John & Sarah
Things To Do
Civil War Battlefield Tours
For those coming early or staying in town after the wedding, I would like to offer free tours of our four battlefields. I suggest 3-4 hours per field. Here is a brief synopsis of each battle. Fredericksburg: December 1862, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is weeks away from being signed. He needs a battlefield victory to gain support. What he gets is the worst defeat imaginable. Chancellorsville: May 1863, Outnumbered more than two to one, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson go against every rule in the book to gain victory. They gain victory at an extremely high cost. Wilderness: May 1864, Near Chancellorsville battlefield, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee face off for the first time in the war. This is the start of Grant's Overland Campaign. Bullets and fires cause equal carnage. Spotsylvania Court House: May 1864, Days after the Wilderness, Grant and Lee engage in a two week battle that culminates at the Bloody Angle. The sight of 22 hours of continuous combat.
Thing to do, see, and eat in Fredericksburg
This website has bars, eateries, shops, history, landmarks, battlefield memorials and more. We listed our favorite coffee shops and restaurants in town. You can find many more options in this website. If you love antiques, all along Caroline St. are several antique shops. This includes an awesome used bookstore called Riverby. IMPORTANT: If you are doing your own touring around Fredericksburg, there are two different visitor centers in town. The downtown visitor center is at 706 Caroline St. You can get tickets for the trolley tour, horse and buggy tour and information for historic downtown sites. The second visitor center is at 1013 Lafayette Blvd. This is the National Park Service Battlefield Visitor Center. This deals primarily with the battlefields. I do hope you choose to use me as your guide though for the Civil War sites.
Outside of Fredericksburg
We are 60 miles south of Washington DC. You could drive up or take the Amtrak from Fredericksburg if you choose to spend some time up there.
Outside of Fredericksburg Part 2
We are also 60 miles north of the capital of Virginia, Richmond. You cannot go too far throughout the state without hitting some kind of park for hiking, history, or just a leisurely day.
Mount Vernon
This is just a fabulous place to visit. If you plan on making this one of your go to spots during your trip to our wedding, buy your tickets online. You can avoid the lines and you get a discount. Just be warned you will be asked a ton to join their foundation. Side note: There is a restaurant there and if you love mac and cheese, Sarah highly recommends this as the best mac and cheese ever.
Hyperion Espresso
This is our favorite coffee shop. Located downtown, you can sit outside or walk the historic streets with your drink.
Agora Coffee
One of the few historic buildings you can eat/drink in. Located along the main drag of Caroline St. Agora has a beautiful backyard you can sit in and enjoy your drink.
The Italian Station
This is my go to place for a cup of coffee before I give a tour. Connected to the Marriott in downtown Fredericksburg, they offer a variety of sandwiches for breakfast and lunch as well as....yep, coffee
Benny Vitali's
This is the pizza place we are going to after the wedding is over and we are all still hungry. I know Sarah and I will be. If you are curious about that slice the size of your head before the night of the wedding, well here you go
Billiken's Smokehouse
This is a smokehouse that you can smell from down the street. This is another spot where you can eat and drink in a historic home. This is also the starting point for when I drive the tour bus. It is located caddy corner from the downtown visitor center.
Capital Ale House
This is where we are going after we have our pizza after the wedding reception. Here is a chance to look at the menu and wide beer selection. Also if you so choose to go there prior to the outing. Side note, there are at least two other breweries in town. I'll let you find those on your own.
Allmans Bar-BBQ
This place has been serving Fredericksburg since 1954. A local historic landmark like Carl's, everything is homemade. I ate here once as an intern and I cannot believe I have not been back.
Foode
One of the most popular places I point out on my bus tour when going through downtown. This building was the Old National Bank during the Civil War/Battle of Fredericksburg. It is now a restaurant. What makes it popular on my tour is when I mention that it still has a bank feel because...wait for it...you can eat in the bank vault.
Goolrick's Pharmacy
Marty McFly would love this place. Don't let the name fool you. If you are in the mood for a step back to the 1950's then this is your place. Founded in 1869, and the soda fountains installed in 1912, this place is your stop for a quick lunch, ice cream shake, and just a fun 1950's feel.
Carl's Ice Cream
All homemade. Enough said.
Duck Donuts
There are many of these around. The website is there so you can see what this place is about, but know it does not go directly to the one in Fredericksburg. All I can say is they make your donut how you want it, and it comes out hot.