American Revolutionary War hero Light Horse Harry Lee, along with U.S. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are just a few of the notable Virginians associated with the town in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Lee purchased property in Occoquan in 1788, which is located not too far from where he grew up at Leesylvania, in eastern Prince William County. Records indicate Washington ordered iron from the Ballendine furnace in the mid-1700's for use in constructing Fort Loudon, and Jefferson visited the quaint town in 1811 to learn more about plaster mill construction. The town's Civil War history is also intriguing as troops of both sides traveled through the area, even stopping to encamp at various times. Walk through the town and read the markers to learn more about Occoquan's rich history! Mill Street has been the center of town since the 1800s. It is the perfect spot for walking up and down the street, checking out the stores and window displays (especially when they're decorated for the holidays!), and taking in the quiet bustle of small town life. River Mill Park is a great place to walk along the river and take in the views. There is a pedestrian bridge and small trail that's great for a leisurely stroll - great for people (and boat!) watching. And speaking of boating, there's a public dock at the other side of Mill Street, and a boat ramp on Lorton Road a little further down the river. Easy access if you are, or are friends with, a mariner. One of our favorite places to recharge mid-shopping is Grind N Crepe, a coffee and crepe shop located on Commerce Street, just a block or so up from the main shopping area on Mill Street. The coffee is great (our go-to is an iced vanilla latte with almond milk), the crepes do not disappoint (we recommend the Grandad and the Uncle Kevin - and they even have gluten free crepes!), and the casual vibes are perfect for a quick pick-me-up, or to sit and chat for awhile. We've actually been known to post up here and get some work done on a weekday afternoon.
And that's the tea (or coffee and crepes - it's up to you ;-). Enjoy your adventure!
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If you are a summer person, the best advice we can offer you is to make friends with a fall person because they will show you why fall is amazing! A few weeks ago, we did a day trip to Shenandoah National Park to drive along Skyline Drive - perfect for an autumn day getaway from city life. There are multiple entrances to the park, but we entered at the North Entrance - just 75 miles from Washington, DC. Our biggest tips? GO EARLY - despite the park being over 200,000 acres, it gets busy! We went at 9 am and the entrance was already backing up. Plan to make a day of it! There are so many great overlooks to see, and so many great stops along the way home (you'll see one of our favorites below) - take the day to enjoy nature and recharge. Don't forget about the national park entrance fees - you can purchase passes online ahead of time to speed up the entry process! Military get in free. The park also features several restroom stops along the way - grab a map when you arrive or download the app before you go to know where they are located. You likely won't have cell phone service - so if you are planning to meet anyone there, establish a specific time and location to connect before you go. We also recommend you bring snacks! The drive has multiple exits throughout but with the lower speed limits and the increased traffic, you can expect to be driving inside the park for 1-3 hour stretches, depending on how frequently you stop (plus extra time if you want to take advantage of the many hiking trails!). Established in 1935, much of the park you experience today is the product of work completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created a social welfare program offering young men basic pay, food and housing in exchange for labor on public lands. According to the NPS website, nine camps worked at Shenandoah National Park and installed 28 sewage systems, 136 miles of phone lines, 1,145 miles of fire trails, 101 miles of hiking trails, 4001 markers, 147,595 trees and shrubs and seeded 361 acres, in less than a decade. Impressive to say the least! Some of the housing for CCC camps still stands today and can be rented out for camping. Lodging is seasonable and it fills up fast! There are also two visitor centers - we stopped at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center near the North entrance which offers incredible views for family pictures along with commemorative merchandise for purchase like puzzles and games for the kids. (I purchased a few CCC history books, shocker.) You really can't go wrong by stopping at overlooks, and as you move along Skyline Drive the views will shift based on elevation. During our Oct. 31 trip, some areas were still green while others were fiery shades of red, orange and yellow. It's worth it to stop as much as you like. And if one stop is too crowded, don't fret, the next pullover is likely not too far away and maybe less crowded. Wherever you