great lake for paddling or fishing…read more lots of smaller largemouth bass, but a developing population of larger ones. no gas motors are allowed. concrete boat ramp with a small floating dock and attached canoe/kayak launch. even when the parking area is crowded, I've never seen it full. & the lake looks empty even when the parking is full. limited shore fishing. some picnic tables & such. there are restrooms on the hill above the boat ramp. only flaws are a population of wasps at the dock that repeated complaints to the County have not resolved, and a tendency for all-about-me folks to park along the ramp (which is NOT a parking area, except for the small handicap area) or leave their vehicles there for extended periods.

Lake Mooney is technically a reservoir but it definitely has that lake feel and is perfect for…read morefishing or kayaking. Gas motor boats are not allowed; only electric motors are permitted on the lake. There's a boat ramp that is easy to get to. A few benches also line the shore. This is a great place for a picnic. I personally enjoy visiting late in the afternoon, as you can watch the sun set.

used the boat ramp to put our kayaks in to paddle with the Fxbg kayaking club on a Friday after…read morework. lovely weather that day - perfect for an evening outing. the river is beautiful along this stretch, and surprisingly wild since we paddled upstream past downtown Fredericksburg. great views of historical buildings - we went up past the Embry power plant and turned around at the bottom edge of Old Mill Park. saw a deer along the shore, surprisingly on the City side. spotted a bald eagle in one tree as we went up, and then saw it out on the river fishing as we headed back down. great exercise, pleasant surroundings, had a great time.

Located at the end of Sophia Street, the city dock is home to many different things over the years…read more The "City of Fredericksburg" Paddle Cruise boat docks here during the summer months. Directly across the river is Ferry Farms, where George Washington grew up. Today the dock is used as a recreation point for many locals. The dock is free to the general public and is enjoyed by many. Grubs ~

I love this park! My best friend who lives in NoVA and I like to come here as a middle meet-up…read morepoint and have picnics by the water. I'm not sure about the boating details, but if you're coming to enjoy the recreation area, it's a free place to visit. You just have to sign your name in at the hut so they know who visited. They have a few spots right at front, but if you don't feel like walking, you can drive closer to the water and find more parking spots there. They have a few picnic benches and sit down benches here. We set up our own picnic blanket this time. Our last visit was in June and it was HOT! We were sweating. We should've brought swimsuits to cool off in the water. It's a really lovely spot and it's nice for a picnic.

It makes a nice loop around the reservoir that includes some nice stream crossings BUT follow the…read moremap because there were not any trail blazes. Also there are some smaller shorter paths. Plan on meeting up with mountain bikers. It's a very popular trail. I like it but I don't love it. It's located in the FXBG area so worth a visit.

This is the 11-acre riverfront park is located at the fall line of the Rappahannock River. This…read morepark is accessible via River Road, adjacent to the Falmouth Bridge. Most visitors to this park do so for river access for fishing. This park site is historically know as the spot where John Washington, a Fredericksburg slave who escaped to freedom behind Union lines. This site is known locally now for the amounts of drownings that originate from this river access spot. Seems that no matter how many signs you put up in every language known to man there will still be people that don't use common sense and respect the river. Unfortunately we live in a time where the acts of a few will force the hand of the city to close off all access. Yea I'm sure that'll be the solution. Me ~

Convenient and easily accessible location - about a mile off the Potomac River near the 301/Harry…read moreNice Bridge in KG County. The folks who own the Machodoc Creek Marina are knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and helpful. Awesome place to rent a slip, get your boat serviced, or go kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding!

What a great place to launch a boat and enjoy the day. We went and rented kayaks, then enjoyed the…read moreviews and weather. It is clean, affordable, easy to access, beautiful and nature positive. A great place for friends and family.

