Must see and must do site on the PWC- Fauquier County line. While the site itself was closed on the…read moreday I visited, I walked the nature trail and was able to see the mill and the all the ruins on the trail. The train still runs by and the water from Broad Run make a spectacular scene. Good for families, solo hikes, or a date. Really special place and important historical site.

I was driving down the interstate and all of a sudden I see this massive structure. I knew it was…read morehistoric. I flew on by realizing it would be painful trying to get there when I was on the same side as it was on my way to Shenandoah. On my way back, I managed to figure out what this place was. It was an old 5 story stacked stone structure built in 1742 that had survived several wars and milled food through all of them. in 1998, it was victimized by arson. The roof is gone, and the building has remanence from the fire. Currently, the mill is blocked off from being accessed. According to their website, they are making updates to the road. I accessed it by the railroad that runs behind the building, but as mentioned, the fence does prevent from access. It was really neat to see and I really wish it wasn't blocked off so I could get closer. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in Broad Run and into history.

It's only open every other Saturday seasonally, but it was a really unique and interesting Civil…read moreWar site - featuring graffiti. It delivers what it promises. This seemed pretty common for troops to occupy houses on their travels and doodle on the walls, but this was a lucky example to preserve it behind paint which was discovered in time for it to avoid demolishion. Some graffiti is better preserved/readable than others, but it is a recent site to be opened to the public, so it's a work in progress. It's interesting to think of the young men who strolled through here 150 years ago. There was a knowledgeable guide who walked us through a few rooms pointing to some of the writing, a small exhibit, and a small gift shop. It's free, but since it's all volunteers, we gave a donation. It won't take very long to go through, but it's a cool historical site to visit in the area.

Loving history and graffiti, visiting the Graffiti House was a special treat. Built in the middle…read moreof the 19th century, the house is one of the best examples of Civil War graffiti. Used as a hospital during the War and occupied by both the Union and Confederacy, many soldiers signed their names or added drawings of horses, women, men, and more. The first floor has a little shop, a meeting room, and a restroom. (The restroom has some Civil War graffiti.) It's in the second-floor rooms where the majority of the historic graffiti can be seen along with stories of a few of its artists. It's a small museum open to the public thanks to a foundation, but it's worth your time!

In April, Rob Orrison spent 6 hours taking me on an in depth tour of Manassas battlefield (1 and 2)…read moreand it was an experience I will not soon forget. He is a historian by profession and he brought the fields alive to me in terms of understanding the strategies behind the battles and how they progressed punctuated by seminal events at various locations on the fields. I highly recommend this tour agency.

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.

James Madison lived at Montpelier his entire life. This is a really interesting historic home that…read morelater belonged to the DuPont family, who eventually donated funds to turn it back into a historic site as Madison's home. That renovation/restoration took a long time, and it's now a lovely place to visit and learn about our 4th President and his wife Dolley Madison. In addition to the house, which acknowledges its part in running a plantation through the work of enslaved people, it has exhibits about slavery at Montpelier and archeological finds. The property also has lovely grounds with a beautiful garden that's filled with many colorful flowers in the spring. The visitor center offers a movie, and the house docents offer hour-long tours on the half hour. They also have picnic tables under shady trees to enjoy lunch. The views from Montpelier are breathtaking. They charge a fee to visit the house and grounds. If you only want to visit the grounds, the fee is lower.

This is a great place to visit if you are interested in America's founding, American style of…read moredemocracy, or to celebrate the upcoming Sestercentennial of the United States. (Having experienced the bicentennial as a kid on a summer-long vacation, I am looking forward to it.) The guided tour of the house is well done. The out-buildings and grounds are self-guided. There are many and spread out, and the whole property is on a gentle slope. Could be an issue if it is a hot and humid day. Be sure to visit the garden! Think twice about buying the Looking Through the Landscape book for $10.00. I thought it would be something I could put on my bookshelf but no. Hardly a pamphlet, it contains QR code links to YouTube videos they created. It was snuck in during the checkout process and frankly left me feeling duped. I chalked it up as a donation.

This was on our bucket list for a few years and made last minute reservations as we were passing…read morethrough. The staff was absolutely amazing - treated us like royalty! The 3-hour ride to Petersburg was a relaxing and peaceful slow and scenic trip that just gave you a chance to unwind. Additionally, the dining experience on a dining car was such a memorable experience and highly recommended! The staff offered historical information and facts to support the various scenes we passed through. The views were amazing and, as advertised, we were able to see many eagles along the route. The way back was raining but no less enjoyable. This should be on your to-do list for sure! It brings the kid out in you for sure!

We loved this diesel engine narrated train ride! They have various packages from standards seats to…read morea dining car with a 5 count se meal. The staff were terrific! It is a 3 hour leisurely ride through pastures and farms into a beautiful gorge with American bald eagles and eagle nests. Fun for all ages!

Mr. Barry is absolutely the beat. I stumbled across his business about 2 years ago. I was drawn in…read moreby his bio, I was intrigued after our first conversation, I was locked in as a forever customer after our first ride with him. If you are looking for professionalism, punctuality, cleanliness and fair pricing check out Diamond Commuter Services. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! Tell him Nichole sent you, I don't get any finders fee but I want him to I support him fully.

From the owner: Diamond Commuter Services is a Private Shuttle Service specializing in group transportation for…read moreAirport Transfers, Corporate Meetings & Events, Special Events, Tours and Sightseeing.

If you find yourself in Warrenton, Virginia, spend an hour at the Fauquier History Museum at the…read moreOld Jail located inside the 1808 and 1823 jail houses. Visiting on a Thursday afternoon in October, a kind man named Fred took my ticket ($5) and gave me a brief history of the building and museum before letting me explore on my own. Here's my experience: 1) Exhibits: Located on two floors in two different historic buildings, the exhibits are small, but mighty. They come with a wide range of historic artifacts, signs that tell their stories, and a range of perspectives from what it was like for women and those enslaved while at the jail house. They also talk about mental illness and the jail house. It's inclusive, which I appreciate. 2) Store: It's well stocked with books, cards, and trinkets. 3) Parking: There's street parking easy to find nearby.

Nice local museum and old prison. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Entrance fee required. Takes…read moreabout 30 minutes to see it

Museum moved to 9129 Center Street Manassas, VA 20110…read more Perfect charming military museum! I'll go again and again.

Welcoming and very knowledgeable personnel, and definitely enjoyed our visit! I highly recommend…read morefor anyone with an enjoyment of military history!