decide to exit the park - we left at Thornton Gap - there are plenty of places to stop along the way home (we could probably do an entire post about Flint Hill alone). But one of our favorite places to refuel on the way back to DC is Linden Vineyards in Linden, Virginia. The wine is great, and the views and ambiance are even better. We recommend doing a tasting - ask for Jen or Andy and tell them the Dunkin' Coffee Girls sent you (a story for another day ;-)! Just be sure to check their website for hours of operation before you go - especially during winter months! The Claret is one of our favorites if you're looking to buy a bottle to stay for awhile and take in the views - and we certainly recommend you do that, too, if you can! They have a great deck and a porch in the back with hillside views. Cheers to your next adventure! If you live in Virginia and you're looking for something unique to explore in the Williamsburg area, the ruins of Presidents Park is a must see! Essentially, there are 42 very large presidential head busts sitting in a field (check out the pics below for scale). And while the dilapidated state of these Heads of State may seem a bit eerie, the park offers a unique way to learn about American history. I think the obvious first question is: how did they get there? President's Park used to be a 10-acre sculpture park and museum in Williamsburg where the heads of state were displayed for guests to see, but apparently it was a bit of a flop and closed in 2010. The new tenants of the land wanted the busts gone, but (thankfully) instead of destroying the sculptures, they were saved by a developer whose company had worked on the original park. He moved them to his family farmland in nearby Croaker, Virginia -- which can't have been an easy task, given that each sculpture ranges from about 16 - 20 feet tall! Our biggest tips: WEAR BOOTS! AND PANTS! You park in a gravel lot near the entrance to the farm, then walk a short way down the hill to the statues' current resting place. The field they sit in can get a bit marshy and the area is not mowed, so be prepared if you want to explore them up close. Also, if you travel there in summer, it can get really hot and there is no shade. Bring water to stay hydrated and don't forget your sunscreen - and maybe even an umbrella for the sun! It's also important to remember the park is located on private property and access is only permitted during scheduled events. You can find more information and book tickets by clicking "experiences" at www.johnplashalphoto.com. The sculptures have deteriorated to varying degrees, which honestly adds to the allure, in our opinion. The view when you turn the corner and see them for the first time is pretty amazing. We didn't really know what to expect, but we ended up spending about two hours in the field exploring and taking photos. Another hot tip: study up on your presidential knowledge before you go -- there is a trivia quiz offered during the day, and the best team wins a prize (not to brag, but we totally won)! Who knew President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator in the White House? Also be sure to bring your camera -- there are lots of great spots to capture fun photos. Enjoy your adventure!
Welcome to Rustic Kate, we're glad you're here! We are two friends named Kate and like you, we're new here - to online blogging and digital content production. It's no secret March 2020 changed our lives in some of the best and worst ways possible. Pandemic life was ... I mean is ... stressful, confusing and exhausting. In many ways, the past 18 months made us all become a little more introspective and think about how we were spending our time and what actually makes us happy. As it turns out, both of us were in the exact same place in life, and we decided to try to figure it out together. So what makes us happy? Wine. Luckily, Virginia has a whole host of wineries to visit. History. This area is also chock full of historic sites to explore. Creativity. Capturing memories and coming up with different ways to share our findings. Now, we're focused on exploring life outside the city beyond our everyday hectic work lives. Trips to historic sites and never-ending stops along the way teach us about the history and culture that existed before us. Perhaps the best part is the refueling ... not just putting gas in the car, but reconnecting with nature, enjoying a nice winery or coffee shop, and refocusing on life outside of the constant demands of being an adult. These were things we generally enjoyed before the pandemic, but now they provide the perfect outlet to build an ever better, healthier life. So why not do more of it? And why not share our findings with others? We saw a quote recently that said, "write down the life you want to see, and you'll begin to live it." So that’s what this site is all about: balancing work and play through our passion for history and creativity. Capturing the memories and sharing new places we find with friends. And hopefully learning a thing or two along the way! Cheers. |
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