Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fredericksburg is an independent city set along the Rappahannock River in northeastern Virginia. The city is located 53 miles (85 kilometers) southwest of Washington, DC, and 57 miles (92 kilometers) north of Richmond.

The land on which Fredericksburg was established was part of a tract dated 1671. A great way to explore local history is to stroll (and shop and dine in) the city's 40-block National Historic District, Old Town Fredericksburg, whose roots go back to its time as a colonial marketplace. Visit historic homes such as Mary Washington House, purchased by George Washington for his mother and Kenmore, considered one of the most elegant Colonial mansions in the country. Or for an experience of tavern life from the 1700s, complete with tavern wenches, head down to the Rising Sun Tavern. And with all the history in and around Fredericksburg, it'll be no surprise that another fun thing to do is to go on a ghost tour!

In 1862, during the Civil War, the area was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg, which saw an estimated 17,929 casualties. Today, you can do self-guided biking and hiking tours of the battlefields at the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.

To enjoy the outdoors, make your way to Lake Anna State Park and Rocky Branch Marina and Campground, both located a few miles south in Spotsylvania. And for a leisurely day on the links, there are six golf courses in and around Frederickburg.

And shoppers take note, you will have many places to bargain-hunt in Fredericksburg and area, include Central Park, a 2,400,000-square-foot (222,967-square-meter) mixed-use major retail and entertainment component that's getting even bigger, with an additional 800,000 square feet (74,322 square meters) in planning!

Loads of history and lots to do – make your way to Fredericksburg.

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