Sometimes escaping the city is as simple as crossing the Potomac. If you're looking for some holiday magic with historic flair, head across the river to Old Town Alexandria. With centuries-old architecture, historic buildings and attractions, and great local stores and restaurants, it's a great place to spend a day. We walked up and down the neighborhood streets (some of them cobblestone!) to take in the decor - so many houses really go all out with decorations, in a very classic way. We eventually made our way to Market Square on King Street to see the giant Christmas tree. This square is also where the weekly Saturday morning farmer's market is held - which apparently has been running for 260 years! If you're lucky, you can even catch some live music. When we went, we were serenaded by the Alexandria Harmonizers, a men's a capella chorus founded in 1948. Hot tip: if you're having trouble finding street parking, there's a parking garage right under Market Square. Market Square is just down the street from the Carlyle House Historic Park - a great example of Georgian residential architecture completed in 1753. The museum offers a look inside life in the 18th century - the docents offer great tours, and the house has been restored and decorated beautifully. It has limited hours so check the website before you go, but it's worth a visit! There are so many nooks and crannies of the historic streets to explore - and a lot of interesting local shops. When you’re ready for a break from shopping, there are great restaurants to try! When the weather is nice, there is ample outdoor seating available at many of the restaurants along King Street. We stopped in at The Fish Market for a quick recharge. The clam chowder, crab dip, and apple cider mules did not disappoint! It was a refreshing stop, and great for people watching on a not-too-cold fall afternoon. A couple of our other favorite places in the same area: Sonoma Cellar, Virtue Feed and Grain. You can also walk down to the water - there are trails and parks along the river that are great for people (and boat!) watching. Two of our best friends even got married on the Cherry Blossom riverboat that docks right at the Old Town Alexandria Harbor! What are your favorite stops in Old Town? Let us know in the comments below!
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They say 'there's no place like home for the holidays.' Sometimes escaping the craziness of Northern Virginia isn't really an option due to time constraints, other commitments, or whatever reason it may be. There are plenty of fun things to do in the local-ish area, especially near the holidays. Located just 45 minutes down Interstate 66, Reston offers a variety of enjoyable options beyond shopping. There's even a lake near by! Lane Anne is perfect for a waterfront stroll with a cup of coffee from the Lake Anne Coffee House. You can also often find us at Cooper Hawk enjoying the Almond Sparking wine.
For dinner, we headed to Barcelona Wine Bar right in the town center. There's also one of these in DC (and a few other locations around the country), but this one did not disappoint! It had a great atmosphere - a nice bar area with plenty of seating, and great high top and low top tables throughout the restaurant. We kept remarking that we loved the energy of the place, and the decor. It got a little noisy as the night went on, but overall we loved it. It was a perfect spot for a small group dinner - especially as the sangria starting flowing! I'm not exaggerating when I say we tried almost everything on the menu (we were hungry!), and we were not disappointed. Everything was so flavorful and we enjoyed trying some interesting combinations, like the chorizo with sweet and sour figs and balsamic reduction, the spinach and chickpea cazuela with cumin and roasted garlic, and of course, the classic bacon wrapped dates (always a favorite).
Whether you're heading to the town center with friends or solo to holiday shop, note there's plenty of low-cost paid parking garages. If the town center is a bit hectic in the holiday season, plan a return trip in the new year, it's well worth it!
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!
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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