Hotel at a Glance: Lavender Heights Bed and Breakfast

A stay at Lavender Heights Bed and Breakfast comes with an array of homey touches, from housemade breakfast to gourmet chocolates in your room. The two-story home—which dates back to the 1880s—sits on a hilltop offering a 3-mile view of the surrounding area, including historic Fredericksburg.

• Start the day right with a full breakfast; typical entrees include french country omelets, brioche french toast, and pancakes.
• Take a stroll through the gardens and admire the koi pond.
• Where you’ll stay: Quaint, vintage-inspired guest rooms come with nonallergenic blankets, plush bathrobes, satellite TV, and free WiFi.
• Curl up in front of the fireplace in the living room.
• Accolade: a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Fredericksburg, Virginia: Civil War Battle Sites and Museums About an Hour Outside of DC

Few American towns pack as much history into a 40-block historic downtown area as does Fredericksburg, a quaint colonial village situated 55 miles south of Washington, DC. Fredericksburg has played host to some of the nation’s key historical figures—this is where George Washington spent his formative years, fifth president James Monroe began his law practice, and Abraham Lincoln met with his generals during the Civil War.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Fredericksburg Historic District is lined with hundreds of historical landmarks and several museums. One standout site is the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery, where more than 3,000 soldiers and generals have been buried.

Another one of the area’s highlights is Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which marks the grounds where the Civil War reached its violent climax. It’s the second-largest military park in the world, spanning four battlefields, and it’s possible to tour each of them on foot or by car. Among the five historic buildings in the park you’ll find Chatham Manor, which operated as a headquarters for the Union during the Civil War. The property hasn’t changed much from the days when Clara Barton and Walt Whitman tended to wounded soldiers inside.

Though famous for its Civil War heritage, Fredericksburg also features charming boutiques and cafés as well as wineries and breweries. Across the river, you can visit the estate of late 19th- and early 20th-century American artist Gari Melchers, home to a large collection of his naturalist and portrait paintings.

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