Greetings from Bedford. If you choose to stay on the east end (toward Lynchburg) Try the Timberlake Motel. 434.525.2160 There is nothing nearby, except a breakfast and lunch diner "Coffee Cup".The Motel is reasonably priced and clean. The "Cup" is a favorite of locals that enjoy Southern Homestyle Cooking (not particularly healthy but delicious) You will avoid all Lynchburg traffic. 20 minutes to downtown Bedford, and 10 minutes to Lynchburg's Restaurant Row on Rt. 29 South (Wards Road) Lynchburg proper has a number of franchises too numerous to mention here. All (as far as I know) are relatively newly built. The Wingate Inn is probably the best trade-off between quality and convenience. It's a 5 minute drive to the Restaurant Row on Rt 29, Wards Road. and less than a quarter mile from the Rt 460 Bypass...just across the bypass is River Ridge Mall... tiny by world standards but it's the largest in Lynchburg. Ten minutes from the Wingate is the old town of Lynchburg. Downtown is the center of an extensive bicycle trail... The Depot Restaurant is a converted RR Station and nearby is the Amazement Square, a refurbished old building that is a children's leaning center (good for adults too!). Note that Downtown Lynchburg renovations are just underway..... For the Cost conscious persons try 540.586.8182 for a Budget Inn..... I have never stayed there... it is a motel made of trucked in mobile housing. Nicely done, on Rt 460. Its' been there for 10 or 15 years and I haven't heard good or bad about it. Seems to be a favorite of Contractors working in the area for several days... In Bedford Remember it is a town of 6500... a few stop lights, a few public buildings, and a mixture of old and new structures.... my wife just noticed last week that 3 stories is the max height. There is the Super 8... and across the road is another Motel/Hotel whose name escapes me now. The Golden Corral recently went out of business and there is no replacement at that location at this time. However across the road (in conjunction with the Hotel I can't recall the name of) is a new Mexican Restaurant. NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO GENERAL ACCOMODATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF DOWNTOWN PROPER. There are several B&B's in town that can probably be found by searching the Web. I haven't stayed in any of those but I would suggest to you that most are circa 1900 converted homes. There are also B&B's in located in the countryside that can be found by searching the web... The Dutchess Inn is a nice place for a lunch sandwich and sweets... be aware that most sandwiches are so large that they can be shared. Located in an older home in town with just several tables in each room. The Station is a nice place for dinner (or lunch). A converted RR Station that is still leased from the Rail Company. The proprietor works there on a regular basis and spends a lot of his time in the kitchen. Special requests are welcome. The Nation D-Day Memorial is here. Please Visit. If you have a fallen family member from any war, you will be moved. TO THE WEST IS Roanoke. A nicely restored hotel to stay in there is the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center 540.985.5900 (search web for Toll Free Number). It is close to the Roanoke Transportation Museum, Center in the Square, (and the Winston Link Museum for the RR buffs). This location is in the center of the old Roanoke town with too many eateries to list (most are franchises but several local independents) Note that you can be on Rt 460 within 2 minutes headed to Bedford after getting into you car from this location. Ferns Suggestion (hello Fern) The hotel at Natural Bridge is a very nice place to stay. In addition to the Bridge itself (which is a short walk away) there is a wax museum, a toy museum, a recreation of a Monican Indian Village, a cavern that can be toured and a re-creation of Stone Henge (sp?) done in Styrofoam... (I assume that project is still underway) It is a bit further away than L'burg or Ro'noke but if you like country scenery it's a good place to stay