Stratford Hall is the ancestral home of the Lee family of Virginia. The beautiful Great House and…read moreits surrounding plantation buildings is located on the Potomac River in Westmoreland County on Virginia's Northern Neck. The historic structures are now a museum operated by the National Park Service & is listed on the National Historic Register. Built by Thomas Lee, who served as an Acting Governor of the Colony of Virginia, construction was completed in the early 1740's. The buildings breathe history. One can feel it walking the grounds. Two of Lee's sons Richard Henry Lee & Francis Lighthouse Lee were signers of the Declaration of Independence & Delegates to the First Continental Congress. Thomas Liddell Lee was a Virginia Legislator. Walking the grounds where those men, who were instrumental in the Founding of the country, walked, lived & even played was a feeling that's hard to describe. I'd love to hear what the house and grounds could tell me with the whispers & stories it still must hold. The benefit of taking the backroads to Alexandria or nearby Charles County, MD, rather than the long parking lot that I-95 has become, is passing the wonderful historic places on the route. My route starts at the highway 17 exit off I-64 west and can continue north a number of different ways depending on my final destination. The easiest way to reach Stratford Hall and other beautiful historic properties from Highway 17 is to cross the Rappahannock River at Tappahanock on Highway 360 then north on Highway 3 which winds toward the Potomac. You'll see the signs for Stratford Hall from that road. If you're feeling adventurous, like I did in earlier years, you'll let your GPS take you through roads in an exploration of the countryside. In historic, beautiful Virginia you never know what you'll find. A visit to Stratford Hall is a must for those fascinated by American history.

I visited the grounds on an early Sunday morning and came away quite enchanted. It was huge! It was…read morewell staffed! It was beautiful. All around well done and one of my favorite of the old surviving Virginia plantations. You park and go thru a very small museum to pay your dues. Then across a neat bridge over a ginormous gully to the gift shop and a beautiful walk to the house. The house tour (self audio) was quite cool. The grounds were just awesome. Lots of outbuildings well maintained. It was like a mini Colonial Williamsburg in all the depth and information. I could have spent a day there. Later, I decided to drive the other side and stumbled upon a whole new unexpected world. Lots of cabins that could be rented, a restaurant that seemed closed for the winter and then a windy drive to the river where people were searching and finding fossil shark teeth. One showed me his treasures. They weren't gigantic, but you could definitely tell they were shark teeth. Finally before leaving the river front was a old gristmill which alone would have been worth the trip. Anyone near the area should add it to their list and if you have guests around, make it an activity on your "visitor's list".

Pros:This vineyard is a delight for history lovers--it was built in the early 1800s and has served…read moremany purposes over the years, including a boys' school, a Union troop garrison during the Civil War, Washington Academy, a courthouse, and even a dairy farm. The tasting room is spacious and comfortable, with tables and couches perfect for relaxing with friends. There's also a charming gift shop, along with a selection of cheeses and snacks available for purchase. Cons:I tried the five-red tasting for $12, but none of the wines were especially memorable. The pours were inconsistent, with some wines served as one sip, some two, and others three. The cheeses for purchase are pricey, with 4 oz costing $13. The most significant issue was the wine glasses--each sip had a strong odor reminiscent of dirty sponge water, indicating that their glass-cleaning process needs major improvement. Overall: A charming vineyard with rich history and a comfortable tasting space, but the wines didn't impress and snacks are pricey. Great for the atmosphere, less so for the tasting. Based on this experience, I rate this establishment a 2.5 out of 5.

This was a large and lovely winery. It's a beautiful property with different buildings and spaces…read morefor wine, enjoying wine, listening to music or all sorts of events. The vinard is onsite and I believe they help other local wineries in the area to make wine. The employees were great, so friendly and knowledgeable. There was live music. They have some food on site and they have food trucks. The oyster food truck was wonderful. Can't wait to return.

