It is too easy to think there is nothing to do in Farmville, especially when you don’t look around and see what there is to do. Often, people are more inclined to think of what may be available outside of the city limits. Students count the miles from cities like Lynchburg, Richmond or from home. Why not count the ways you can have fun right here in Farmville? How about six ways?
You will be spending almost all of every year right here in Farmville for four years. It is time to look around and see what opportunities are right across the street from you. And I can tell you, it is much, much more than Walmart.
Number One: Take a Hike at High Bridge Trail State Park.
For those moments when you just want to get away, take a hike along the High Bridge Trail’s flat, gentle terrain of crushed limestone. Along the trail eventually runs the High Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the United States, being more than 2,400 feet in length, while soaring 125 feet above the Appomattox River, according to the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation.
The High Bridge Trail State Park is a good start for those who are beginners at hiking, but for those who want a challenge, the length, itself, of the High Bridge Trail is enough to fill anyone’s need for a run. The park size is over 1,000 acres long, while High Bridge Trail, itself, is 31 miles long, running through Burkeville, Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect and Rice.
Number Two: Take a Swing at the Longwood Golf Course.
This nine-hole course has a layout of 6,000 yards with two practice greens, a 200 yard hitting range, as well as a pro shop with light concession options, according to the Longwood website. The golf course offers discounted rates for Longwood University students, faculty and staff. Additionally, every day of the week offers specials, including unlimited play with a golf cart on Wednesdays
for $22 and “Ladies Day” on Fridays, which allows for 18 holes, including a golf cart at $15. The Longwood Golf Course is located at 201 Johnston Drive.
Number Three: Find a Fish Friend at Briery Creek Lake
When you want some peace and quiet and a fishing pole to hold onto, Briery Creek Lake is the perfect destination to take a load off and hook some rewards at the end. Briery Creek Lake comprises 845 acres and is recognized as one of Virginia’s premier bass fisheries, according to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The lake is stocked with various species of fish, including largemouth bass and catfish. The daily bag limit is five bass per day, while outdoor motor use is restricted to 10 horsepower or less. Briery Creek Lake is located just seven miles south of Farmville by taking Route 15 south to Route 790.
Number FourL Learn Some Local History at the Robert Russa Monton Museum.
The Rober Russa Monton Museum is Virginia’s only National Historic Landmark of the Civil Rights Movement. The museum celebrates a student-led strike that eventually led to influ- ence the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case in 1954. The museum features five galleries with photography and videos to give a visual storyline of the history. The Robert Russa Moton Museum also hosts various entertainment events, including book signings, film screenings, as well as the Brown Bag Lunch series, which occurs every Monday at 12 p.m. The Brown Bag Lunch Series features “guest speakers, authors, films and performances, open dialogue and engaging discussions around local history, current events and more,” according to the Moton Museum website. The museum is located at 900 Griffin Boulevard.
Number five: Get an Eyeful a the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA).
For when you're feeling a little artsy, the LCVA is a perfect place to view something new and exciting as well as to get a little crafty. The LCVA hosts various exhibits throughout the year, as well as family friendly workshops to celebrate seasonal holidays. The Art for Lunch Lectures is another opportunity which allows guests to meet artists and learn about art techniques and more.
Currently, the LCVA is hosting two exhibitions, “Power & Beauty,” which features African Art, and “It’s Always Rock & Roll,” which features Janet Macoska’s journalistic photography of famous celebrities, such as DEVO and Michael Jackson. The LCVA is located at 129 N. Main St.
Number Six: Put Your-self Out There in Your New Home.
There is always some- thing to do in Farmville if you keep your eyes peeled, but now that you’re a Longwood Lancer, it’s time you feel the same way here. A small school does not equal a dull school. Don’t be afraid to read the countless flyers posted on the walls in the residence halls and around campus. You can volunteer in Farmville at FACES, at Habitat for Humanity, at Clean Virginia Waterways, at Centra Southside Hospital, at Madeline’s House – almost anywhere! You can even simply Google “Longwood University clubs and organizations,” and you will find over 150 opportunities right next door to you.
Longwood University is the kind of place where the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. And you can get more than you can even imagine!
In the end, if you say “There’s nothing to do,” it means you’re not look- ing hard enough
