If you don't know it by now, the missus and I are big believers in happy hour. We don't treat it…read morelike a hobby so much as a part-time job with better benefits. Today's venue of choice was a place called Rivers End, which sounds like either a cocktail bar or a warning label, depending on how your day's going. It starts off a little funny because you have to figure out the right door, then march yourself up the stairs like you're reporting for duty. Once you get up there, though, it feels like the kind of cool old place that's seen some things. You can almost feel the years rolling by, from Caribbean rum days to whiskey nights to the modern era of "smart cocktails," where they put things like herbs and intentions in your drink. The vibe was right. Cocktails were great--strong enough to matter, smooth enough not to apologize for. The food was excellent across the board, the kind that makes you stop talking for a minute so you can do some serious fork work. Most important, our waiter Shane was dead on the mark: there when you needed him, gone when you didn't, and never once tried to explain the menu like we'd just landed from Ohio for the first time. I can't find a single thing to complain about, which for me is almost a complaint in itself. Good value, good food, and a good scene--about all you can ask from an afternoon you're not spending at work. Next visit will be brunch, and I hope it's soon. Oh, and I did have the tostadas, but I got so excited by the smell I forgot to take a picture. Lewis would've understood. Some things are meant to be eaten, not photographed

Food was great, and drinks were even better! Birthday dinner, loved the environment and atmosphere…read more Quiet, but I am sure it gets busier on weekends. Great and attentive service, incredible drinks and a great time. I can't wait to come back.

We spent one night here. Overall, we had a good stay…read more Pros: The receptionists were delightful at check-in. Our room, on the 4th floor, was spacious and looked great. The king-sized bed was very comfortable, and the shower was wonderful. Cons: There are bars/nightclubs nearby; our room faced the main street and it was pretty loud out there until around midnight. The temperature in the room seemed off - at 74° we were freezing, but at 77° we were sweating. The walls are very thin; we could hear our neighbors on both sides having conversation. If you arrive later in the day and you can find a parking spot on the street, grab it because metered parking is free Monday through Saturday between 5 pm and 8 am and free all day Sunday.

I didn't do much research but decided to stay at the courtyard Marriott in downtown for the…read morewalkability. It's not a bad hotel by any means, just nothing about it stands out as fantastic. It gets the job done for being a hotel and that's about all I can give it. Beware the parking experience is a little strange as it doesn't have a visitor lot and has to be valet so if you have a car be warned. The rooms are nothing fantastic, they feel very early 2000s which isn't bad but isn't great either. I feel the bathroom could use a remodel because the sink drains were clogged, and the bathroom felt very outdated. The room was spacious though with two queen beds, a chair and very cold A/C. It also had a nice tv in the room too. Beds also felt very comfortable which is nice for a hotel. I definitely would consider this hotel again now that my expectations are a little lower on what to expect. The hotel bar was always dead without anyone around, but the lobby in it of itself was very spacious and accommodating. I also really enjoyed how many things that were walkable around downtown Fredericksburg from the hotel. A ton of breweries, the river front, and restaurants were all within a mile to walk which made it a breeze. It's a very small town with not a lot going on during the week but it did the job.

The Inn has opened the Gazebo at Fredericksburg Square. This indoor/outdoor eatery is open three…read moredays a week and offers dishes from what the chef finds fresh at the markets that day. Excellent food, good service, reasonable prices. You have to be on their email list to get the days they will be open and what the menu will be for any given day. Just call them and ask to be placed on the email list. A great place for a special meal when they open for a special event like Easter or Mother's Day.

I had my wedding here in 2011 and it occurred to me that I needed to write a review. This place was…read moreexceptionally beautiful and a bargain. Van and Deborah were great to work with and the DJ was perfect. They have been doing this for so long that they and their staff are very accomplished and attentive. We had a wedding of just under 100 guests and everyone still talks about it. The venue was beautiful. When people entered they were greeted by passed appetizers and drinks. All of the waitstaff were dressed impeccably and also removed any empty glasses and trash. We had the bacon wrapped scallops, which were divine, as well as the lamb kabobs. There was a third, but I cannot remember what it was. Regardless, I was not disappointed. For the meal we had a served buffet and they called people by table. I was initially apprehensive about this, but it went quickly and everyone was satisfied. We offered the roasted chicken and the prime rib. My mother's friend's husband still talk about the Prime Rib. We also had roasted potatoes and a rice pilaf. Everything was delicious. For drinks there was ice tea, water and Coke soft drinks. We elected to have a wine and beer bar, but in the middle of the reception (I believe because the size of people who attended was smaller than expected) they opened it up to a full open bar. The DJ was perfect and allowed the timing of the reception to be run efficiently without us being rushed. After my husband and I left, my mother told me that the staff was very efficient at wrapping up the cake as well as all of the presents, so she was able to enjoy the wedding without needing to clean up or get the family together afterwards. For NOVA and the DC Metro area, this place is a hidden gem and complete bargain. You get the glamor and prestige without the $50K price tag.

