Virginia by Rail Multi-Regional Tour

Experience breathtaking views, uncover America’s rich history, savor Virginia’s best wines, read graffiti left by Civil War soldiers, shop at premier outlet malls and boutique shops, and walk the streets of authentic American towns.

Prince William

Begin your tour in PRINCE WILLIAM by visiting Manassas National Battlefield Park “Where the Southern Victories Tested the Northern Resolve”. This was the first major land battle of the United States’ Civil War, two armies clashed for the first time, heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. Afterwards, visit a Civil War hospital at the Ben Lomond Historic Site. Soldiers were taken here after the Battle of First Manassas to care for their wounds and left their signatures on the walls to prove it. Learn about 19th-century medicine used to care for the injured soldiers. Enjoy lunch at Virginia Gateway, the premier shopping destination boasting an amazing selection of over 120 regional and local shops and restaurants in a convenient shopper-friendly environment. After lunch, visit Effingham Manor Winery to sample their signature wine “King’s Ransom” or enjoy craft beer, craft food and live local music at 2 Silos Brewing Company, a place to bring family and friends together. Before calling it a night it is time for dinner at Out of the Blue, a neighborhood crab and seafood house serving fresh and diverse seafood with exciting new flavors, be sure to try their lobster bisque!

Travel down the street to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a lasting tribute to the U.S. Marines — past, present, and future. Before calling it a night, step into the quaint town of Historic Occoquan for a memorable dinner. This riverfront community welcomes visitors with Southern hospitality and plenty of dining options to choose from.

Fredericksburg

Arrive in FREDERICKSBURG, Virginia via the train which drops you in the 40-block historic district of Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg Visitor Center, located on Caroline Street can get you started on what to see. You could start with a trolley tour of Fredericksburg that introduces you to many sites around the city. The 40-block historic district has hotels and Bed and Breakfasts as well as almost 50 restaurants. From pizza by the slice to sit down options for steak and frites or sushi, choosing a restaurant will be the hardest part.

Discover the stories of Fredericksburg. Start with early American history of George Washington with sites tied to the Washington Family: Historic Kenmore, Mary Washington House. James Monroe practiced law in Fredericksburg and the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library are here. Learn about the Civil War at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. Walk the Trail to Freedom, and learn about John Washington, an enslaved Black man, who escaped to freedom. Walk the Civil Rights trail that includes the First Stop of the Freedom Riders and desegregation stories of city schools. Enjoy a baseball game with the FredNats.

Richmond

Continue your journey to RICHMOND, walk to the State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, the White House of the Confederacy and the Valentine Museum that relates all things Richmond. Follow the canal walk to Historic Tredegar Iron Works for the American Civil War Museum and the Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitors Center. Hear Patrick Henry’s famous “give me liberty, or give me death” speech at St. John’s Church. Take the Trolley, a Segway Tour or enjoy white water rafting on the river downtown!

Visit Henricus Historical Park and explore the re-created site of the second successful English settlement in the New World. Visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Hanover Tavern, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or take a narrated canal cruise on a charming bateau boat. Visit scenic Hollywood Cemetery, which serves as the final resting place of Jefferson Davis and his family, 25 Confederate generals and 18,000 Confederate soldiers.

Norfolk

two people looking up at Battleship Wisconsin

Travel to Norfolk and set sail aboard the American Rover Sailing Cruise or City Cruises Norfolk. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the Virginia Waterfront’s skyline with a narrated tour and great music as you cruise Norfolk’s historic waterways. Lunch cruises aboard City Cruises Norfolk offer a narrated tour of the World’s Largest Naval Base, Naval Station Norfolk. Uncover the mystery behind the power of the sea at Nauticus, an interactive science and technology center, where you can explore the hands-on exhibits. While there, step aboard the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the last and largest battleships built by the U.S. Navy. Eat and dine on Norfolk’s waterfront at The Waterside District, from seafood to burgers there is something for everyone.

Step back in history with more than 5,000 years of art at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Time for some sun and flowers exploring nature with more than 20 theme gardens by narrated tram, boat or foot at Norfolk Botanical Garden. End the trip by relaxing and sipping wine at Virginia’s first urban winery, the Mermaid Winery. Or pub crawl to Rip Rap Brewing and Smartmouth Brewing Company.

Lynchburg

Nicknamed the ‘Hill City’, start your LYNCHBURG experience at the Lynchburg Museum at the Old Courthouse where you will learn about the people and fascinating events that shaped the region. Then head to the Pierce Street Renaissance District and visit the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, home of the internationally acclaimed Harlem Renaissance poet. A few blocks away is Old City Cemetery and Arboretum, a Virginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places that features a Civil War section, significant African-American history, and four small museums equipped with push-button audio. Just outside of the city limits is the secluded retreat of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Enjoy dinner downtown amongst Lynchburg’s food scene on The Bluffwalk or dine at The Depot Grille housed in a former freight station overlooking Riverfront Park and the James River. Finally, enjoy an evening of entertainment at The Historic Academy of Music Theatre.

Staunton

mural of two cardinals holding a banner that says You Belong Here

Often named one of the most beautiful “Main Street ” in the United States, STAUNTON is one of the oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Step back in time at the living-history Frontier Culture Museum to learn about the daily life of the region’s earliest settlers. Next, discover the life and legacy of the country’s 28th president in the city where he was born at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. An exclusive ‘Behind-the-Scenes” guide tour provides a fuller picture of his complex life and legacy. Shakespeare is serious fun at the American Shakespeare Center. So is the Blackfriars Playhouse Tour, where you’ll go on-stage, behind the stage, and even under the stage as guides tell the story of England’s first indoor theater and describe how the staging conditions of 17^th-century London shaped the works of Shakespeare and his fellow playwrights. Art enthusiasts are invited to step inside Gothic-Revival Trinity Episcopal Church and marvel at 12 Tiffany stained glass windows, which date from 1898-1936. Contemporary artworks are produced daily via live glass-blowing demonstrations at Sunspots Studios. End your evening by dining in what was once a turn-of-the-century flour mill, Mill Street Grill, which is known for mouthwatering ribs and steaks or be adventurous by experiencing BLU Point Seafood Co. who showcases lobster rolls and seafood baskets, as well as catches straight from the Chesapeake Bay such as rockfish, blue crab, and oysters Come make new memories while visiting Staunton.

Contacts:

City of Fredericksburg

Victoria Matthews
vamatthews@fredericksburgva.gov
Phone: 1-540-372-1216
www.FXBG.com

Visit Prince William

Mark Kowalewski
mkowalewski@pwcgov.org
Phone: 1-703-328-0970
www.VisitPWC.com

Prince William

Fredericksburg

Richmond

Norfolk

Lynchburg

Staunton

Contacts:

City of Fredericksburg

Visit Prince William

Visit Richmond

Visit Norfolk

Lynchburg Economic Development & Tourism

Staunton Convention & Visitors Bureau