Chatham Manor is the kind of place that makes you slow your steps without realizing it--because it…read morefeels important. Built in the 1760s, this isn't just a historic home; it's a front-row seat to centuries of American history layered in one breathtaking setting. From its elegant Georgian architecture to the sweeping view of the Rappahannock River, everything about Chatham feels intentional, enduring, and quietly powerful. During the Civil War, this estate became Union headquarters after Fredericksburg and was transformed into one of the largest field hospitals of the war. Standing on the lawn, it's impossible not to imagine rows of tents and wounded soldiers stretching toward the river. Inside the house, history echoes--Clara Barton moved through these rooms tending the injured, Dr. Mary Walker broke barriers here with her fearless medical service, and Walt Whitman visited, absorbing the human cost of war that would later shape his writing. Few places can claim that kind of convergence of compassion, intellect, and resolve. What makes Chatham extraordinary is how alive it feels. This isn't a rope-and-glass museum experience. It's immersive, thoughtful, and deeply moving without being heavy-handed. The house, the grounds, the views--everything works together to remind you that pivotal moments didn't happen in textbooks; they happened in real rooms, with real people, making impossible decisions. Chatham Manor is beautiful, haunting, and awe-inspiring in the truest sense. If you love history that gives you goosebumps and leaves you thinking long after you leave, this place deserves a spot at the top of your list.

This is one of my favorite "hidden gems" in Fredericksburg. It's part of Fredericksburg National…read moreBattlefield Park and there is an informative display and film inside the manor house if you're interested in the history of the property. The standouts for me though are the gorgeous formal gardens and the amazing views across the river to historic old town Fredericksburg. There is no bad time to visit but early spring for cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips and dogwoods and late spring for Iris and peonies (and the early roses) are my favorite times to visit. Parking is free, the gardens are free and the museum is a suggested donation.

Best crabs in town. I am not sure about the cooked food. I think the place needs to be updated to…read moresell hot food but the crabs are banging

Catfish Kelly's is a great experience. They sell products that you can purchase and they also have…read morea small takeout type restaurant. I have not found crabs any other place, including the wharf that you can get as inexpensively as you can from catfish Kelly's. Additionally, their food is great And I often drive a distance to go and get their food. You will always find people coming and going out of the store, but the service is wonderful and you get your food rather quickly.

facilities are pretty comprehensive. water was a little low so the boat ramp was probably a little…read moremore difficult than usual to navigate, but we got the kayaks in the water & back on the vehicle without too much trouble. they have a variety of rental boats/canoes/kayaks, and we saw a lot of folks parking to hike or bike the trails. lovely, peaceful lake to paddle on. had a great time. kind of low of wildlife and even fish, but I figure that was mostly due to our visit being on the last day of September.

This is mostly intended for my Virginia friends but when a business excels in so many ways, it…read moredeserves to be noted. Robynn and i have deleberately avoided participating in any black friday shopping for all the reasons we're all so familiar with. But my wife has recently become a "backpacker" and I wanted to get her fitted for a legitimate backpack so we made an exception to our black friday rule and went to the only place I would go to locally backpacking and other outdoor gear, River Rock Outfitter Even though the shop was filled with customers, Keith and April, the owners, immediately greeted us. When April finished with her customer she began the process for fitting my with a backpack. This process which included measuring her torso, what type of backpacking it was for day hikes or multiple day/night trips, types of weather, trying on multiple packs (with weigjts in the pack) took approximately 40 minutes, maybe more, but it was such a pleasant experience, it only seemed like minutes. My wife and April found the perfect pack but since it was not in the color my wife wanted, April placed in on order. We'll return in a day or two, try it on again and walk out with an early Christmas present for my wife we will now be able to share and enjoy many more years of backpacking together with a comfortable backpack. If you want professional backpacking and other outdoor expertise and a wide selection of high quality gear from a polite, courteous, friendly local business, go to River Rock Outfitters; you will not be disappointed.

This is a small outfitter, with a decent selection of gear, but an abundance of willingness to help…read moreyou find what you need. Prices are on par with what you can find elsewhere, though they have a nice and rotating consignment area consisting of used gear of varying prices. They can also order gear if a specific size, color, or model is desired.