Update: Top Liberty University “Must-Do’s”
John Vence and Mikaela Stiner

Lynchburg goes by many names: The City of Seven Hills, Hill City and the lesser-known “Middle of Nowhere.”
While the term may have applied a decade or so ago, Liberty newcomers may be surprised to discover that the number of options for eating, shopping and recreation in the surrounding area is growing rapidly.
But despite the onslaught of new coffeeshops and hip food trucks, there are some classic activities students can’t leave without doing.
Four years fly by fast, so get yourself a friend with a car and start checking off the list of Lynchburg Must-Do’s.

Visit The White Hart Café:
Grab a friend and visit this popular coffeeshop in downtown Lynchburg. Along with great coffee — discounted if you bring your own mug — and an ideal ambiance for working on homework, enjoy music from local bands or poetry written and performed by locals during an open-mic night. Craving something more than coffee? You won’t be disappointed by the sweet potato fries.

2. Navigate The Liberty Tunnels
Tunneling — traversing the small network of tunnels underneath the Vines center — is an unspoken rite-of-passage. Bring a flashlight, boots and some of your most trusted companions. You won’t find any information online; discovering the entrance is half the fun.

3. Scale up Sharp Top
While you probably won’t want to wake up at 4 a.m. too frequently to make the hourlong drive to Sharp Top mountain, you won’t be disappointed if you lose a few hours of sleep at least once to catch the stunning sunrise. Bring plenty of water — the 3.4 mile hike is not for the faint of heart.
4. Plunder free donuts at Krispy Kreme on Talk like a Pirate Day
This popular chain offers mouthwatering donuts all year round, but swashbucklers have been getting them for free on Talk Like a Pirate Day since 2002. Adding “aargh!” to your order will get you one donut, but dressing the part gets you a full dozen at no cost. Put on the eyepatch to plunder the booty with your fellow Liberty Flames Sept. 19.

5. Meditate in the Anne Spencer garden: If you’re looking to get your zen on, look no further than this hidden gem. Located on Lynchburg’s most historic street, this sanctuary favors fountains and flowers over WiFi and pow er outlets — a perfect place for hiding from the hustle and bustle of student life.

6. Score some Wasabi half-off sushi Sushi might not technically be in the budget while you’re in college, but it certainly is more affordable with a deal like this at the local sushi house. Take the short walk to Wasabi from campus and load up on California rolls for half the normal price any Sunday of the month. There’s even a Lynchburg roll paying homage to the surrounding Seven Hills.
7. Take a Vinyasa yoga class: Some freshman hogging your favorite lifting bench at the LaHaye Fitness Center? Sign up for a Vinyasa yoga class instead. This style offers an intense workout, weaving various poses that work muscles you didn’t even know you had. Don’t let the dimmed lights and soothing music fool you: Yoga-nna feel the burn for sure.

8. Spend August Shredding Powder at Snowflex
The skiing and snowboarding at Snowflex is often a major selling point for some eager CFAWers who forget to anticipate the mountains of coursework that will keep them from heading up Liberty mountain on a regular basis during their college careers. But there is nothing quite like the stunning view from the Snowflex Center of the sun setting over campus to remind you just how lucky you are to be living in Lynchburg.