Bright, creative. and affordable coworking space. convenient location in downtown Fredericksburg…read more Tons of free parking.

From the owner: RingSpaces is not just a coworking facility; it is a dynamic hub designed to meet the diverse…read moreneeds of professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses in our vibrant community. Combination of Versatile Spaces, Amenities Galore and Event Hosting.

I love, love this place. Down to the decor, the personnel, and the affordability. The place was…read morebeautiful. If you get a chance book this place, you will not be disappointed.

From the owner: REIGN the venue is in downtown Fredericksburg, VA and is open for all your event needs. Book your…read morenext event at REIGN.

Attended a wedding there last weekend. Very rustic feeling and the party room was perfect.read more

A very charming old school renovation of a piece of history, easily accessible through town roads…read more With real keys, this place has kept its romantic atmosphere and many overstuffed lush pieces are around every corner. Check in and access was easy at all times of day or night. It is still an older space and the floors are not friendly to normal walking and noises can be heard everywhere. The electronic cords all seem to be a bit of a mess as well. But the bathooms were well supplied and bed was cozy. Nice stay in a place that's not an everyday chain.

Our first time at this new to us Strangeways in Fredericksburg! It's a large space with lots of…read morecharacter. The night we were there a food vendor was cooking catfish outside (delicious)! The beer did not disappoint!! The service was awesome and I enjoyed talking with folks about how strangeways gas changed...all positive. This continues to be in if our all-time favorite breweries!

I don't drink alcohol, but I go for the events. The bartenders are nice, but not overly so. They…read moreusually have a food truck, but you can also bring your own food-- just not drinks. They have a craft night and trivia night which I'm down for. My trivia team does decently well, and we actually won for the first time during 90s Music Trivia. I will say, the speakers are terrible when they speak into the microphone for trivia, and we have to strain to hear the question, every time. All in all its pretty chill, so if that's what you're looking for, stop in one day!

This Mother's Day weekend, we finally decided to tour Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont --…read morethe country retreat of American artist Gari Melchers. This has been on my FXBG bucket list for quite some time, and honestly, I have no idea why we waited so long to visit. What an absolute treat it was. For those unfamiliar with him, Gari Melchers was one of the most respected artists of his generation, known for his portraits, murals, and landscapes. Born in Detroit to German immigrants, he studied art in Düsseldorf and Paris before eventually settling at Belmont Estate in Falmouth, Virginia, near Fredericksburg. Even President Theodore Roosevelt sat for one of his portraits during Melchers' prolific career. I won't go too deep into the history lesson here, but I will say that his "country retreat" was absolutely stunning. My husband and I spent a couple of hours wandering through the gardens, touring the home, and exploring Gari's personal studio. It was such a peaceful and immersive experience. I found myself completely absorbed in his story, his artwork, and the beauty of the property itself. Since I was in a dress, we skipped the walking trails this time, but we definitely plan to go back soon in more appropriate attire to explore them. If you enjoy history, art, architecture, or simply beautiful places, I highly recommend adding Belmont to your list of places to visit.

Excellent tour. Beautiful art studio and museum. There is also a hiking trails inside. Highly…read morerecommended.

I was greeted by Zoe who was very friendly and helpful while checking in. I checked out the first…read moreroom assigned but the bed looked like someone had been lying on it so I asked for another room. The next room was great! Clean and super comfy bed. The only thing was the door was tough to pull open and close. Didn't do breakfast or partake in any of the other amenities (the gym has the bare minimum or even less than that) but the indoor pool and patio looked nice. Good location but not directly off of the highway. I would stay here again as there's a Planet Fitness in the shopping center right next door.

The Most Unacceptable Hotel Experience I've Ever Had…read more My stay at Hyatt Place Fredericksburg at Mary Washington was the most unacceptable hotel experience I've ever had. During the night, a pair of women's panties fell out of the bedsheets onto the floor. There is no misunderstanding or excuse for that. It means the bed linens were not properly stripped or changed after the previous guest. I definitively slept in a bed that someone else had already slept in before me. I had been sleeping naked in those sheets under the assumption I was in a clean, properly prepared room. Instead, I was put into used bedding that had clearly not been serviced to even the most basic housekeeping standards. That creates serious sanitation concerns. No guest should ever have to worry about exposure to used sheets, leftover personal items, bodily residue, bacteria, skin contaminants, or any other hygiene risks because a hotel failed to do the bare minimum. What made this even worse was management's response. Rather than Joshua, the manager, taking ownership of the situation, apologizing, and making it right, the hotel chose to cancel my stay and ban me from the property. Instead of correcting a legitimate cleanliness failure, they attempted to silence the guest who reported it. Think about that: a customer reports sleeping in dirty sheets with another guest's underwear still in the bed, and management's solution is to remove the customer rather than address the problem. That tells you everything you need to know about accountability at this property. I expected Hyatt standards. What I received was a deeply unsanitary room and a management team more concerned with avoiding responsibility than doing the right thing. Avoid this location if cleanliness, professionalism, and guest respect matter to you.