FREDERICKSBURG AND THE
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER
Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock River offers plenty of watery
fun along with the dose of history you expect from this region.
The city was a prominent port during the colonial era, and was
strategically important in the Civil War due to its location between
Washington and Richmond. It’s most famous moment was the Battle
of Fredericksburg in 1862, which was described as “pure butchery”
following General Lee’s victory.
Fredericksburg is rich in Civil War history and you can relive this
dark time in U.S. history at the Fredericksburg Battlefield or the
Confederate Cemetery where 3,300 Southern soldiers are buried. A
life-sized zinc statue with granite base of a soldier on dress parade
was dedicated in 1884 to the “Confederate Dead.”
If you want to capture the spirit of Fredericksburg without racking
up steps on your FitBit, try the 75-minute vintage Trolley Tour,
which departs daily from the visitor center. Stops along the way
include Mary Washington’s home, James Monroe museum, Kenmore
Plantation and the Civil War Battlefield. Tour guides, including senior
driver Mark Davis, who has been riding the trolley since it launched in
1997, offer interesting insight into the town’s soul.
The Rappahannock River is the hub of activity in Fredericksburg,
which at 195 miles is the longest free flowing river in the Chesapeake
Bay watershed, and there is plenty to explore. The Heritage Trail is a
3.1-mile loop from downtown along the river and past Old Mill Park
that can be walked, biked or run. For the adventurous, the Virginia
Outdoor Center has kayaking, canoeing, tubing, rock climbing and
camping opportunities either with a guide or solo. If you want a bit of
everything at a slower pace, the Alum Spring Park has walking trails
for adults, swimming holes for smaller guests and playgrounds for
the littlest ones.
Once the sunsets, the Riverside Theater hosts musicals, dramatic plays
and children’s stories — and if you go for the dinner show, enjoy a
three-course, chef-prepared meal with the show. Recent productions
have included “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Mamma Mia!” and “The
Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
GETTING THERE:
Fredericksburg is 53 miles south of D.C. on I-95.
Colonial Williamsburg
SUMMER 2018 61 FLYWASHINGTON.COM