WARRENTON, VA
Distance from downtown D.C.
48 miles
This town of 10,000 is the gateway to the state’s scenic Piedmont,
a region dotted with horse farms and wineries. Start at the Visitor
Center to plot your course along Main Street’s 10-block red-brick
sidewalk. Old Town’s principal thoroughfare boasts independently
owned shops, eateries, and art galleries. Pop into Latitudes Fair Trade
Store for sustainable, handmade goods from around the world. Or
hoist a Warrenton Great American Ale, one of a dozen or so on tap
at Wort Hog Brewing Co. Equestrian traditions run deep here. The
Warrenton Horse Show, chartered in 1899, is held in late August, and
the Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races (the first Saturday in May)
have been running since 1922. The Fauquier Wine Trail leads to 26-
plus nearby wineries. And the sprawling Sky Meadows State Park, 23
miles north in Delaplane, beckons hikers with 22 miles of trails and a
depiction of post-Civil War farm life.
DINING: Red Truck Bakery, in a 1921 Esso gas station, has gotten
thumbs ups from the likes of Obama and Oprah. Try the moonshine
cakes (made with hooch from the neighboring county) or pick up a
sandwich to go. Claire’s at the Depot is a local favorite serving creative
fare in a white-tablecloth setting.
LODGING: Airlie sports country-chic quarters on a 300-acre farm
crowned by a Georgian-Revival mansion.
DON’T MISS: The Fauquier History Museum at the Old Jail, the well-
preserved lockup dates to 1808 and spotlights local history.
FREDERICK, MD
Distance from downtown D.C.
50 miles
Boosters characterize this small city as a place where history meets
hip. And with its buzzy restaurant scene, distinctive retail offerings,
and a past that spans centuries, who’s to argue? Among the 200-plus
shops and eateries in Frederick’s 50-block historic downtown, without
chain outlets (save for Starbucks). Among the offerings: The Curious
Iguana is an independent bookstore, Firestone’s Market sells local
beers, wine, and cheeses, Emporium Antiques is a historic warehouse
crammed with vintage merchandise, and Dancing Bear Toys specializes
in battery-free playthings. A public art trail takes in building-size murals,
large-scale sculptures and more. Need a break? Drop by one of five
downtown microbreweries. If grapes are more to your liking, 34 tasting
rooms and wineries are in Frederick County. For Civil War buffs, there’s
the Monocacy National Battlefield (known as the battle that saved
Washington) southeast of town.
Warrenton
Credit: Taber Andrew Bain
10 Clarke in Frederick
Red Truck Bakery in Warrenton
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 62 SPRING 2019