Top Things To Do In Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is home to four Civil War battlefields, a number of historic museums, and a variety of modern shops and restaurants. Those hoping to explore outdoors will appreciate the parks and recreation areas throughout this northern Virginia city.

The best things to do near Fredericksburg include:

• Joining the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park for their popular summer History at Sunset program
• A colorful introduction to eighteenth-century pub life through a lively tour of the Rising Sun Tavern
• A local pint at the historic family-owned A. Smith Bowman Distillery
• Touring the grounds of the Historic Kenmore Plantation
• Strolling Caroline Street downtown to find antique shopping, great coffee, and books galore

Get your fill of Fredericksburg with these well-loved tourist attractions. Take a historic tour of one of the many manors in the area or grab lunch at a popular eatery.

Popular attractions near Fredericksburg:

• Stop in for a classic shake and sandwich at Goolrick’s Pharmacy
• Check out the oddities collection at the Fredericksburg Area Museum
• Enjoy Georgian-style architecture during a tour of Chatham manor
• Explore the creative lives of Gari and Corrine Melcher at the Belmont Estate
• Experience history in real time at a thrilling Civil War reenactment at the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

When you find yourself in Fredericksburg with time on your hands, try these local activities. Sip a tart beer from a friendly brewery or bask in the sun at a historic park.

Exciting activities near Fredericksburg include:

• Pucker up with a sour beer brewed locally at Red Dragon Brewery
• Play a game of soccer at Old Mill Park
• Give an old trinket new life at the Picket Post Antique store
• Explore the garden and rare 18-century kitchen of the Mary Washington House
• Camp overnight in the bunkhouse at Lake Anna State Park

Party down the way the pioneers did with a trip to a historic pub, or gather for a night of revelry at a live performance tonight in Fredericksburg.

Here are some nighttime activities near Fredericksburg:

• Swig a strong scotch ale with friends at 6 Bears & Goat Brewing Company
• Sing karaoke on a Thursday night at 909 Saloon
• Explore the difference between Kentucky-style and Tennessee bourbon at the Bourbon Room
• Eat a fine dinner while enjoying a show at a Riverside Center for the Performing Arts dinner-theater performance
• Fill up on popcorn while catching a blockbuster at Village 51 Towne Center

Watch the kids spend an afternoon pretending to be Picasso at an art class, or marvel at a group of archaeologists uncovering history in real time.

Family-friendly things to do near Fredericksburg include:

• Watching as archeologists uncover history’s mysteries at George Washington’s Ferry Farm
• Riding the Little Yellow Train at the Rappahannock Railroad Museum
• Becoming part of a virtual world in a VR headset at Central Park Funland before racing mini go-karts outside
• Laughing along to a live performance at a children’s theater production at Riverside Center for Performing Arts
• Allowing the kids’ inner artist to shine at one of Kingdom Inspiration Studio’s diverse art classes

For a relaxing afternoon in Fredericksburg, enjoy a read inside one of the local bookstores, feast on appetizers during happy hour at a local restaurant, or find one-of-a-kind gifts for family back home.

Other things to do indoors:

• Drink a red wine barrel aged farmhouse saison at Adventure Brewing Co.
• Peruse custom-made jewelry while enjoying a glass of wine at Bacchus Tasting Room
• Find creative, art-inspired gifts for friends and family at Backdoor Gallery
• Explore Egyptian revival artifacts and find your next favorite read at Beck’s Antiques & Books
• Fill up on cornbread and brisket at Billiken’s Smokehouse

Fredericksburg was built for the wild and free. Discover the local wildlife on a hiking or boating adventure, or tee off like Tiger Woods at one of the golf courses in the area.

Active things to see in Fredericksburg include:

• Walking along the shaded pathways at Alum Spring Park
• Diving into the crisp, blue waters at Motts Run Reservoir
• Reading interactive historical markers along a hike through the Virginia Civil War Trail
• Enjoying an afternoon on the green at Augustine Golf Club
• Wandering through the forests at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve