This trolley tour is a really great overview of the town of Fredricksburg. I did not realize before…read moretaking this tour how much history this city has but I left this tour knowing so much about the city. The tour itself was 75 minutes long, and our tour guide used the whole time. We got to town a few minutes early and where the trolley tour started had a few coffee shops in the blocks around it. The trolley itself is a bit loud but our guide was easy to hear. We visited on a chilly day, and the trolley had the heat going. The seating is wooden benches so not the comfiest ride but was fine for 75 minutes.

10/10 would recommend. Extremely informative and gives you a little background on historic sites…read morewhich helped us decide what to visit. The only complaint was that it was boiling hot - but they did provide paper fans and cold water to us. The tour guide was knowledgeable, personable, and funny. She also gave us this sticker so we got discounts at other attractions. So recommend doing this first if you would like to take advantage of the discounts. You cannot park in visitor parking lot because it's 30 minute parking. Street parking is available for two hours free almost everywhere.

Amazing piece of colonial history where George Washington's mother lived. This is a must see site…read moreamong many in Fredericksburg.

We stopped by Fredericksburg on our drive. Super cute town. We went by the Mary Washington House…read moreand walked the grounds. A few people were outside and one lady gave us a lot of history on the house and area. I would definitely come back to do a whole tour!

We loved this! A spooky tour of historic downtown Fredericksburg riding in a horse drawn carriage!…read moreThis was so fun! A must try experience!

Very relaxed and informative. I highly recommend them for a tour of the city. It was a fun…read moreexperience and they went slow enough to give plenty of time for photos.

Great museum that was a historic tavern in Fredericksburg during colonial and early American times…read more One of a few stops we went to as part of the Historic Fredericksburg package.

Tony and I was enjoying tremendously all the old historic buildings and houses in Fredericksburg VA…read morethis past weekend. We visited quite a few and definitely will be coming back to the area in season and less Covid-19 active meanwhile we will continue you our version of social distancing by traveling during off season and viewing many from the sidewalk or the warmth of our car The Rising Sun Tavern has been around since the mid 1700s and many historic Nobel men have gathered under that roof Building is gorgeous and seems to be quite sound highly recommend you checking it out

Otters, otters, at this beautiful visitors center in Fredericksburg! I walked in to see the shop…read moreand get some souvenirs. It had magnets, postcards, otter books and stuffies. The staff were nice. The bathroom was clean. They had lots of history information. There was quite the crowd inside . I got a few brochures to guide us. I love this Fredericksburg Visitors Center located downtown near the Sophia Street Parking Garage. It was cool!

The visitor center was at an easy to find location with clean restrooms, attractions information, a…read moresmall video theater, and pleasant staff. We came here for a restroom break, watched the video on Fredricksburg, and picked up some maps and free magazines. I purchased some postcards here and plan to come back here for the trolley tour that starts there in the future .

I was looking up things to do while we were in town for a wedding and found this distillery with a…read morefree tour! I reserved our spots online and checked us in when we arrived. We had a bit of time to browse the store before the tour started. The tour was about an hour and included a free tasting. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and led us through the history of Virginia's oldest distillery. He was a bit hard to understand and talked VERY fast, which made it tough to absorb much of the info. However, for a free activity I enjoyed it. The best part of course was the tasting at the end. We were led through how to taste the spirits and given water and crackers as palate cleansers. We tried one of their gins, two bourbons, and the caramel bourbon cream liqueur. The bourbon cream was delicious and so smooth! I really liked the gin as well. We all ended up buying at least one bottle, so I'd say it was a success.

Visited Bowman Distillery and overall had a really enjoyable experience…read more The tour itself was a little on the longer side, but the guide was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the process. He took the time to explain everything in detail, which gave a great appreciation for how much goes into making their bourbon. After the tour, we had the opportunity to taste several of their bourbons, which was definitely a highlight. Each one had its own unique flavor profile, and it was a fun and engaging experience to compare them. Overall, a great stop if you enjoy bourbon and want to learn more about the craft. Just be prepared for a slightly longer tour, but it is worth it for the knowledge and tasting experience.

Cool unique part of Historic Fredericksburg where you can learn from a living history demonstration…read morehow medicine worked a few centuries ago.

Such a cool tour!! Very much worth it. Two different rooms and a whole upstairs and don't skip the…read moregarden!

This has to be a stop while in historic Fredericksburg! After learning there was a James Monroe…read moreMuseum and Memorial in Fredericksburg, we planned a day trip to this historic town and made this museum our first stop. We visited on a weekday before lunch time and had the entire museum to ourselves. Masks were required, and the employee let us know that if someone else came in, that we would have to leave if we had been there for awhile. I was just relieved that the museum was even open, as the other historic museums and sites in town were only open during the weekend. But since this is owned by Mary Washington University and the school is open, they've opened this museum. Admission was only $6 and there's a discount for AAA members. Where this museum sits is the location of James Monroe's law office back in the day. You will learn a lot about James Monroe here, as there were many artifacts about him. After we paid admission, the friendly employee showed us to the front room where most information about James Monroe can be found, as the displays talked about his childhood, time in Fredericksburg and beyond and his public service. She gave us a brief introduction and the rest of the tour was self-guided. It's not a huge museum, with three rooms, but we ended up spending an hour here, reading all the displays. If you like U.S. history then do not miss visiting the James Monroe Museum and Memorial. You will learn a lot about our fifth president and the many years of public service in various roles he held. Though I have visited James Monroe's Highland, I still learned more about James Monroe at this museum.

I was in my own era of good feelings visiting this museum of President James Monroe. This museum in…read morethe quaint downtown area of Fredericksburg has plenty of street parking and is a self-guided tour through artifacts from Monroe. This doesn't take too long to go through a few rooms (maybe an hour) but there are a lot of good things to see including clothing, portraits, and sculptures. The gift shop is small. There were a couple of employees who were there to answer questions if needed. It's worth the price to come and see more about one of our Founding Fathers.

Most unfriendly, unwelcoming staff. A smile would have been nice, but they spent 5 minutes telling…read moreus why we can't go inside for a tour today with a sour face. Thanks Karen. Won't be back

I'm a huge history guy, presidential history, to be exact. This location was part of a week long…read moretour of Virginia, visiting all sorts of historical sites. Overall, I'm glad I experienced "Ferry Farm", and I think any history buff would say the same. I was originally concerned because some reviews were so negative. But it's obvious they've done substantial work since then... Overall, not much to see; that part is true. If you go, you're going to see a replica home based on archeological data. Apparently, there used to be only the foundation discovered by archeologists here, hence the disappointed reviewers. Now, you'll see a house and get to tour it, but it's NOT original. No matter; this experience, in my opinion, is focused on learning about the painstaking work people have put in to save part of Washington's past. You'll learn how lucky we are to even have this location. There is stunning history here, including the fact Union encampments flooded this very site during the battle of Fredericksburg. For what you get, the price point is about right. The tour of a replica home is a tad too long, and I feel you should be able to access the interior of the home with or without a guide. This location is worth your time, but don't be expecting Monticello. Total time spent here: 1hr 15 min. Will be much less if you don't tour the home.

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.