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Fredericksburg lies in the rolling hills between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, conveniently accessible on I-95. With small-town charm and modern comforts, Fredericksburg is a prime destination for exploring Civil War battlefields, historic buildings, wineries, lakes, hiking trails, and a charming Old Town area.
The Fredericksburg area boasts an abundance of historical sites. At Ferry Farm, George Washington's boyhood home, archaeological digs are ongoing to uncover the original foundations of the Washingtons' house, as well as evidence of early Native American settlements. Visitors can also tour the house where George's mother, Mary, lived in her later years. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library holds a collection of the possessions and papers of the fifth U.S. president, also a resident of Fredericksburg.
During the Civil War,
four major battles were fought in the region; today, more than 7,000 acres of battlefields and cemeteries are preserved by the National Park Service. Many historic buildings have also been preserved: grand houses such as Chatham and Ellwood, the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, churches, a bank, a courthouse and even a jail. Visitors interested in art may enjoy a tour of Belmont, the estate where impressionist painter Gari Melchers lived and worked.
Downtown, find chef-owned restaurants, art galleries and studios, antiques and specialty shops. The Fredericksbug area is also home to many wineries, distilleries and microbreweries—you may discover a new favorite!
Water
sports abound on beautiful Lake Anna and the pristine Rappahannock
River; hiking trails and picnic spots are also scenic and plentiful. Golfers can tee off at several top-rated courses, and visitors should be sure to check the listing of community events and festivals in the Fredericksburg area.
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