TREASURES TO DISCOVER
BEYOND WASHINGTON’S BORDERS
BY JAYNE CLARK
Occoquan River
Credit: Ali Zaman
PURCELLVILLE, VA.
beers it warns are “not for the faint of heart.” Savor some slow-cooked
brisket at nearby Monk’s BBQ. For fancier fare, try Magnolias at the
Mill or West End Wine Bar.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN D.C. DON’T MISS
50 miles A spin on the idyllic W&OD trail. Purcellville marks the western end of
the 45-mile-long Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.
Rent wheels at Bicycles and Coffee on Main Street.
This fast-growing town of about 10,000 in the heart of what’s been
dubbed D.C.’s Wine Country, has undergone a transformation from
agricultural hamlet to suburban outpost. But the western Loudoun
County community retains plenty of 19th and early 20th century
charm. Stately homes with broad front porches hug Main Street. Its
historic district boasts one-of-a-kind shops, including consignment and
antiques emporia where you’re likely to snag a great deal on a great
find. A number of these shops are on 21st Street, site of the town’s
historic railroad depot. Pop into It’s Bazaar on 21st Street for a trove
of vintage collectibles, art and furniture. Across the way, Re-Love It
boasts a well-curated selection of clothing, accessories and home
décor. (The fact that Loudoun County boasts the highest median
household income in the nation benefits the selection.) On Main
Street, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company offers tours and tastings
of its whiskeys, brandies and cocktails. Adroit Theory Brewing, one
of several town breweries, makes small-batch “esoteric” barrel-aged
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 56 SPRING 2018
FREDERICKSBURG, VA.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN D.C.
52 miles
George Washington slept here. Indeed, he spent much of his boyhood
on a nearby Rappahannock River farm. Begin your visit downtown in
the 40-block National Historic District, where the red-brick walkways
are lined with hundreds of well-maintained 18th and 19th century
structures. Check out the antiques stores clustered around Caroline
Street and dozens of one-of-a-kind boutiques. Because of its location
midway between Washington and Richmond, Fredericksburg was