This holiday season, vacation to Virginia

By WP BrandStudio

Spend a long weekend in Fredericksburg, a city with endless activities, holiday cheer and ample historic charm.

As the holiday season settles in, cabin fever often does too. And while traveling looks different than it has in years past, families everywhere are figuring out ways to hit the road as safely as possible.

Even before the pandemic began, Fredericksburg, Va., was an ideal travel destination, thanks to its culture-rich downtown, wealth of historical landmarks and scenic riverside outdoor attractions. And with safety still top of mind, the city is maintaining a steadfast commitment to following heightened guidelines and precautions (like limited capacity tour options and local libations to go), giving traveling families peace of mind along with enjoyable experiences while they’re out and about.

“We have a lot to offer—it’s a hidden gem,” said Danelle Rose, tourism services manager for Fredericksburg’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

’Tis the season

Despite having to adjust a few of their events, Fredericksburg officials have gone above and beyond to ensure that the season will be just as magical as always. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the area’s Candlelight Tour, which will be held outdoors this time around; ticket holders can stroll down historic streets while enjoying an audio tour and taking in impeccably decorated exteriors. In addition to downtown being bedecked in its usual wreaths, garlands and decorated evergreens, the annual Christmas parade will still take place, though things will operate a little differently—floats will be lined up in the Central Park shopping area, so that viewers can take in the holiday cheer from the safety of their vehicles.

And while kids may not be able to sit on Santa’s lap, the rotary club has set up mailboxes specially designed for letters to Santa. Each child who writes a letter will get one in return from the big man in red himself.

For a dose of live entertainment, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is hosting “A Riverside Family Christmas” performances throughout December. This stage show features beloved carols sung by some of the city’s finest entertainers, along with storytelling, dancing and more. (The theater is operating at 50% capacity with elevated sanitization guidelines.)

Touring the sights

Fredericksburg is the ideal destination for history buffs, thanks to its many Civil War battlefields and cemeteries, colonial era architecture and favorite former presidential haunts. In nearby Stafford County, visitors can go back in time at Ferry Farm, the home where President George Washington spent part of his childhood. Tours, mostly held outside, teach visitors about Washington’s early life, along with history about Native Americans, Civil War soldiers and others who also lived in the area.

To learn even more about the Washington family, travelers can head over to Kenmore, a stately mansion in Fredericksburg that was once the home of George’s sister Betty Washington Lewis; the destination is currently open Thursdays through Mondays, with social distancing protocols in place.

To take in a breadth of city’s historical sites at once, travelers can head to Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg, which offers 75-minute excursions in the downtown area. Sights include a Thomas Jefferson monument, Dr. Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary Shop and buildings used by Confederate and Union soldiers during Civil War battles.

The experience is a great way to kick off a trip, thanks to the amount of ground it covers and the lay of the land it provides. “We see ourselves as an introduction to downtown, because we love to give people ideas of places they can shop, eat and visit,” said Heidi Bass, general manager of Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg.

On-foot tours are also a top activity; try out the Downtown Walking Tour or the African American Heritage Tour, which highlights historic battlefields and the Fredericksburg Courthouse, where 10,000 enslaved people gained freedom. Traipse tours, which allow users to embark on Fredericksburg walkabouts guided by a smartphone app, are another great choice for families. Visitors can choose between tours focused on U.S. presidents or African American history, and stops can include the Rising Sun Tavern Museum, Lincoln’s Historic Footsteps and Shiloh Baptist Church.

“[Traipse tours] show some cool secret places downtown, like all the locations where presidents of the United States have visited,” Rose said.

Want to get in some more activity? Fredericksburg’s picturesque trail system features mountain biking routes and beginner-friendly pathways that the whole family can enjoy. The Rappahannock River Heritage Trail is a breezy 1.6-mile paved trail that connects the two parts of the Canal Path for a 3.1-mile loop.

“We have beautiful trail systems in Fredericksburg and all around the region,” said April Peterson, co-owner and general manager of adventure outpost River Rock Outfitter. “If you’re looking for [for] outdoor experiences, Fredericksburg is great for that.”

Eat, drink and be merry—then get some rest

While many areas of Fredericksburg boast a cozy, quaint feel, its eatery roster is decidedly cosmopolitan. With dozens of chef-driven, locally owned restaurants in the downtown area alone, there’s something to please every palate, including French cuisine, Japanese, Jamaican and everything in between.

Grab dinner at Foode, a Fredericksburg favorite that offers elevated American fare. Make sure to order the seasonal charcuterie board or a skillet-cooked chicken alongside herb dumplings and a hickory-smoked tomato pan sauce. For an authentic taste of Italy, try Orofino, located on the buzzy Caroline Street in the downtown National Historic District. The restaurant is offering takeout and delivery—don’t miss the vongole spaghetti served with clams and a cherry tomato garlic wine sauce, before finishing with a cannoli trio filled with ricotta imported from Sicily.

For beer and wine aficionados, Fredericksburg doesn’t disappoint. Hartwood Winery offers five-wine flights, a limited-seating tasting room and an outdoor area with light picnic-style snacks. And on the edge of downtown, Strangeways Brewing offers more than 30 unique beers and ciders. They’re open for on-premise tasting room sales with indoor and outdoor seating, plus curbside pickup or local delivery. Also, be sure to check out Fredericksburg’s three additional microbreweries, each with their own flair: Spencer Devon Brewing, Red Dragon Brewery and Adventure Brewing.

And for travelers looking to include their furry friends in the action, many local businesses, including Hartwood and Strangeways, are just fine with that.

“Fredericksburg is extremely dog friendly,” said Nancy Guinn, owner and president of Dog Krazy Inc., a local brick-and-mortar and online pet supply shop. “You never have to worry if you’re traveling with your pet—almost anywhere you go will allow your animals with you as well.”

When it comes time to relax for the night, Fredericksburg is packed with top lodging. The Historic Kenmore Inn on Princess Anne Street features beautiful on-site gardens, a front porch swing for relaxing and a made-to-order breakfast each morning. And the luxurious 1890 Caroline House is a quaint B&B that was originally built by Fredericksburg City Treasurer Robert Walker Adams in 1891.

With all there is to do, see and enjoy, first-time Fredericksburg visitors often become repeat guests and enthusiastic evangelists. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, ‘I wish we had allotted more time in Fredericksburg, there’s so much more here to do than we realized,’” said Bass. “They can’t wait to come back.”

Learn more about visiting Fredericksburg, Virginia this holiday season.

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