LakeAnna 2017/2018

fredericksburg|day trips
FIND WHAT YOU SEEK
From John Smith’s first exploration up the
Rappahannock River in 1608 to artist Gari
Melchers’ purchase of a peaceful country retreat
in Falmouth in 1916, the Fredericksburg region
has been a rewarding landing place for centuries
of seekers. That tradition continues, and a new
generation of offerings make this just the place
to find yourself, whatever you seek.
KNOWLEDGE
History has never been so alive as it is
at Ferry Farm, where dedicated craftsmen
are working to build a replica of the house
where George Washington came of age. Across
the Rappahannock River in Downtown
Fredericksburg, the newly refurnished Kenmore
mansion dazzles in the eighteenth-century
grandeur in which Washington’s sister, Betty, and
her husband, Fielding Lewis, furnished it, before
the Revolutionary War turned their world
upside down. The Fredericksburg Area Museum
and Cultural Center tells the region’s story in a
brand-new collection of exhibits in the oldest
continuously used public building in the U.S.
THRILLS
Clutching the wheel as you navigate one
of the 12 turns in the 2-mile road course at
Spotsylvania County’s Dominion Raceway, you
won’t want for adrenaline. Adventure is not in
short supply here. The Fredericksburg Skydiving
Center at Shannon Airport can help you
with the ultimate bucket-list item. Outfitters
on the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers
and Lake Anna can get you up on a stand-up
paddleboard, cruising the rapids in a kayak or
connecting with nature on a multi-day trip on
the water. Explorers are welcome at Lake Anna
State Park, Motts Run Reservoir, Government
Island and a long list of other places.
INSPIRATION
Artists thrive here. That becomes evident on
any visit to Gari Melchers Home and Studio
at Belmont in the historic village of Falmouth.
Downtown’s Ponshop celebrates modern
forms like skateboard art, graffiti and tattoo art,
while Artful Dimensions celebrates everything
three-dimensional. You could fill multiple
days wandering through the many other
galleries and studios artists have established in
Downtown Fredericksburg. Riverside Center
for the Performing Arts continues to up its
game in bringing nationally recognized talent
to an expanding repertoire that includes both
the classics of musical theater and more modern
dramatic favorites.
FLAVOR
Every meal is an opportunity to explore
the artistry of a Fredericksburg-area chef. Visit
the new location of Foode to see how this
celebrated restaurant has transformed a building
that was once visited by Abraham Lincoln.
Learn why travelers come from near and far to
Spotsylvania’s Battlefield Country Market for
fresh produce, artisan goods and delicious deli
sandwiches. Try the new offerings chefs are
bringing to the table this year at places like the
vegetarian-focused Legume Kitchen and Bar
and the authentically Italian Orofino, both in
Downtown Fredericksburg. Pair your culinary
discovery with a tour of the region’s growing
cadre of craft brewers, vintners and distillers
with a ticket to the Grapes and Grains Trail.
Editorial and Images supplied by the Fredericksburg
Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
For more information go to VisitFred.com
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