by Allan D. Kissam  A small, historic university city in the bucolic foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains,Lynchburg is truly an under-the-radar gem, founded in 1757, its hilly terrain packed with lovely 19th-century manses, historic sites, museums, and a panoply of top-notch dining/ lodging–all of which makes a great base for exploring the surrounding history, nature, and wineries (stars include the National D-Day Memorial, and of special interest in this Civil War sesquicentennial year, a whopping dozen CW sites including Appomatox Courthouse, left). And lordy, you'll never guess which... keep reading