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ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Natural Bridge State Park of Virginia
The Pink Cadillac Diner
nugget’s Advice
Recommended day/time
Be aware that the Pink Cadillac Diner is closed on Tuesdays.
About This Day
Natural Bridge, Virginia, is a small, rural town with fantastic opportunities to enjoy nature. The town is named after its park, the Natural Bridge State Park. It offers a large visitor center and the beautiful Cedar Creek Trail, a family-friendly trail along cascading waterfalls and a trickling creek. The highlight of the park is its 215-foot (65 m) tall natural wonder, the Natural Bridge. Enjoy magnificent views of both sides of the bridge along the trail and even walk underneath it. Additionally, there are other attractions along the Cedar Creek Trail as you meander the 0.8-mile (1.3 km) walk to Lace Falls. The beauty of nature is on full display during this fun-filled family adventure. Then, take a short drive over to the Pink Cadillac Diner for lunch and ice cream. This '50s-themed diner's fun atmosphere and yummy diner food provides a relaxing lunch after a morning exploring the outdoors.
Natural Bridge State Park of Virginia
6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge
$$$
The Natural Bridge in Virginia is a 215-ft (65 m) high natural arch in a gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. After purchasing admission at the visitor center, walk down the cascading falls to the Cedar Creek Trail. This trail goes along Cedar Creek and under the Natural Bridge. The views are breathtaking, and the trail is flat and easy to walk. The beauty of this area, along with the unique history, is amazing. This land was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, and it's quite possible that it was surveyed by a young George Washington. The Cedar Creek Trail continues past a re-creation of Monacan Native American housing, several small caves across a few bridges and ends at the 30-ft (9 m) tall Lace Falls. Each evening, there is also a "Drama of Creation" light show projected on the Natural Bridge. To exit, walk back along the trail to the visitor center.
TIP
The trail is easy enough for kids to walk alone and is approximately 0.8-mile walk to Lace Falls. There are a few stairs along the cascading falls at the beginning of the trail. The water is generally calm, but many areas do not have a barrier between the trail and the water. There are also a few areas where the drop-off to the water is quite high. Overall, it's a great hike for kids to explore.
The Pink Cadillac Diner
4347 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge
$$$
This cute '50s-style diner has a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Located only a few minutes drive from Natural Bridge State Park, the Pink Cadillac Diner is the perfect lunch spot for families after a morning exploring the park. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with all kinds of sweet treats at its ice cream parlor. The food is good and inexpensive. We tried the Elvis Burger, the BLT and a few of the items on the kids menu. The kids meals come with a scoop of ice cream, which always helps. We also had to try the milkshakes, of course.
DIRECTIONS
From the state park, take VA-130 West then veer onto US-11. Drive north for four miles until you reach the Pink Cadillac Diner, located on the right side of the road.
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