Sightseeing in Timberlake

A National Historic Landmark and home to one of two homes Thomas Jefferson designed and created for his own personal use, Poplar Forest provides a unique insight into the private life of one of American history’s biggest shapers. Owners of a Scholar’s Society Family Membership card get a year’s worth of unlimited admission to the grounds for two adults and their children, a subscription to Poplar Forest’s semi-annual newsletter, a monthly e-newsletter, a Founding Fathers powdered wig, and 10% off at the museum shop. History buffs can tour the house during its ongoing meticulous restoration while learning about the building's architecture, preservation, and early 19th-century life in addition to learning about Jefferson’s vision for his gardens and farm. Forty-minute guided tours provide information about the facility's numerous exhibits—including the restoration workshop, slave quarter site, and archaeology laboratory; free-spirited visitors can wander the grounds with GPS-guided audio-visual handheld units or a sundial.

Every year, thousands of visitors wander the paths at the National D-Day Memorial, where 88 acres of verdant grass and lush forests at the foot the Blue Ridge Mountains stand in for the coastlines of Normandy on June 6, 1944. After passing beneath a 44-foot stone arch inscribed with _Overlord_—the official name of the military operation—visitors immerse themselves in a re-creation of the beach landing on that fateful day. A reflecting pool commemorates the battle itself with statues of soldiers marching through the water, struggling along the beach, and standing to face the enemy. A military plane sits nearby, emblazoned with markings of the Allied Forces. Plaques also dot the grounds, honoring the soldiers and sharing more about World War II history. Though the scene may be solemn, lush gardens and rippling flags remind visitors of the world that the soldiers fought to protect.

The Avoca Museum & Historical Society was once the site of the Revolutionary-era home of Colonel Charles Lynch and the centerpiece of a sprawling plantation. Today, it houses native artifacts and Civil War memorabilia curated to preserve local history.

• Size: 54 acres of land, including the sprawling Victorian house
• Eye Catcher: the main house, an American Queen Anne–style home built in 1901 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the interior has been lovingly restored to appear as it did in its heyday
• Permanent Exhibits: the replica of the 1880 cabin that originally stood on the site, including a rope bed and stone fireplace
• Don't Miss: the family graveyard—as well as a graveyard for the plantation's slaves—stand as a reminder of the land's history and provide some information about what African American life was like before the Civil War
• Pro Tip: the Avoca Museum is a popular wedding venue, so check the website's homepage or call ahead to make sure it's not closed for a private event