Gaggles of girlfriends have flocked to the Sex and The City movie since its debut last weekend. They've reconnected with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, like it was just yesterday…and it’s been fabulous!
Does all the girl talk make you want get together with your own girlfriends for conversation, Cosmopolitans, shoe shopping, and pampering? The Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia is a shoe-inn - literally - a boutique hotel renovated from old shoe factories in the city that was once the fifth largest shoe producer in the world. It's the perfect spot for you and your “sole-mates.”
The Shoe Fits Today's Downtown
Lynchburg has long conjured images of wholesomeness, scenic beauty and the Moral Majority (it was the home of Jerry Falwell until his death last year). Today we see the sexy red pump that adorns the newly opened Craddock Terry Hotel, a luxury inn that fills the fantasy of any shoe lover or savvy traveler.
The hotel was conceived by Lynchburg architects Hal Craddock and Lynn Cunningham who resurrected the old factories into a truly unique architectural showcase.
“Some of the floors had dropped 18 inches,” says Craddock, whose vision for the abandoned buildings has finally come to fruition. Craddock actually worked for his father in the factories when he was growing up.
The small lobby appears larger with its high ceiling, exposed brick, large wooden beams and windows. Here guests gather for wine and cheese in the late afternoon and can peruse historical footwear from the bygone era of the Craddock Shoe Corporation.
Upon check-in guests are led to one of 44 unique rooms that combine the urban history and modern styling of this eclectic hotel. From high heels to athletic shoes to hunting boots, local artist Michael Twery has designed 44 unique shoes that hang on each guestroom door. Exposed brick and faux leather wallpaper within each guestroom make one's hotel stay truly special, as do the comfortable, yet chic furnishings: classic American, updated with European custom fabrics and leather. The shoe motif plays out throughout the hotel but isn't overdone. Several pieces of artwork are made from actual shoebox tops.
Chicken Soup for the Sole
Shoemaker's Restaurant has become a popular destination for locals as well as travelers. The hotel's more formal restaurant, Shoemaker's is known for its surf and turf, but my friends and I swear by the chocolate martinis and crab cakes (having lived in Maryland five years, I know a good crab cake). One of my friends has been known to drive thirty miles for the macaroni & Gruyere and white cheddar cheese - the ultimate in comfort food. The blackened and grilled ahi-grade yellow fin tuna is served with a sweet soy glaze that "I could almost drink," according to one girlfriend. The hotel's more casual Waterstone restaurant opens June 16, and Jefferson Street Brewing Company will be opening soon as well.
Not far from the banks of the James River lies another soul (sole) of the downtown: a one-of-a-kind, world-class four-story wonderland: the Rightmire Children's Museum, better known as Amazement Square. Next door to it are train tracks and the James River, which made Lynchburg a major manufacturing crossroads in the early 1900s.
Downtown is dotted with cool shops, restaurants and things to do – but make sure to wear your sensible shoes; Lynchburg is known as the "Hill City."
It's all about Shoes
The Craddock Terry Hotel summons the heyday of Lynchburg’s shoe manufacturing. You and your girlfriends will also enjoy the quirkiness of a town that is now on the verge of a rebirth, with the growth of Liberty University and nuclear energy powerhouses AREVA and BWX Technologies.
"We want to be a 'welcome mat' for Lynchburg," adds Craddock.
It works.
What would Carrie Bradshaw think? Considering the fact she spent more on shoes than on her New York City apartment rent, chances are this is one doormat she'd be happy to wipe those Manolos on.
"I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!" says Carrie in one episode. With rates starting at $159 a night, the perfect place for her or for you and your girlfriends would be the Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg!
Hotel info:
The Craddock Terry Hotel, 1312 Commerce Street, (434)455-1500, http://www.craddockterryhotel.com/
Deluxe King and Double Queen Rooms range from $139-$159 Sun-Thur and $159-$179 Fri-Sat, Suites range from $169-$219 Sun-Thurs and $199-$239 Fri-Sat. The lower range is if guest qualifies for corporate rates, senior rates, or travel club rates.
