21+ Things To Do In Fredericksburg VA For History Buffs In Love

When you think of Virginia, rich history and natural beauty may come to mind. And there’s so many amazing things to do Fredericksburg VA alone. Especially for history loving couples.

From its colonial-era architecture to its sprawling national parks, this city offers a wealth of experiences that cater to a diverse range of interests. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway or an outdoor adventure, there are plenty of things to do in Fredericksburg VA, in Spotsylvania County, that you won’t want to miss.

Ask a local about the appeal of Fredericksburg, and you’ll most likely hear the word “layers,” as in, “there are so many layers of history and approaches to this town, it’s impossible to summarize in a sound bite.”

Fredericksburg was established in the early 1700’s, at the end point of navigation on the Rappahannock River from the Chesapeake Bay. It was a thriving port city and the boyhood home of George Washington.

In 1738, George Washington’s father, Augustine, moved his family to land across the river. A ferry, in a location now called Ferry Farm, took him back and forth from home to Fredericksburg. George Washington lived here from age six. Both his mother, Mary Washington, and his sister, Betty Washington Lewis owned Fredericksburg homes, now open to the public for tours, as is the reconstructed Ferry Farm.

There were four major Civil War Battles in the area, as Fredericksburg was in a strategic location. It was 50 miles from both the Union base of Washington DC and Confederate Richmond VA. The Rappahannock River served as a natural barrier between the two.

The three Church spires that Civil War soldiers could see while marching into town still stand. They remain the highest points on the Fredericksburg skyline.

Now, though, instead of soldiers, the town teems with culinary artists, boutique inns, and fine independent shops. Fredericksburg draws celebrities to its classy, professional dinner theater, and is home to one of the best small-batch bourbon distilleries in the country.

Fredericksburg is on our list of 20 Surprisingly Romantic Getaways in VA. Check it out if you wish to explore the state further. Looking for someplace dreamy outside of Virginia? Check out our 150 Best Romantic Getaways in the Northeast US (Virginia to Maine).

Where is Fredericksburg VA?

Fredericksburg, Virginia, is strategically situated along the I-95 corridor, approximately halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, the state capital. The city is about 50 miles south of D.C. and around 58 miles north of Richmond, making it an accessible destination for travelers from both cities.

Situated alongside the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area and is a hub of history, culture, and outdoor activities. Its location also places it within easy reach of various historical sites and natural landscapes, offering a balanced mix of urban and rural experiences.

Romantic Things to Do in Fredericksburg VA

TOUR: Trolly Tours of Fredericksburg VA

Just in town for a couple of hours? This 75-minute Fredericksburg Trolly Tour will give you a quick overview of the town’s history, leaving you wanting for more. You’ll just have to come back for a few more days.

TOUR: Ferry Farm: George Washington’s Boyhood Home

Ferry Farm – otherwise known as George Washington’s Boyhood Home fills the gap between GW’s Birthplace, 45 minutes from here, and Mount Vernon, where he spent his older years. He moved here with his family at age 6, and lived here off and on until his late teens.

While preparing to replicate the home on its original footprint, historians found over a million artifacts on this former tobacco plantation – 200 of which were wig curling irons.

Even though the original structures no longer stand, professionals from Colonial Williamsburg consulted a probate inventory of the original home when Washington lived there: itemized down to the furniture in each room.

And then, using very detailed letters written by Washington’s mother, Mary, in which she described her favorite housewares  – e.g. her blue and white tea set, a group of red leather chairs – historians were able to reconstruct the home and items in it.

It helped that at 12 years old, the brilliant George started to save all of his schoolwork – including his classwork, his essays, and other papers. By age 15 or 16, he became a surveyor for Lord Fairfax, and by age 17 was offered an official Surveyor’s job – the youngest ever on record. By 18, he received his first Military Commission. You can see copies of GW’s homework and papers on a tour of the home and property.

TOUR: Washington Heritage Museums

Tours of the Washington Heritage Museums provide a fascinating journey into America’s past, right in the heart of Virginia. Comprising four historic 18th-century properties, these museums offer an in-depth look at the life and times of early Fredericksburg residents, including George Washington’s family.

The Mary Washington House, where George Washington’s mother lived, the Rising Sun Tavern, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, and St. James’ House collectively encapsulate different facets of colonial life, from medical practices to domestic settings.

Mary Washington House

George Washington purchased this home, now called the Mary Washington House, for his mother in 1772. George was 11 when his father died. His mother, Mary, just 35, was left with several young children to raise in the family home on Ferry Farm. She had always lived on plantations, and even when older, and with an empty nest, Mary refused to move into town, where both her son and daughter and their familes lived.

