A Local’s Diary to Living in the Lynchburg, VA, Area
Sloane Kelly moved to Lynchburg, VA, in 2018, but her family hails from Bedford, roughly 30 minutes away. While she grew up visiting the area each summer, she moved to Lynchburg to pursue her undergraduate, master’s and doctorate at the University of Lynchburg. She has moved out of the downtown area and is now a physician’s assistant in Bedford. Ahead, find out what she loves about living in the Lynchburg, VA, area and how she has made it home over the last several years.
What do you love about living in the Lynchburg, VA, area?
Lynchburg is a small city with a big-city feel. There’s something for everybody here, and every time I go out, I see somebody I know. We have about 80,000 people here and growing, but it has a really homey feel. Whether you’re outdoorsy or want to find a group to join, there is something for you in Lynchburg.
Sloane Kelly
What was it like buying a house or renting a home or an apartment?
Lynchburg, VA, is very diverse when it comes to living situations. There are apartments, houses to rent, houses to buy. I live in an apartment. I’ve lived in an apartment very close to downtown off Rivermont, which is a historic area. Where I’m at now, there’s a wide range of options. You can find a luxury apartment downtown or something more middle range as well as more affordable, family style options in the suburbs, but there, you won’t be in walking distance to things like you would be if you were closer to downtown.
How do you feel about the cost of living in the Lynchburg, VA, area, and what does it allow you to do that you might not be able to do in a larger metropolitan area?
With Lynchburg being so diverse, the cost of living is really what you make it. You can live a little bit more luxuriously and not go out as much, or you can spend less on housing and then have more money to go out downtown. The cost of living is very reasonable, though. In terms of what that allows you to do, travel is huge. We’re lucky in that we’re central to a lot of bigger cities, like Charlottesville, Roanoke and Richmond. It’s easy and affordable to take a day trip and go to a winery in Charlottesville or see a show in Richmond, whereas in bigger cities, all of that is right there, but you might be paying more for your daily living expenses and not be able to enjoy some of the extra things outside of bills.
Where do you work, and what was it like finding a job in the Lynchburg, VA, area?
I work as a family medicine physician assistant at one of the smaller hospitals in town. I’ve worked somewhere since I moved here, and it has never been hard to find a job. Lynchburg is awesome. We have a lot of small businesses that are always looking to hire people. There are also a lot of nonprofits in town. Finding a job as a college student was not hard, and there is no shortage of health care jobs in Lynchburg.
What is your commute like?
My commute since I moved is about 15 minutes, and I miss all the school traffic. One of the reasons I moved when I was living in Lynchburg, VA, is that the commute out to Bedford from Rivermont was close to 40 minutes, and in the fall and spring, I’d hit a lot of school traffic. When I was in college, living in Rivermont was fantastic because I was 10 minutes away from the university, and it was easy to get back and forth. Traffic isn’t terrible, though. I’ve never been in standstill traffic here; it’s very dynamic, and you’re moving constantly.
Where’s your favorite place to spend a Saturday in the city?
I tend to go downtown on Saturdays because there’s something to do during every part of the day. I’ll end up at the farmers market, which operates off season because they have an indoor vendor space. Downtown has lots of restaurants and cafes, and some places have live music. They’re building an amphitheater downtown, and that will be awesome once it is open. There’s something about being in downtown Lynchburg on a Saturday – you’re around a lot of people, there’s a buzz, and everyone is in a Saturday mood.
What are your favorite restaurants in the Lynchburg, VA, area?
Living in the Lynchburg, VA, area provides you with so many great restaurants. If I want a burger, I’ll go to The Neighbors Place or 221 Tap & Table. They both have great American food. For Italian, I go to Fratelli Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. It’s a little more upscale and has an amazing salmon pasta and really good Bolognese. The Water Dog and Eight O One Raw Bar both have the best seafood in town. They source straight from the coast. There are food trucks that circulate around town, too.
This article is sponsored by the City of Lynchburg offices of Economic Development & Tourism and Communications & Public Engagement.
