Things To Do
Chatham Manor
Tour the Chatham Manor property (Free) Chatham manor overlooks downtown Fredericksburg and is a great place to relax. Chatham Manor is a Georgian-style mansion home completed in 1771 by farmer and statesman William Fitzhugh, after about three years of construction, on the Rappahannock River in Stafford County, Virginia, opposite Fredericksburg. It was for more than a century the center of a large, thriving plantation and the only private residence in the United States to be visited by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Walk around Historic Downtown Fredericksburg
Walk around Historic Downtown Fredericksburg (Free) Set foot into some of the most interesting periods in America's past with a stroll among more than 350 originial 18th and 19th century buildings in Fredericksburg's 40-block National Historic District. While here, visitors can also step into over 100 shops, chef-owned restaurants and boutiques, concentrated in the downtown area near the river.
Fredericksburg Trolley Tour
Fredericksburg Trolley Tour ($25) Start your visit with a ride on the trolley, and get an overview of all Fredericksburg has to offer. Then you will have a better idea of where you want to eat, shop, and explore. During your 75-minute guided tour of the downtown Historic District and the Fredericksburg Battlefield, you will experience the past, present, and future of a city so rich in history and teeming with monuments, markers, and attractions. Enjoy the many unique shops and restaurants still operating in buildings hundreds of years old!
Braehead Farm
Braehead Farm (Free / option to pay $ to pick berries, flowers and vegetables) In July, Braehead farm is a great place to pick raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and a variety of flowers. Braehead Farm is the last remaining farm within the Historic City of Fredericksburg, VA, conveniently located approximately 2 miles from Interstate 95. It is a produce and beef cow farm with a farm market, pick your own produce, play areas with farm animals.
Burnside Farm - Summer of Sunflowers Festival
Burnside Farm - Summer of Sunflowers Festival (TBD) 70 Acres of sunflowers! We plant over 30 varieties of "cutting" sunflowers as well as several varieties of oil sunflowers on more than 70 acres in successive crops to ensure at least 4 weeks of blooming flowers. We also plant beautiful sunflower mazes! We will have three sunflower mazes for 2024. Each maze blooms for approximately ten days. We should have at least one maze in bloom each week of the Sunflower Festival Cut your own sunflowers! Watch the sun set over fields of sunflowers! Picnic and play!
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park - Skyline Dr. ($30 per vehicle) Start at Swift Run Gap Entrance Station (mile 65.5) by Rt. 33 near Elkton, Virginia. and drive the length of Skyline Dr. In 1924 the search for a national park site in the east brought the Southern Appalachian National Park Committee to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Their job was to find a site accessible to the 40 million Americans living in eastern cities including Washington, DC. The committee recommended the site that is today visited by millions of Americans each year, Shenandoah National Park. As part of that recommendation the committee, recognizing the proliferation of the automobile, suggested that the “greatest single feature” of the proposed park should be a “sky-line drive along the mountain top, following a continuous ridge and looking down westerly on the Shenandoah Valley…and also commanding a view of the Piedmont Plain stretching easterly to the Washington Monument.”
Bike around Washington D.C.
Bike around Washington D.C (TBD) Bikes are in my opinion (Adam) the best way to explore D.C Start at the National Mall - visit the Smithsonian museums such as the National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of American History Bike to the Washington Monument - take in the towering structure and its surrounding grounds. Continue to the Lincoln Memorial - pay homage to the 16th President of the United States. Ride to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - reflect on the legacy of the civil rights leader. Pedal to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial - explore the tribute to the 32nd President's legacy. Head towards the Jefferson Memorial - enjoy the serene surroundings by the Tidal Basin. Bike past the White House - catch a glimpse of the iconic presidential residence. Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - honor those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War. Continue to the World War II Memorial - pay respects to the heroes of the Second World War.
Carl's Frozen Custard
Carl's Frozen Custard (Cash Only) Hours: Sunday thru Thursday 11am-11pm Friday and Saturday 11am-11:30pm In the 1950s, Carl would shut down the business in the slower months, to do other interests. It created such a frenzy with people saying that he “took away” their frozen custard, that when he reopened in February, an otherwise slow month, business exploded! The tradition remains. When Carl decided to retire, he sold it to his brothers, Paul Sponseller and Herbert Sponseller. When Herbert retired, he sold his interest to his niece and nephew, Ramona Settle and Daniel Sponseller. When Paul retired, he sold it to his remaining daughter Cristina McCann. It is now run by all 3 siblings in the same traditions as in the beginning. The recipe has never changed, and Frozen Custard is still made daily, until it runs out at night! Famous persons have enjoyed the famous recipe from Sports celebrities, to famous Politicians, to Movie Stars. And yes they all had to stand in line!
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
A. Smith Bowman Distillery (Free) Since 1934, the historic A. Smith Bowman Distillery has passionately produced premium handcrafted spirits that have gone on to win many awards, most notably "World's Best Bourbon" two years in a row. Nestled just five minutes from downtown Fredericksburg and three miles from I-95, A. Smith Bowman Distillery has a lot to offer. Complimentary one hour tour includes: Knowledgeable history of the Distillery Behind the scenes look at our distilling process Walk through to see our stills "Mary" and "George" Barrel aging warehouse Spirit tastings (21+) Gift Shop & A. Smith Bowman Distillery Museum Tours are open to all ages, Monday - Saturday and Sundays during the summer. Complimentary tours depart every hour, Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. Gift Shop remains open until 5 p.m.
Benny Vitali's Pizza
Benny's Pizza Walk into town. Grab a slice. A cold drink. Then walk it off. That’s Benny’s. Be prepared for large slices!
Foode
Foode Delicious American cuisine served in an old bank building.
Hyperion Espresso
Hyperion Espresso Fantastic coffee served fresh. A local favorite drink is the "Monkeylicious".
