Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

From Wikitravel

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--the fifth longest river in Virginia.[2] At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships trading goods with the Old World. Although the city became a key trading center for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, it never achieved the level of commerce enjoyed by Richmond and Alexandria.

The city was contested during the American Civil War, changing hands several times between Union and Confederate forces. The most famous battle in Fredericksburg saw Union General Burnside repeatedly march thousands of his troops across the Rappahannock 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. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the Fredericksburg area annually, including visitation to the battlefield parks, the downtown visitor center, events, museums and historic sites and in pre-formed groups.[3] By comparison, neighboring Washington, D.C., attracts roughly 15 million visitors annually--the equivalent of 41,500 per day.[4]

[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 but does run special service on Independence Day.

[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 and a half 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][add listing] 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 [5] was the site of a key battle during the American Civil War. You can visit, for example, the infamous Marye's Heights.
• Just outside the city, 3 other large major battlefields to see; Chancellorsville:Lee's "masterpiece" and where the great Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness: known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forrest and thicket in Virginia; Spotsylvania Courthouse; known for its 2 week long bloodly stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864.
• The Kenmore Plantation is a Georgian mansion once occupied by Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister.
• The Mary Washington House is a short walk from Kenmore. A small frame structure, it was purchased by George Washington in 1772 for his mother, Mary Ball Washington. Of interest is the garden now maintained by a volunteer group of certified Master Gardeners. A huge crepe myrtle is thought to have been planted by Mary herself.
• 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.
• Lower Caroline Street is a long block of privately owned homes built between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Some still contain shell fragments from the battle of Fredericksburg.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Canoeing or Kayaking on the Rappahannock River.[6][7] Be aware that the river can be very dangerous if you are not careful. There has been some 70 or so drownings since the early 1960's. It is not unheard of at least one or two drownings to occur along the river each year. Therefore, if you decide to go adventure on the Rappahannock River, be sure to check out the safety information and water levels before you begin your adventure[8].
• 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. It is also possible to hike up along the canal to where the old Embrey Dam used to be. There are a network of hiking/biking trails all the way up along the river, well past the I-95 bridge. Beware when hiking through the quarry, that there are "No Trespassing" signs posted. As tempting as it would be on a hot day, do not swim in the quarry, lest you want to run the risk of meeting Frederiskburg's Finest. If merely hiking through the area, it is unlikely you'll be hassled, however. If you hike up the river far enough, you may be able to get a glimpse of some of the old canal locks.
• Golfing at any of the several nearby golf courses, such as Meadow Farms, Cannon Ridge, or Lees Hill[9].

[edit][add listing] 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, especially in the downtown area. 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][add listing] 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][add listing] Drink

• The Blue & Gray Brewing Co. is Fredericksburg's local microbrewery.[10]
• KC's Music Alley is a local music venue including a bar. They have some decent shows every now and again.[11]
• Central Park has several places to go hang out and have a drink, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Bennigan's, and Cheeseburger in Paradise, amongst others.
• If you're really looking to meet the locals, check out any of the following, all downtown: Bistro Bethem, Spirit's (Caroline St.), Brock's (Sofia St.), or J. Brian's (Hanover St.).

[edit][add listing] 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.
• Ramada South Fredericksburg, 5324 Jefferson Davis Hwy, +1 540-898-1102, [12].
• Ramada Spotsylvania Towne Center Mall, 2802 Plank Road, +1 540-786-8361, [13].
• Comfort Inn (Comfort Inn Quantico/Dumfries), 16931 Old Stage Road Dumfries, VA 22026, ☎ (703) 445-8070, [14]. To the Comfort Inn Hotel Quantico/Dumfries located near Quantico Marine Corps Base. The hotel is centrally located between Washington, D.C. and Fredericksburg. This Comfort Inn Dumfries hotel is minutes from the Potomac Mills outlet mall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the FBI Academy training facility and the Quantico National Cemetery.  edit
• Wingate by Wyndham Fredericksburg, 20 SANFORD DRIVE , FREDERICKSBURG, VA, 22406 (FREDERICKSBURG, VA), [15]. Wingate by Wyndham Fredericksburg Hotel has a central location to many feature locations that Fredericksburg has to offer such as Kings Dominion, Quantico Marine Corps Base, Historic Fredericksburg and much more.  edit
• Merriot Courtyard Historic District, 620 Caroline Street (Downtown Fredericksburg), ☎ 1-540-373-8300, [16]. Brand new hotel located right in the heart of the Fredericksburg historic downtown area.  edit

[edit] Get out

George Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm[17], is located across the river in Stafford county. Many other sites of historical interest are a short drive away, including Spotsylvania Courthouse[18].

Lake Anna is about 20 miles or so outside of town, which is a popular boating and fishing destination. The Lake Anna State Park features some 15 miles of hiking trails, a beach on the lake itself, as well as picnic areas. Camping has also been recently added.[19]

A trip down to Kings Dominion, which is a large theme park a mere 35 miles to the south along I-95, is worth a day to see and experience. In decent traffic, it takes around a half an hour to get there from Fredericksburg. The park features many roller coasters and other rides, including some world class rides such as Volcano : The Blast Coaster and the Dominator.[20]

About 20 miles to the north along I-95 is the awesome National Marine Corps Museum near the Quantico Marine Corps Base. This museum features all kinds of interactive displays detailing the history and evolution of the United States Marine Corps.[21][22]

For those that love to shop, Potomac Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country is only about 1/2 hour or so to the north (assuming decent traffic). There are more than 220 outlet stores in this place, so all kinds of options for the shopping fanatic. There are also several restaurants as well as an 18-screen movie theater.[23]

About and hour and half west of town is the Shenandoah National Park, which includes over 500 miles of hiking trails, as well as camping. If you are not the hiking nor camping type, at the very least, a drive down Skyline Drive can be worthwhile to check out some of the incredible views. Be warned that in the fall, during the peak of the fall colors (later part of October to the first part of November), this can get pretty crowded.[24]

During the winter, there are two places within 2 hours of Fredericksburg to go skiing, Wintergreen Resort[25] and Massanutten[26]. Massanutten also has the added benefit of an indoor waterpark, featuring one of the east coast's only Flowriders. During the summer months, there is also an outdoor section with a wavepool and additional slides available. Both of these resorts also feature golfing, fitness centers, as well as spas. Either one would be a worthwhile get-a-way. If you are willing to go even farther, there are other places that offers skiing that are within a few hours of driving from Fredericksburg[27]