as amazing as it sounds.
24. This Zone Is Chock Full Of Nature
Want to get right up and touch wild animals? The Nature Zone in Lynchburg is where you need to be. But it's not just some zoo; the Nature Zone's mission is to foster awareness and understanding of the environment and the animals that live in it.
25. On Saturdays, You Can Find Locals In The Cemetery
The Old City Cemetery hosts a weekly event every summer Saturday, where people can visit the historical grounds for a walking tour, as guides highlight the location's history and unique flora and fauna. And in October, the cemetery hosts haunting Candlelight Tours.
26. That's No Greek Temple
One of Lynchburg's most famous historic landmarks is the Old Court House that is perched high above the James River. Though it's no longer a courthouse the building, modeled after a Greek temple, now houses a museum on the city’s history, and quite an impressive one at that.
27. This City Is Hiking Heaven On Steroids
There are so many great hiking trails in Lynchburg, it would be hard to count them all. But suffice to say, you'll get your workout while seeing some seriously incredible sights along the Appalachian Trail, Apple Orchard Trail, Sharp Top, and Otter Creek Trail, just to name a few.
28. This Doughboy Isn't Pillsbury
One of the most recognizable landmarks in Lynchburg is The Listening Post, or as locals know it, "Doughboy." The statue is memorializing World War I and holds an important place in Lynchburg culture and history.
29. Unfortunately, You Can't Live In This Gorgeous Mansion
The Federal-era mansion in Lynchburg known as Point of Honor is stunning, but it's also famous as the former residence of Dr. George Cabell Sr. Need to catch up on your U.S. history? He's the doctor of patriot Patrick Henry of "Give me liberty or give me death" fame.
30. Get Up And Get!Downtown
Lynchburg's huge annual Get!Downtown festival is a doozie. To celebrate the return of college students, Downtown Lynchburg hosts a massive party on Main Street, and everyone comes out to party.
What do you love about living in Lynchburg? Leave a comment and let us know! 
