Lexington, Virginia is a small (population about 6000)pre-Civil War college town in the southern Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Alleghenies. It is home of both Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute as well as dozens of quaint shops and galleries. Downtown are several museums including Lee Chapel, the Marshall Museum and the Stonewall Jackson House. Carriage tours and walking tours can be arranged at one of the best Visitor Centers in the Valley. The town also boasts a number of fine restaurants and cafes. Lexington Bed and Breakfasts are famous for the Southern hospitality. Stonewall Jackson and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) played important roles in the Civil War. VMI was partially burned and its cadets marched overland to lead the charge in the Battle of New Market to the north. Out in the county are lovely back roads with mountain views, the Rockbridge Winery and Vineyard, Wade's Mill, and the Buffalo Spring Herb Farm. In the southern part of the county are the Virginia Safari Park and Natural Bridge. All points of interest are easily accessable from both the old Route 11 (which was once called the Great Wagon Road and provided access for settlers in the 1700s coming from Pennsylvania to points south) and Interstate 81, both of which run the length of the Valley. Lexington Bed & Breakfasts include a hugh variety of inns, Bed & Breakfast Inns , homestays and small hotels. All travelers will surely find one to suit their needs while they enjoy the history and natural beauty of the area.