But, when Mary was 63, in 1772, after a bout of the flu, George insisted that his mother move out of the farm, which was a distance from town. She reluctantly did so, but found joy in gardening and entertaiing during her later years. The garden has been lovingly restored, and you can see some of her personal possessions – such as her original tea pot – on an enlightening tour. Mary died of breast cancer in bed here at age 80 (1789). Her home was preserved and has been operating as an historic museum since 1900.

Rising Sun Tavern

Built in 1760 for George Washington’s youngest brother, Charles, the home was turned into a Tavern in 1792 and operated as one until the 1820s. When the first tavern keeper, John Frazier, died, he left his wife, Elizabeth to run Rising Sun Tavern.

Join an illuminating, entirely entertaining 45-minute tour of the only prosperous tavern in Fredericksburg at that time. It was a place where ladies could enter and “not lose their reputation.” Safe in their own sitting room, women could “repair damages to their appearance after a bumpy 50-mile carriage ride.”

You’ll learn the origins of some now commonplace words and phrases. For example,  “drink like a fish” originated from the fish stamped at the bottom of “stirrup cup” tankards. “Here’s looking at you” was based on the fact that the bottoms of many mugs were made of glass, allowing imbibers to see their companions even while drinking.

TOUR: Historic Kenmore

Historic Kenmore is an elegant Georgian-style mansion that once belonged to George Washington’s sister, Betty Washington Lewis, and her husband, Fielding Lewis. The façade of Kenmore still bears a cannonball.

TOUR: James Monroe Museum and Library

The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library is a comprehensive repository of artifacts and exhibits focusing on the fifth U.S. President, James Monroe. The museum, situated on the site of Monroe’s law office, offers visitors a deep dive into his life, public service, and the tumultuous period of American history during which he lived.

Stop in to see the desk at which he’s purported to have written the 1823 Monroe Doctrine,  which warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.

PRIVATE TOUR: Hallowed Ground Tours

If you have a full day to explore Fredericksburg VA history, you’ll want to enlist the formidable skills of Scott Walker, “Tourmaster” of Hallowed Ground Tours. He will custom-design a guided tour itinerary for your preferred timeframe (both in real time, and in the historical sense), and weave stories about the area so adroitly, you’ll come away with a visceral sense of Fredericksburg history.

I was most interested in the Civil War Tale of Stonewall Jackson’s Arm. So, Walker took me on a thrilling “timeline tour” of this very strange episode in history. I stopped into the following attractions with him, but you can visit each on your own.

VISIT: Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park serves as a poignant reminder of the American Civil War’s impact on the nation. Covering four major battlefields—Fredericksburg Battlefield, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House—the park is a sprawling historical site.

Visitors can walk along well-preserved trails, explore the visitor centers that provide in-depth historical context, and stand on overlooks where crucial decisions changed the course of battles and, by extension, American history. With a focus on education and remembrance, the park is a destination for those looking to delve deeply into the Civil War’s complexities.

Tour: Chatham Manor

Chatham Manor is notable for having hosted three Presidents – Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. Built in the 1770s for William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham, it was owned by Horace Lacy during the Civil War when Lincoln came to call.

Like all large homes and buildings of the day, Chatham became a Civil War hospital. This is where Mary Edwards Walker, the second female medical doctor in the country, and first to receive a Medal of Honor, healed the war wounded.

Walt Whitman also served as a nurse here. His poem, The Wound Dresser, draws graphically and poignantly on this experience.

While the war was raging, Fredericksburg VA was a dangerous place to be.

So Horace Lacy moved out of town to a relatively modest farm home he called Ellwood Manor. This would prove important in the tale of Stonewall Jackson’s amputated arm.

The view from the terrace – across the River into Fredericksburg – hasn’t changed much, and it’s worth the short jaunt just to see it.

Chatham’s last owner, General Motor’s Executive, John Pratt, improved the house and grounds. The decorative musical-note iron fence he had constructed, spells out “Home Sweet Home.”

When the National Park Service took over the mansion, other important interior elements were discovered and preserved. The most photographed is Civil War graffiti on original plaster walls – etched by members of the 30^th Infantry.

VISIT: Battle of Chancellorsville NHP

One hundred thirty thousand Union soldiers faced off against 65,000 Confederates during 2 ½ weeks in May 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Who won? Not the obvious side.

Smack dab in the midst of the four-year war, this battle featured celebrity General “Stonewall Jackson” (see Manassas VA), and General Robert E. Lee. The two hatched a plan to outfox an army more than twice the size of theirs.

As you make your way through the park, you’ll find remnants of a past industry. Augustine Washington came to Fredericksburg because he knew that there was iron ore all around – a “cash crop” smelted locally in iron furnaces, some of which can still be found intact.

Tons of trees were felled to fuel the smelters, clearing land for farming. But this area wasn’t cut.

These uncut tangles of foliage were referred to as the “wilderness.” It served as a good place for Confederate troops to hide while advancing on their opponents.

