Fredericksburg (Virginia)

From eTripTips Wiki

Fredericksburg [1] is a city nearly half way between Washington (D.C.) and Richmond, Virginia.

[edit] Understand

Fredericksburg was founded in colonial times as a "port city" on the Rappahannock River. At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships trading goods with the Old World. The city was a center of trade for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, but it never matched the level of commerce enjoyed by Richmond and Alexandria.

The city was contested during the American Civil War and changed hands several times. The most famous battle in Fredericksburg saw General Burnside repeatedly march thousands of his troops across the river and up Marye's Heights to their doom.

In recent years, Fredericksburg's population and surrounding communities have boomed as housing costs closer to Washington, DC forced commuters to seek neighborhoods farther out. Many commuters living in Fredericksburg drive an hour to two hours each way to work in DC. Fredericksburg is also a popular home for Marines commuting to nearby Quantico.

While the city has seen massive growth as a bedroom community, the historic downtown area and battlefields have been well preserved.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

One Amtrak train station serves Fredericksburg at Caroline St. and Lafayette Blvd. which is a stop for Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont and Regional trains.

The Virginia Railway Express runs commuter trains between Fredericksburg's Amtrak station and Union Station in Washington, DC on weekdays from 5:15am to 8:25pm. The trip from DC takes approximately an hour and a half, depending on freight train schedules (the railway is shared with CSX) and track work. A single ticket from Union Station is $8.80 and discounts are offered for Ten Trip, Five Day, and Monthly passes. VRE does not run on Federal holidays.

[edit] By car

Fredericksburg is about fifty miles south of Washington D.C. located directly on Interstate 95 at exit 130. It is also one hour north of Richmond on Interstate 95.

Travel time from the north (Washington, DC) will vary due to traffic conditions (avoid rush hour). Between 3:30PM and 7:00PM, typical travel times to Fredericksburg are from an hour and a half to two hours. Alternative routes include taking either State Highway 28 through Manassass to US Route 17, or by taking US Route 29 through Warrenton to US Route 17. Both routes take about an hour and a half, but the traffic is much more bearable and most of the trip consists of rural driving at full speed.

Another alternative to I-95 South from Fairfax is to take the following route:

• Fairfax County Parkway to Hwy 123
• Hwy 123 South to right on Hwy 641 (Chapel Rd)
• Hwy 641 to left on Hwy 610 (Wolf Run Shoals Rd)
• Hwy 610 to right on Hwy 643 (Henderson Rd)
• Hwy 643 to left on Hwy 612 (Old Yates Ford Rd)
• Left onto Hwy 3000 (Prince William Parkway)
• Right onto Hwy 642 (Hoadly Rd)
• Left onto Hwy 234 (Dumfries Rd)
• Right onto 619 (Joplin Rd)
• Exit onto I-95 South

This way takes about one and a half hours, but you avoid the stop-and-go traffic from the mixing bowl (I-95/I-495 interchange) all the way to the HOV merge (Dale City). You also avoid the bottleneck on Hwy 123 at Occoquan. Joplin Road is especially fun as the road is very windy and hilly. It runs between Prince William Forest Park and the Quantico Marine base.

[edit] Get around

• Downtown Fredericksburg is a walking city - the sidewalks are usually calm and many residents can be found walking around during daylight hours.
• Driving is also a good option. Downtown roads are largely straightforward, and outside the city, numerous signs point to highways of interest. Avoid driving during rush hour, especially on US-1, US-17, and I-95.
• Taking the bus is also a viable option, although few residents actually use that mode of transportation. There are stations at all of the major commercial centres, and also several stations within actual subdivisions.

