Fun Family Things to Do in Fredericksburg Va
Located an hour south of Washington DC and an hour northward of the land capitol Richmond, Fredericksburg began as a tobacco seaport until the Ceremonious War, when, in December of 1862, the area became synonymous with a battle that took the lives of 12, 000 thousands soldiers. Today, visitors come for an instruction in Revolutionary State of war and Ceremonious War history and a run a risk to explore the numerous museums and historical sites.
Earlier coming into boondocks, check out VisitFred.com for tons of planning suggestions, itineraries, and events. The website is well organized and offers lots of filters geared towards specific interests. Check here for special seasonal events. At that place are many historical spots throughout the greater Fredericksburg surface area and many of them are included in either the Timeless Ticket or Day Pass. The Timeless Ticket allows a company one time admission to ix locations without an expiration engagement. Children receive a gratuitous Timeless Ticket with every adult ticket purchased. The Timeless Ticket is definitely the manner to run across many of the most pop sites (and ones we've mentioned below) and allows visitors the flexibility of not cramming everything in one day (although there is a Day Pass with 24 hours access).
Alternatively, the Washington Heritage Museums oversees the Apothecary, Rising Sun Tavern, and Mary Washington Firm and offers a combination Heritage Pass ticket to visit all 3 locations for a reduced rate. More than data, including special events, can exist found hither.
Getting effectually town: Fredericksburg is the most pedestrian friendly metropolis we take visited. Motorists stopped for us at every crosswalk and many times when we were approaching a crosswalk. In that location is plenty of 2 hour free street parking (Sundays are all day!) and plenty of public lots- cheque out the map with locations here. A very useful map with popular locations (many of which are on our superlative 10 listing) can be found here (and difficult copies are available at the Company Centers). We felt very safe and comfortable walking around town.
Caroline Street is a main road (one way) with lots of nifty boutiques and restaurants. Because we were with children who don't consider shopping a fun excursion we passed through quickly, but I would have loved to go back and duck in to several shops and graze at many restaurants. Nosotros did take a smashing dinner at Capitol Ale House ; definitely get the Bavarian pretzel- it's huge! Make certain to leave room for dessert; Fredericksburg Cupcakes are succulent and come in a variety of flavors and toppings. A more complete list of dining options tin be found here– and yous tin can filter by interest.
The locations we've included below are family friendly and offer guided tours or kid friendly activities that are nether an hour. Some of them exercise not have restrooms on site and not handicap accessible (we've noted information technology) and many have limited hours on the weekend and during "off season" so cheque alee of time.
10 Family Friendly Things to Do in Fredericksburg:
1. Stop at the Fredericksburg Visitor Centre on Caroline Street and option upwardly tickets, tours, and information. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and has tons of takeaway information. Make sure to grab a seasonal chart with top spots to visit, admission hours, access fees, and other pertinent information. The Center too has more in depth information, brochures, and souvenirs. The Eye sells tickets for guided tours and Timeless Tickets, which I highly recommend for substantial savings if yous plan on visiting multiple spots on this listing. In that location are restrooms on site. Visitor Centers are also located on Southpoint Parkway (Spotsylvania) and Falmouth (Stafford County).
2. Aroma dozens of ointments, medicines, and potions used past Dr. Hugh Mercer at his Apothecary Shop. Dr. Mercer provided medical treatment for many of the locals, including Mary Washington. A guide explains how the diverse flowers, vegetables, and animal and fish parts are used to cure various diseases and ailments. The main floor also includes the doctor's office and an showroom room. The upstairs pulverization room and chamber are self guided and not handicap accessible. Tours take xxx minutes and the museum has no restrooms or handicap accessibility
3. Brush up on your decorum and etiquette at the Rising Sun Tavern , built in 1762 by George Washington's youngest brother. Information technology was later turned into a tavern, and and so a museum in 1907. Guided tours describe life in Fredericksburg in the belatedly 1700s and share stories explaining the pregnant of "getting off on the incorrect foot" and the carousing of the "tavern wenches". There are no restrooms on site and the museum is non handicap accessible. Plan to spend 45 minutes for a tour.
4. Debunk myths nearly "closet taxes" and lifting pinkies while sipping tea at the Mary Washington House . Learn nigh the fierce stubbornness and independence of Mary Washington, mother of America's 1st president George Washington, at her abode. Orphaned by the age of 13, Mary gave nascence to 6 children and raised them throughout three homes in Virginia. She spent the terminal 17 years of her life (1772-1789) at this home in Fredericksburg before dying at the historic period of 80, more than double the expected age for women during that time. Have children look out for the pale light-green paint in the sitting room ( expensive for the fourth dimension period because it was "painted with money" copper), the sleeping room pot hidden in a sitting chair, and the mirror the Washington family actually used on a daily basis. A copy of her will is displayed on the second flooring, which is self guided and includes several bedrooms. Tours concluding approximately 30 minutes, plus time to explore upstairs, and only the first floor of the museum is handicap accessible.
five. Complete the scavenger hunt at the J ames Monroe Museum . Monroe, the 5th President of America, practiced constabulary in Fredericksburg before serving virtual every political position earlier condign president The museum includes a brief introductory video and several pieces of furniture Monroe used to furnish the White House afterwards it was burnt downward by British soldiers. Kids tin consummate a scavenger hunt, sort items Monroe would have brought on a trip, bank check out the china used by Monroe and his family and acquire well-nigh Monroe's granddaughter who opened the dwelling equally a museum in 1927. In that location is space for puzzles, games, and a reading nook. The museum is handicap attainable for the principal floor, simply at that place is one step up to i portion of the museum and restrooms are located on the lower level.
half-dozen. Study the history of the expanse at the Fredericksburg Expanse Museum , housed in the former mayor'due south role and urban center council chambers edifice. Exist on the lookout for a manual cash register from a shoe store in the 1930s, a switchboard unit used in town, a soap box derby motorcar, a massive Civil State of war musket collection, and a drove of cellophane (a local product found produced thousands of rolls in every color, width, and weight). The museum is handicap accessible and restrooms are located on the basement floor and third flooring. Plan i hour to explore the museum, a little longer to linger on some exhibits.