While Lee pretended to diddle on the main road with a few thousand soldiers, fooling Union officers into believing those were his only men, Jackson marched his line of 30,000 soldiers twelve miles around the vulnerable Union flank.

This strategy resulted in the second bloodiest day in Civil War history – with 21,000 casualties in one day (vs. 23,000 at Antietam) – and a Confederate victory.

Stonewall Jackson’s Fateful Day

It also proved fatal to Stonewall Jackson who was shot by his own men while on nighttime reconnaissance. Walk the path to the place where Jackson was wounded, then spend some time in the Visitor’s Center, which tells the tale of this important and deadly battle.

Jackson, barely alive, was loaded onto a bumpy wooden ambulance. Accompanied by his personal Chaplain, Beverly Lacy, Horace’s brother, he ended up at a field hospital on what is now Route 3/Plank Rd. There, Jackson’s arm was removed. (There’s actually a plaque that marks the spot of “Jackson’s Amputation” on Route 3).

Lacy, knowing that his brother’s place, Ellwood Manor, was just up the hill, decided to bury the great man’s arm in a marked grave, rather than have it thrown unceremoniously on a heap of other discarded limbs. Jackson later died from his injuries.

The Grave of Stonewall Jackson’s Arm at Ellwood Manor

If the home is open, stop in. Otherwise, you can find the headstone for Jackson’s Arm past a hedgerow path and down into a field to the right side of the house.

VISIT: Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM)

According to FAM’s info page, FAM’s collection of objects span more than ten thousand years of history!  Ranging from Native American artifacts to Black Lives Matter posters, the objects support the vast and rich stories of our community and offer insight into the lives of those that have paddled our river, walked our streets, worked our fields, run our businesses and government, attended our schools and churches, and participate in national movements.“

Perhaps one of the most disturbing – and controvertial artifact is the Slave Auction Block that until recently stood on the corner of William and Charles Streets as a sad reminder of a thriving business. It was removed from downtown, and is now on display at FAM with information panels at the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM).

One of the most poignant stories told in Fredericksburg is from the diary of one enslaved John Washington, who recounts Union Soldiers standing on the far side of the Rappahannock River, calling to Black men and women to cross to their freedom. “A most memorable night it was when the soldiers assured me that I was a free man,” he wrote on April 18, 1862.

TOUR: Belmont – the Gari Melcher Home and Studio

Purchased in 1916 by American Naturalist painter (contemporary of John Singer Sargent) Gari Melcher, this home and studio is perfect for art historians looking for an alternative to Civil War history.

TOUR: A. Smith Bowman Distillery

Did you know that authentic bourbon must be a) from the USA, b) 60% corn, and c) aged in brand-new charred oak barrels?

After a one-hour tour of A. Smith Bowman Distillery, in a repurposed cellophane plant (FMC closed in the 1970s), you’ll know all there is to know about the history of this company and the distilling and aging process. And of course, you’ll get to sample the goods.

Master Distiller, Brian Prewitt, presides over this small-batch distillery. In the distilling room, stare up at two massive copper stills – “George” and “Mary.” Mary is the “workhorse.” George, with its coiled piping, looks like something Willy Wonka and Captain Nemo would have dreamed up.

Of course, you can purchase bottles of Vodka, Gin, and Bourbon in the gift shop. But my favorite souvenir was a bag of bourbon-soaked charcoal, which had flaked off inside of charred oak barrels during the aging process. It makes for the perfect barbecue enhancer.

SHOP: Sugar + Spruce

Owned by aesthetician, Crystal Wellman, Sugar + Spruce makes buying natural colorful scented soaps, lotions, and bath products a blast. Even better – you can customize and make these lotions and potions yourself.

SHOP: Old Town Fredericksburg VA

You won’t find one franchise store in Old Town, which is a boon to window shoppers everywhere. This part of town is so compact, that you can emerge from Mary or Betty Washington’s house, say, and within seconds be trying on a one-of-a-kind dress.

Actor Sally Struthers (who, in the past has stayed in Fredericksburg while performing at the Riverside Center) is partial to The Kitchen AT Whittingham, a home and kitchen goods store. “It’s got amazing windows – Bob used to do the windows at Saks in NY,” Struthers gushes. “Bob Wittingham is my litmus test for taste.”

DO: See a Show at Riverside Center

This is not your grandma’s dinner theater. Book a seat at the Riverside Center and you may very well see Sally Struthers vamping it up on stage. Broadway actor, Patrick A’Hearn, named Producing Artistic Director of the theater in 2014, launched the original Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in Jan/Feb of that year, garnering a “huge response.”

A’Hearn has pushed the envelope on traditional dinner theater fare, with Spamalot, Steel Magnolias, and 9 to 5, starring a hilariously bawdy Sally Struthers. Each year brings new, exciting productions to the stage.

