Claire & Austin
Things To Do
Historical Sites
Check out the Fredericksburg Battlefield while you're in town. The Battle of Fredericksburg is remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the Civil War and the city of Fredericksburg has done a very nice job memorializing this battle. It is a short drive or about a mile walk from the hotel and is definitely worth checking out. Make sure to climb the hill to get the full experience! Also close by is Mary Washington's House as well as her tomb several streets away. Also Downtown is historic Kenmore which was built by George Washington's sister. There are several spots driving distance from town that are well worth checking out as well including Ferry Farm, George Washington's childhood home and Chatham Manor which over looks the City of Fredericksburg and is where Austin and I took our engagement photos. If you are interested in getting a little taste of all of the history in Fredericksburg, the Trolley Tour is quite popular and covers most of the City's history.
Shopping Downtown
Check out some of our favorite spots Downtown. We love Fraser Woods Elements for beautiful, hand crafted wood furniture and gifts, plus the owner, David is the sweetest! While you're on Caroline pop into Du Jardin for some beautiful gifts and home items, the owner is from Germany and she imports a lot of her unique items. If you are interested in shopping for clothes, check out Cose Belle, Monkees or Willow. Sugar and Spruce is known for their soaps and bath bombs so if you want a relaxing treat head that way! Right near the Marriott is a shop called Ponshop and the owners are a husband-wife duo that sell locally made art and jewelry. They have some beautiful pottery as well. One of our favorite new comer shops is Pye & Co. They have a nice mix of clothing, jewelry and home decor with neutral pallets.
Food Recommendations
For a quick bite or some coffee, we like Hyperion, Ike's, or Here and Abroad Bistro. If you head to Here and Abroad, tell Purna, the owner, that Claire and Bonnie sent you. For casual fare you can try: Vivify Burgers, Capital Ale House, Spencer Devon Brewing, Benny Vitalis, Sedona Taphouse, or Castiglia's. If you want to try something a little fancier: Kybecca, Foode, or Le Petite Auberge are the best choices. For Claire's favorite meal, dessert, you can drive down the road to Carl's and grab some soft serve. Carl's is a vintage soft serve spot and has been featured on many publications as a must visit when going to Fredericksburg. If you think ahead for dessert, pop into the Frenchman's Corner and pick up some truffles for an after dinner, or afternoon treat.
Breweries and Distilleries
We have several Breweries and Distilleries downtown or a short drive away. Spencer Devon Brewing and Red Dragon brewery are the closest to the heart of Downtown. 6 Bears and a Goat is a veteran owned Brewery about 6 miles from Downtown and is well worth checking out. Some other local breweries include: Adventure Brewing, Highmark Brewery and Strangeways Brewing. A very popular place to visit is A. Smith Bowman Distillery, also just a short drive from Downtown. The Bowman Brothers were voted the "World's Best Bourbon" two years in a row and if you head over to their distillery they provide complimentary tastings of their bourbon as well as other spirits they make on site.