Where to stay - visiting VMI in October

Laurantwins

Laurantwins

Member
Looking for hotel or vrbo recommendations!

We'll be in Lexington for VMI Open House on October 25-26. I'm wondering if it's best to stay in town - I saw a couple of hotels within walking distance of VMI - or outside of town. I also saw some vrbo/airbnb cabins on the outskirts of town.

Where have you stayed when visiting VMI? What are your favorite hotels/restaurants?

Thank you!
 
M

mdkeydet

Member
Most of the hotels with a Lexington address are within 5-10 minutes of VMI. My opinion is that the Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, and Wingate are the better hotels and my favorites. Suggest you stay away from Days Inn, Econo Lodge, and Howard Johnson. My favorite restaurants are the Southern Inn and The Palms in addition to Naples Pizza for carryout.
 
Falcon A

Falcon A

Just a Proud Dad
Good recommendations from mdkeydet

The Robert E Lee Hotel is downtown, within walking distance and nice.

I’ve heard good things about all the B&Bs.

In addition, The Comfort Inn, both Best Westerns aren’t bad for the money.

Salerno’s for not fancy Italian is good.

Macadoos is a good casual place

Southern Inn is my favorite but Bistro on Main is also very good.

Lexington is a great little town. Enjoy your visit.

VMI speaks to people. To some it feels very right. For others not so much. Not aware of too many that are middle of the road.

If past is prologue, the VMI orientation will be well organized, well run and they will answer all questions.
 
D

Dadof2

Member
Good information in the responses so far. Just a caution that with W&L and/or VMI events the area hotels can fill up quickly. Your dates are weekdays and after the VMI parents weekend, so that shouldn't be an issue, but not sure of W&L events. Always try to book early if you are confident of dates.

Staying in town within walking distance is nice, but there are many hotels just up the road just a few minutes drive if you don't find something close. There is an Applebees and Ruby Tuesday within walking distance of several hotels up Rt. 11 about 2 miles from VMI. I prefer the town restaurants when we can, but walking from the hotel can be convenient.

Falcon A said:
VMI speaks to people. To some it feels very right. For others not so much. Not aware of too many that are middle of the road.
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^definitely agree with this. It is a very unique environment that some thrive in and others couldn't imagine being there for a minute.
 
turtlerunnernc

turtlerunnernc

Member
Salerno’s for not fancy Italian is good.

Macadoos is a good casual place

Southern Inn is my favorite but Bistro on Main is also very good.

Lexington is a great little town. Enjoy your visit.

VMI speaks to people. To some it feels very right. For others not so much. Not aware of too many that are middle of the road.

If past is prologue, the VMI orientation will be well organized, well run and they will answer all questions.[/QUOTE]

This from FalconA. Much agreed that VMI speaks to you. I know it did to my son and myself, there is just something about stepping on post.

I would add Niko's in town for good food.

We usually stay in the Best Western or Holiday inn Express, they are about 5 minutes to VMI and close to some chain restaurants.
 
Falcon A

Falcon A

Just a Proud Dad
I think the VMI Open House is actually 26 & 27 Oct (a Friday and a Saturday): https://www.vmi.edu/admissions-and-aid/visit/open-house-registration/

If my memory is correct, you and your DS will jointly attend briefs Friday AM, then split at lunch. Briefs continue in the afternoon for parents. He goes off to get his own briefs Friday afternoon, I think he may get to see a class, and meet up with his Rat hosts that he will have dinner and spend the evening with. You all meet back up after breakfast on Saturday and I think you are done by noon.

There is no home football or soccer game that Saturday, but VMI Men's Rugby will have a home match, the last match of the regular season that day, probably around 1:00pm down on the Rugby Pitch in case your son is interested. VMI has a very good Men's Division 2 Rugby team. (Rugby is considered a Club Sport since men's college Rugby isn't under NCAA rules . . . it is under USA Rugby as a governing body, but the play is at a very high level.) VMI is always looking for good athletic talent for the Rugby squad. They do not recruit, and anyone is welcome to come try out and join the squad. Last year VMI Rugby won their conference, went to the playoffs and made it to the Men's Division 2 National Championship match where they played the 5-time defending national champion, Univ, of Wisconsin-Whitewater. VMI gave UW all they could handle, the match was tied with 2 minutes to go, but then UW scored a last minute "try" for the win. Hoping for another great VMI Rugby season this year.
 
turtlerunnernc

turtlerunnernc

Member
Make sure you are on post before 7am on Saturday so you can see BRC ( Breakfast Roll Call) and March down. Standing in front of the chapel will give you a pretty good view.
 
K

KarenH

5-Year Member
Had good luck with Best Western Hunt Ridge. Not walking distance to campus or new, but decent price, clean, nice staff, ample breakfast. Book ASAP. Used VBRO to book for graduation; checked that and Airbnb for months and booked a house that was walking distance to campus as soon as site allowed. With all the graduation/commissioning events and a large group, the ability to walk to campus was great. DH and I still joke about VMI efficiency; when they say the parade starts at 4:35pm or the General is going to speak at 2pm, they mean it. Events always start on time... something we appreciate now when dealing with second DS's state school where nothing starts on time.
 
Laurantwins

Laurantwins

Member
We absolutely loved Lexington and VMI!!!! This Fall, both of my sons earned 4 year Army ROTC scholarships and both turned in their letters with the box checked by VMI.

Now, we are keeping our fingers crossed that they’ll both be accepted.

They both applied to service academies as well, but both said that VMI just “feels right”.
 
turtlerunnernc

turtlerunnernc

Member
Laurantwins said:
We absolutely loved Lexington and VMI!!!! This Fall, both of my sons earned 4 year Army ROTC scholarships and both turned in their letters with the box checked by VMI.

Now, we are keeping our fingers crossed that they’ll both be accepted.

They both applied to service academies as well, but both said that VMI just “feels right”.
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Congratulations !!! Fingers crossed they are accepted. I would think that if they won 4 year scholarship then they would be likely accepted to VMI.

VMI and Lexington were the same for my son and I. He was 100% sure it was where he wanted to be when he stepped on post. It really seems to speak to some people. It's been a wild ride, but worth it. Just finals and one more semester to go, has flown by!
 
Falcon A

Falcon A

Just a Proud Dad
Laurantwins said:
They both applied to service academies as well, but both said that VMI just “feels right”.
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CONGRATULATIONS to you and your twins! There are no bad choices at this point. SA or VMI with a 4 yr AROTC scholarship. You and they should be proud. To earn a 4 yr AROTC scholarship is rarified air.

From what we have experienced, VMI in no “Plan B” when it comes to academics, preparation to serve as an officer, and the “brotherhood” experience. Even with a 4 Yr AROTC scholarship VMI costs more than going to a Service Academy (since the SAs are "free" and with a ROTC scholarship you are still responsible for room and board) but should they go to VMI their education and preparation will be second to none!

VMI is a family and an extraordinary experience! Let us know when you hear of their acceptance to be 1 of the 500.
 
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