Other Lynchburg Highlights:
The Lynchburg City Market, Main Street
The energetic Lynchburg City Market is only a block away from the hotel and offers fresh flowers and vegetables each Saturday during the spring and summer. Across Main Street are funky stores featuring stylish shoes, books, modern furniture and antiques.
Anthony & Co. Salon, 701 Church Street, (434)846-2232
This upscale salon is a several block walk from the hotel (remember this is the hill city and the walk back to the hotel will be downhill) and offers coiffing, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures.
Machu Picchu, 512 5th Street, (434) 845-3255, http://www.machupicchu5thstreet.com/
Bull Branch, 1030 Main Street, (434) 847-8477
Dish, 1120 Main Street, (434) 528-0070
Main Street Eatery, 907 Main Street, (434) 847-2526,www.mainsteatery.comDowntown restaurants featuring Peruvian, eclectic, tapas, classic continental, and American respectively, each one has its own ambience, ranging from the third world simplicity and charm to railroad memorabilia.
J Crew Clearance Store, 25 Millrace Drive, (434) 316-6324, http://www.jcrew.com/
This factory outlet store is a haven for preppy bargain hunters... with lots of adorable Crew Cuts for the little ones.
The Maier Museum, 2500 Rivermont Avenue, (434)947-8136, http://maiermuseum.randolphcollege.edu/default.asp
This gem at Randolph College has held an extensive collection of American art as the result of a covert emergency plan. During the cold war, the former Randolph-Macon Woman's College was to be the "emergency shelter" for the National Gallery of Art in case of a national crisis. Though some of the more valuable pieces are up for auction to support a financially-troubled college (recently Rufino Tamayo’s Troubador sold for record $7.2 million at Christie’s auction), the museum is well worth a visit.
Vines Café, 2496 Rivermont Avenue, (434) 846-8463
Magnolia Foods, 2476 Rivermont Ave, (434) 528-5442, http://www.magnoliafoods.com/
These fun eateries neighbor the college and provide fresh, upscale foods and wines, plus outdoor seating. Magnolia Foods is a great place also to find unique beers, the latter to take home to the significant other who agreed to your girlfriend's getaway.
The Farm Basket, 2008 Langhorne Road, (434) 528-1107, http://www.the/farmbasket.com
This combination gift shop/café features room after room of goodies such as Vera Bradley, high-end culinary tools, fine stationary and garden accessories. You and the girlfriends will ooh and ahhh and could spend a good hour or two exploring. This is a terrific lunch spot for Southern favorites such as chicken salad and pimiento salad sandwiches and a mid-shopping break.
The Blackwater Creek Trail
Charlotte will enjoy running along this gorgeous trail which cuts through the city and offers gorgeous views of the James River. Managed by the city of Lynchburg, there are seven trail entrances including one across the street from The Craddock Terry Hotel.
And for Miranda and Charlotte’s return trip with the kids…
Amazement Square (The Rightmire Children's Museum), 27 Ninth Street, (434) 845-1888, www.amazementsquare.com
This state of the art hands-on facility rivals many metropolitan children's museums and features the tallest indoor children's climbing tower. Four floors of fun include a toddler barnyard, giant legos, a mini model of the James River and downtown Lynchburg, climbing tunnels and a zip line. Bring the family after your girlfriend getaway!
Lynchburg's City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, (434) 847-1465, www.gravegarden.org
Yes, that's right - a cemetery that is a quirky tourist destination in this Southern city and entertains with historical graves, funeral clothing and accessories as well as beehives, pet goats and products such as its own cookbook Food to Die For, Billy Doux Fertilizer that people swear by, and Died and Gone to Heaven Honey. An old-fashioned swing strung from a high branch on a 100-year-old tree takes you "up to heaven" - who needs a roller coaster?
Poplar Forest, 1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest, (434) 525-1806, www.poplarforest.org
Poplar Forest was Thomas Jefferson's summer home. It highlights his architectural mastery and offers tours and environmental education. Occupied by a private family for years, this historic landmark has been meticulously restored by historians.
Depot Grille, 10 9th Street, (434) 846-2776, www.depotgrille.com
This family-friendly restaurant with a model train, railroad tattoos and books for kids is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner – those with small kids understand.
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