WALK: Government Island – Stafford

It’s about a 20-minute drive north on I-95 to the “Freestone” Sandstone quarry that supplied the building blocks for the White House and our country’s Capitol Building.

Once an island (now silted in), a wide navigable creek encircled Government Island. It was thus easy for quarrymen to load ships that would float out to the Potomac River and then on to DC.

In full production from 1791 – 1795 and then after the War of 1812, Government Island has been preserved as a nature park. There’s a 1 ½ mile loop on boardwalks and easy paths, perfect for bird watching.

Along the way, you’ll see remnants of quarried rock, scored by pick-marks, end pieces or “spoil stone,” and gorgeous river vistas.

Fredericksburg VA Restaurants

EAT: Foode

Pronounced “foodie,” a few years ago, Foode moved from a Bohemian space into a Capitalist one. Literally. Located inside the Historic National Bank building, Foode is now a classy, upscale eatery with foode to match.

Romantics will want to reserve a table inside the old, ornate walk-in vault. Before you sit down, though, you’ll have to check out the groovy mural, which pulls apart to reveal the open kitchen. Book a rsvp to experience the food and interior design. There’s a reason Foode has been a top restaurant in Fredericksburg for years.  

EAT: Locals love

Fahrenheit 132 – a trendy wine and cocktail bar, Harry’s Sidecar for romance and burgers, Bascilico and Orofino for Italian, and the Irish pub, Park Lane Tavern.

TREAT: Carl’s Frozen Custard

A tradition in these parts and still family-owned. Soft serve frozen custard in a walk-up stand – Carl’s is cash only and a summer favorite.

Fredericksburg VA Hotels

STAY: The Publisher, A Tribute Hotel

Tribute branded hotels typically pay homage to institutions that are deeply rooted in the towns and cities they choose to open, integrating hospitality and style with nods to local culture. In Fredericksburg VA, the boutique Publisher Hotel was built on the footprint of the former office of Fredericksburg’s city newspaper, The Free Lance Star.

Opened in the Fall of 2024, The Publisher definitely fulfills a need: as Fredericksburg’s only full-service downtown boutique hotel. Trendy and stylish, it’s just a quick walk from most of the sites, shops, and restaurants that make this city fun for both history buffs and foodies.

First Impressions of The Publisher

The handsome dimly lit lobby immediately sets the mood: a blazing, long glass fireplace, embedded in a marble wall, welcomes guests warmly (sorry).

Reception staff are extremely helpful and uber friendly: setting an upbeat and positive tone for guests. (I point this out because that guest-focused attitude is sadly not the case in many US lodgings).

Guest Rooms

Quiet and hushed, each deeply hued guest room, in blue and gold, carry a whiff of the traveling reporter. Each is equipped with drawers that could pass for 19th century suitcases. In lieu of an enclosed closet, there’s an open hanging rack reminiscent of hotel luggage carts – or train car luggage racks.

Though not ornately plush, rooms are definitely high-end, with hardwood floors, area rugs, large Smart flatscreen TV, and leather appointments.

In contrast to the darker bedrooms, the sparkling marble bathrooms are light, bright, and practically shimmer with newness. The white marble with brushed brass fixtures evokes a 1920’s elegance – and of course feature fluffy robes and a backlit mirror.

Dining at The Publisher: V (Five) Chophouse

The aesthetic at V Chophouse is steakhouse all the way: dark, clubby, and inviting. The bar extends along one side of the hotel lobby, drawing you in after a long day of travel, for a small bite to eat and a drink, or a deep dive into a great chop.

Fitness Center: Anytime Fitness

Fitness conscious guests will be happy to know that they can utilize the machines and classes at Anytime Fitness in The Residences next door (accessed through an enclosed 2nd floor skywalk). The vast room has every piece of equipment you’ll need for a full workout.

STAY: 1890 Caroline House & Richard Johanson Inn

Right at the edge of the cute-boutique section of town, this beautifully decorated three-room 1890 Caroline House balances 1920s chic with 2020s kick.

Room one – with crown moldings, bay window, black and white pallet, high tech jet tub, glass shower, wrought iron bed, gas fireplace, mirrored vanity desk, dark walls, and sparkling crystal chandelier, could be one of the most popular on a “House Design” tour.

Breakfast is an extravagant affair. Dine on the likes of Asparagus Crepes with Hollandaise Sauce, Lemon Eggs Over Potatoes and Peppers – or anything you prefer, really. Stays include welcome snacks, complementary bourbon, and three-course gourmet breakfast.

This second luxury inn – Richard Johnston Inn – a block away, also puts you at the center of Historic Fredericksburg. Guests staying here and at the 1890 Caroline House will be treated to a phenomenal breakfast in the stately dining room. Rooms and suites stays include three-course gourmet breakfast.

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