[edit] See

• The University of Mary Washington is a small liberal arts college located near Downtown Fredericksburg. It has been voted, in the past, as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to the Princeton Review. Its architecture is comparable to that of the University of Virginia.
• The Fredericksburg Battlefield [2] was the site of a key battle during the American Civil War. You can visit, for example, the infamous Marye's Heights.
• The Kenmore Plantation
• Belmont/Gari Melchers Museum is a great little estate near the Rappahannock. Impressionist painter Gari Melchers lived here. The estate is very well maintained and features beautiful gardens and a separate art gallery where many of his works are on display. Guided tours of the mansion are also available.
• Ferry Farm was George Washington's birthplace.
• Chatham (pronounced, "chat-um") is a Civil War-era mansion that overlooks the Rappahannock where Union soldiers crossed at the battle of Fredericksburg. It also provides a great view of the city itself. Take US-17 or US-1 to River Road, or cross the Hwy 3 bridge from downtown Fredericksburg and make a left when you see the sign.

[edit] Do

• Canoeing or Kayaking on the Rappahannock River.
• Hiking along the Rappahannock River near Francis Thornton's Mill just off of Riverside Drive on the south bank of the river, upstream of the US-1 bridge.

[edit] Buy

• Central Park has numerous large department stores, mentioned earlier. It also has some notable small shops, such as Pier One Imports (located near Route 3) and several clothing vendors. The Spotsylvania Towne Centre has more department stores, like Sears and JCPenney's, along with numerous smaller stores as well.
• The Stafford Marketplace, located near the Garrisonville/Aquia exit on I-95 (the Target is visible from the highway itself) is a quieter, less frequented, and newer shopping establishment. It also contains a Borders and a Target, but fewer stores overall. There is also a Wal-Mart nearby.
• There are numerous small shops scattered throughout the city of Fredericksburg. Antique stores have carved out a notable niche.
• Crown Jewelers has a good reputation in the area for their service and quality of jewelry and other trinkets.

[edit] Eat

• Hyperion is perhaps the most popular coffee shop in the city of Fredericksburg. Many college students and faculty hang out and work there. The coffee is very good and reasonably priced, and there are also food items (like pastries and muffins) available there.
• Central Park contains many notable eateries, including Panera Bread (with free wireless internet), Chipotle, Bonefish Grill, Olive Garden, A&W, Long John Silver's, and many more.
• The Stafford Marketplace has a few places to eat, most notably another Panera Bread (also with free wireless internet).
• Carl's Ice Cream (aka Carl's Frozen Custard or Carl's Electrofreeze) is the best ice cream in Fredericksburg, perhaps even best in the area...or the world. The line is usually long, but it goes quickly (typically a 10 minute wait). They stick to the basics, only serving chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, as well as sundaes, shakes and malts. The maple walnut sunday is popular. Carl's is located at 2200 Princess Anne Street just off US Route 1. They're open 7 days a week from mid February to Mid November. Ordering is reminiscent of Jerry Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode. Customer-enforced protocol calls for one to approach the counter with money in hand, order decisively and step aside quickly.

[edit] Drink

• The Blue & Gray Brewing Co. is Fredericksburg's local microbrewery.[3]
• The Loft is a noted Fredericksburg's music venue, with clientel ranging from college students to local townsfolk. Live music most nights of the week, also fairly priced drinks, located above Frederick's, a chef owned fine dining restaurant with a creative fusion of cuisines and cultures in a relaxed atmosphere.[4]
• If you're really looking to meet the locals, check out any of the following, all downtown: Spirit's (Caroline St.), Brock's (Sofia St.), or J. Brian's (Hanover St.).

[edit] Sleep

• The Holiday Inn Select and Hilton Garden Inn are mid-range hotels located in or near Central Park. There is also a Ramada Inn across Route 3; it is a budget establishment.
• Days Inn is located across US-1 from the Stafford Marketplace.
• If you take the US-17 exit (Exit 133) from I-95, you will see numerous hotels, restaurants, stores, and gas stations, including a Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson Inn.

[edit] Get out

George Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm, is located across the river in Stafford county. Many other sites of historical interest are a short drive away, including Spotsylvania Courthouse.

WikiPedia:Fredericksburg, Virginia