Lexington is a great little town. Great food scene.
Staunton is also a great alternate if Lex is booked up or too expensive.
Matriculation, New Market Oath, Parents' Weekend, Home Football Tailgate are all great events for parents to "share" in with your new "Rat" ...
You will find on Matriculation Day you have 499 additional children ... It will be a great day ... A hard day ... Full of emotion and difficulty ... But also immense pride ... The "call down" and the "march up" are emotional ... along with their entry into barracks and "meet your cadre" ... They will work through "Hell Week" on their own.
New Market will be a special day after Hell Week is done ... No more looking like a gaggle sauntering in a walk ... They will march and doubletime in step ... and when they walk they will walk with a purpose ... they will reenact the charge on the battlefield, take their cadet oath and receive their shoulderboards ... they will be proud ...
Parent's Weekend will be equally special as they will be into their academic semester ... They will be the same as you remember, and they will be very different ... They will be tired and need sleep ... Help them to keep the reasons for coming to VMI in mind and the end goal in sight ...
Then tailgates, Thanksgiving, and Christmas .... and eventually Breakout ... Followed by 3 additional years ...
It will be a hard, but great journey ... It won't be "fun" like a "normal" college ... life preparation seldom is ... But it will be worth it ...
Best wishes to you and yours
Welcome to an extraordinary family!