Bedford, Virginia

Bedford is the home of the National D-Day Memorial. This is fitting, since Bedford lost more residents per capita in the Normandy landings than any other American community. Historic Centertown, a National Historic District, features antique and specialty shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants in historic buildings. The Bedford City/County Museum, housed in a former Mason Lodge built in 1895, is a frequent tourist stop. With over 500 Miles of shoreline and 23,000 acres of water, nearby Smith Mountain Lake is called the Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can take a cruise on the Virginia Dare replica steamboat or go swimming, boating and/or fishing at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Explore the five wineries on the Bedford Wine Trail: Hickory Hill, Peaks of Otter, Savoy-Lee, LeoGrande and White Rock. Bedford is the county seat of Bedford County. The Fourth Duke of Bedford, John Russell, gave this small town its name.