7. Retrace the steps of Amalgamated and Union soldiers during the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg at the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National War machine Park. Start at the Fredericksburg Visitor's Centre and spend time exploring the museum exhibits learning most the battle. Make sure kids complete a Inferior Ranger booklet to earn a special badge. There is a 22 infinitesimal introductory movie (nominal charge) and guided tours of the Sunken Road are offered multiple times each solar day. The Sunken Road, the focal betoken of the day long battle where more than 8,000 soldiers died, is also a self-guided ¾ mile path. Grab a map and drive to the vi stops on the driving tour- more data hither. The book store sells souvenirs and historical books- make certain to stamp your National Park Passport. The park also includes the National Cemetery, establish in 1865, which is the resting spot for Union soldiers; Amalgamated soldiers are cached in cemeteries by the courthouse. At that place are four spots on a walking bout with a map here. The main floor of the museum is handicap accessible and restrooms are located near the bookstore. Plan on an hour to explore the museum and nearby grounds, longer for the walk on the Sunken Road and driving tour.
8. (Literally) Pull upwards a chair inside George Washington's childhood home, Ferry Farm . The original abode, built in 1727 and purchased by George'due south father Augustine in 1738, was one of three plantations that the Washington family owned. The original home was left to ruins afterwards the Civil State of war until archeologists uncovered the foundation of the home in 2008. Historians spent a decade confirming the verbal blueprint of the dwelling and recreating it. A replica home opened in 2018 on the exact spot of the original dwelling house and includes all replica furniture and furnishings. The all-time part? The habitation is heated and air conditioned and kids can touch on and sit down on EVERYTHING! Kids will be intrigued past the sugar torso, roped beds, and wig curlers (in that location were over 200 found on the property). Guides tours terminal approximately 30 minutes and the first floor of the home is handicap accessible. Start in the Company Center, which has 2 rooms explaining how archeologists discovered the grounds and foundation of the home too as the will of Augustine Washington and the probate inventory of all items in the original business firm (which is how the museum was able to recreate everything to lucifer the original habitation). iPads are available to take cocky-guided tours of the grounds and for guests who cannot climb the stairs to the second floor of the house. Check out the various signs of the "Rules of Civility." Exit fourth dimension to explore the gardens, walk down to the Rappahannock River for the all-time views of the business firm, and ask the archeologists working on site questions. Restrooms are located in the Visitor Centre and in a separate building on the short walk to the habitation. Because there is no lighting in the dwelling house, the home and museum close earlier in the fall and is closed in Jan and February.
9. Evaluate the decorating skills of Betty Washington and Fielding Lewis at their retirement domicile, Kenmore. It took 80 servants of George Washington's sister Betty and her husband v years to build the home, completed in 1775. After their death, the property was sold by Betty'due south son to pay off a substantial family debt Fielding had accrued helping to fund the Revolutionary War through his gunnery. 2 more families lived in the dwelling house until the early 1900s when it was abased. Local members of the Daughters of the American Revolution saved the home from demolition and it opened as a museum in 1925, with a Visitor Center added in 1975. Guided tours are offered throughout the day and terminal xxx minutes. Tours include access to the first floor of the abode- visitors will surely be impressed by the extravagant paintings and stucco ceilings and murals, which have been exquisitely maintained. Cheque out the 12 fashion plates displayed in the cartoon room which offered the ladies of the home suggestions for way choices each month. A replica kitchen is located to the left of the house and a replica laundry cottage is stationed to the right of the home. Photography is not allowed in the home or museum. Program on 30 minutes to explore the Visitor Center, which includes a pocket-sized souvenir shop and restrooms, in add-on to the guided bout.
10. Honor the men and women who serve as United States Marines at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, but outside Fredericksburg in Triangle, Virginia. The museum, which opened in 2006, is already expanding, with galleries starting with the Revolutionary State of war through the Vietnam State of war. The museums has thousands of existent artifacts used in combat, including aircrafts, tanks, and vehicles. There are uniforms and medals from every war, and several areas geared towards explaining complicated events in our nation's history to children. Children under 6 volition similar the Children's Gallery and Chesty's Corner. The museum has both a cateria and full service restaurant on site, as well as an outdoor Memorial Walk with over 40 displays honoring individuals, corps, and events, and a chapel. The museum is Gratuitous to visit 264 days a year (closed on Christmas) and is fully handicap accessible. Plan on at least 3-4 hours to fully explore the museum and view the introductory video.
Staying Local: Nosotros e'er stay at Marriott properties (you can read about why here) and establish the Courtyard Fredericksburg to be all-around and in the perfect location. We walked to most of these locations and the hotel is surrounded past dozens of dining options.
Disclosure: My family was provided Timeless Tickets to explore Fredericksburg. All opinions expressed are my ain.
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