Frommers ShortCuts - Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia

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ISBN 9781118200810 (ebk); ISBN 9781118200841 (ebk); ISBN 9781118200865 (ebk)

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About the Author

Born and raised in North Carolina near Hampton Roads, Bill Goodwin (www.billgoodwin.com) has lived in northern Virginia since 1979. He was an award-winning newspaper reporter for the Atlanta Journal before becoming a legal counsel and speechwriter for two U.S. senators, Sam Nunn of Georgia and Sam J. Ervin, Jr., of North Carolina. Now a full-time travel writer, Goodwin is also the author of Frommers South Pacific, Frommers Tahiti & French Polynesia, and Frommer's Fiji.

Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations

Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).

In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:

special finds those places only insiders know about

fun facts details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun

kids best bets for kids, and advice for the whole family

special moments those experiences that memories are made of

overrated places or experiences not worth your time or money

insider tips great ways to save time and money

great values where to get the best deals

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DISC Discover
V Visa
DC Diners Club
MC MasterCard

The Best of Virginia

History springs to life wherever you go in the scenic Commonwealth of Virginia. Jamestown was the first permanent English-speaking colony in North America. The American Revolution was fomented at Williamsburg and won at nearby Yorktown. Great Civil War battles raged at Manassas, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, and Richmond. Yet as much as Virginians revere history, they honor the present with the likes of two modern air-and-space museums, at Hampton and in the Hunt Country of northern Virginia. Indeed, there is something for everyone.

Sightseeing Between historic sights, Virginias varied geological beauty unfolds. In the east are the tidal waters flanking the port city of Norfolk, fronting the sands of Virginia Beach, and surrounding the wildlife islands of Chincoteague and Assateague. To the west, the hilly Piedmont hosts cities like Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, and Richmond. Beyond, over the Blue Ridge Mountains, lies the splendid Shenandoah Valley. Straddling the Blue Ridge is Shenandoah National Park and its magnificent Skyline Drive, and southwestern Virginia sports Mount Rogers, Virginias highest peak.

Eating & Drinking You can dine on all types of cuisine in Virginia, but the highlights derive from recipes handed down since Colonial timesdishes such as peanut soup and Sally Lunn bread. To this day Virginians love country ham cured the old-fashioned way, especially when crammed between hot buttermilk biscuits at breakfast. And they like their fish, oysters, and blue crabs fresh from the Chesapeake Bay. All across Virginia modern chefs are finding creative ways to use these fresh ingredients.

History Virginia abounds with buildings that rang with revolutionary oratory, small towns scarcely changed since Colonial times, and bloody Civil War battlefields. Beautifully restored Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown expertly explain Americas founding. George Washingtons Mount Vernon is one of this countrys most visited homes. Thomas Jefferson lived at Monticello, overlooking the vibrant college town of Charlottesville. Less than a century later, much of the Civil War was fought on bloody battlegrounds between Fredericksburg and Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Active Pursuits Much of Virginias wilderness looks as it did when the first English colonists settled here in 1607. Leading the list is Shenandoah National Park and its 500-plus miles of hiking trails. The Shenandoah River is a hotbed for kayaking, canoeing, and rafting. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders will enjoy the New River Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginias Southwest Highlands. Down east, theres plenty to do in and on the water at Virginia Beach and Chincoteague and Assateague islands.

Note About Maps

This guide contains dozens of maps of varying sizes and complexity. If you find it hard to read a map on your device, use the zoom function to enlarge. You can also download and/or printout PDFs of all of the maps in this guide. Go to www.frommers.com/go/ebookmaps and click on the title of your guide.

Virginia

The best of Colonial Virginia

Old Town Alexandria: Although vibrant Alexandria is very much part of metro Washington, D.C., the historic district known as Old Town evokes the time when the nations early leaders strolled its streets and partook of grog at Gadsbys Tavern. See .

Mount Vernon: When he wasnt off surveying, fighting in the French and Indian War, leading the American Revolution, or serving as our first president, George Washington made his home at a plantation 8 miles south of Alexandria. Restored to look as it did in Washingtons day, Mount Vernon is Americas second-most-visited historic home.