One of my uncles owned and lived in this house for many years. I lived there for three years and…read more have vivid memories of my stay there. I was there in 1951, 1952 and 1953. The house was built in 1897 b

We checked in on Friday and were greeted warmly and escorted to our suite. So far it has been an…read moreextraordinary experience. Looking forward to breakfast in the morning!

This review is specifically for the tasting room as we've never stayed in the inn. This is my…read morefavorite place to grab drinks in downtown! The drinks are so amazing and unique and the outdoor and indoor atmosphere is amazing. I've done here more times than I'd like to admit. They also have an ever changing seasonal menu and the staff is great!

I'm not 100% sure how I stumbled upon the Ironclad Inn, but I'm so glad I did. We visited on a…read moreFriday evening and the tasting room downstairs was busy... not a single seat at the bar. The room has a few tables and couches with tables for a more relaxed environment. Given the weather was perfect for a fall evening, we sat outside in a patio area. There are a few cocktail options (mocktails, too!) and small bites to nibble one. We shared the burger (Royale with Cheese) and hot dog (Beefy Cheesy)... both were juicy and had great flavor. We're also had the octopus, though it was a bit tough as it had seemingly been overcooked. Overall, the bites were great and I like that we could have cocktails in a relaxed environment. The tasting room had a small gift shop of sorts at the entrance, where they sell the bourbon they use in cocktails and other liquor.

Highly recommend taking the Fredericksburg Model - A Car Tour with Katrina! She knows everything…read moreabout the history of Fredericksburg and is so nice! This was a 1928 Ford Model A Depot Hack that was used originally for transporting people to the train station but mooshiners used them too!! They have two of them named Bonnie and Clyde!

Terrible customer service with trying to book a tour. The lady was good about calling me back, but…read moreonce I got her on the phone, she was not helpful at all. Told me she had no spaces open, but when I went to her website, I could book a tour! Funny how that happened ​

This is a very beautiful and spacious building. It has an old-school feel with a new school look…read morethis place is a 10 outta 10 for events parties gathering celebrations or whatever you may have this building has enough space to accommodate whatever event you may be having

Update: Finesse Salon Studios has made changes to the front lobby area seating & had fully stocked…read morerestrooms during my most recent visit. The damaged sofa has been removed & all chairs and tables were clean. Shoutout to management for improving upkeep of the facility! I've adjusted my rating to reflect it. *** Original: I first visited a barbershop located inside Finesse Salon Studios in Aug 2024 for back to school haircuts for my boys. I now visit a hair salon (Loc'd Up LLC which is a 5 star salon!) for routine maintenance of my microlocs which I got install Nov 2024. Finesse Salon Studios is conveniently located in the Prince William County Shopping Center and has ample, free, parking available in the parking lot. Be sure to make contact with a stylist prior to visiting because the building is securely locked at all times. Clients must be buzzed in to the building by a stylist. I've noticed that while each independent stylist / professional maintains his/her suite well, the common spaces could use some attention. The front waiting area has three options for seating -- a high top table and sofa surrounded by chairs. Often the tables are dirty & chairs are unclean. There is supposed to be a coffee bar for customers, however, I have never seen one. Additionally, the bathrooms are not always stocked with sufficient soap & paper towels. I appreciate the opportunity this business offers to independent professionals in the hair, health and beauty space. Consistently cleaning the common spaces and upgrading the offerings to customers could make this a 4-star location.

Louie's Mobile Mixology went above and beyond to help make our event flawless! Lou was very easy…read moreto work with and super professional, as were the bartenders he supplied us with. He provided a clear shopping list and did everything possible to help make our event a success! I can't recommend this business enough!

Louie's served as bartender for my wedding and did an excellent job!…read more The prices were reasonable and Louie was responsive and easy to contact. I was planning the wedding long distance and he was especially helpful in determining how much alcohol and glassware was needed. We added extra services such as a second bartender, up to 200 lbs of ice, and after dinner coffee service. They also helped serve our champagne for the toast. The bartenders who worked the wedding were friendly and professional. I don't plan on getting married again, but would absolutely consider using them for another formal get together and would recommend them to anyone consider using them.