Fredericksburg Visitor Center

"After a Cheer Competition in the area, we were looking to do something in the area. Going online, we found that the FVC was sponsoring a Cookie Crawl. We signed up and traveled down to pick up our map and bucket. They have a little parking lot next to them, but check if it's timed. We were on a weekend after hours. The staff was extremely helpful. They had a little table in the back set up to get you going. They also had free hot chocolate. The center had a lot of information of the area. They also had all kinds of little knickknacks. Who doesn't want a George Washington Bobble-Head! Tee shirts and other things. If you are planning on checking Fredericksburg out, this is a good place to start."

"Since Google Maps does not give a good way to leave photos and reviews for towns or cities, I'll put this review about Fredericksburg here. We were very happy with our visit to this lovely town. I was surprised that the population was just under 30,000 as it seems a bit larger than that. There seem to be more conveniences than one normally might find for a town of this size, but our focus was the core downtown area. The colonial look of the old town area presents a great vibe for someone who is into history such as me. But the shops, restaurants and amenities offer something for everyone. It's a very walkable downtown area though there are some hills involved. But those undulations are generally very manageable except for individuals with the greatest of mobility challenges. The limited parking time on the downtown streets is a little annoying if you want to spend the whole day, but that's being nitpicky. I say that only because it is definitely worth spending a day just exploring the downtown area (apart from any battlefield visit that you might be planning). In addition to just taking in the pleasant, laid-back vibe, there are a few places to be sure to visit when in downtown. Start at the Visitors Center on Caroline St. to get oriented. The staff is friendly and helpful. The Apothecary is a fun visit if you're a history buff. The staff present some interesting facts about 18th-century medicine. You can even get a look at some live leaches! And the building is one of the few 18th century structures in town not destroyed by an early 19th century fire. There are a few coffee shops downtown, with Hyperion being one of the best. If you're looking for gifts Kimman's has a lot of fun stuff while Made in Virginia will present some things with local appeal. Jus Pop'n offers some very interesting and very good popcorn flavors while Curio is a nice place to stop for wine tasting if you need a break. They feature international options as well as a handful of Virginia wines worth sampling. Cool Cat Cupcakes located in the basement of the building at the northwest corner of Charles and William has some fun treat options. If bubble tea is your thing, Bubblebee is good spot. Stroll by the 1910 train station building to admire the architecture. There are several intriguing restaurants downtown. We tried Sammy T's and were favorably impressed by their American fare with a local twist. Their location in an historic building adds to the ambiance. If you are visiting Central Virginia, I'd recommend putting a day in Downtown Fredericksburg on your itinerary. There are several things that can fill out your agenda if you do so. I had not even mentioned places like FAM and the James Monroe Museum and Library. Of course, the battlefield is also worthwhile putting on your schedule. In short, put Fredericksburg on your list!"

"I found the movie they presented to be very interesting. Also, I loved the art work hanging on the walls. Very helpful, friendly people."

"I wound up in Fredericksburg after running an errand and had no idea what was in the area. The staff at the visitor center was very kind and helpful. They gave my kids a fun otter scavenger hunt, and gave us a restaurant guide, walking tour map and suggestions of places to eat and go hang out like museums, art galleries and parks. It was a nice historic district with lots of great restaurants parks, colonial architecture. The otters were pretty cute, too!"

"This is one of the best visitors centers I have been to! The staff were so kind and knowledgeable, and there were three that I saw! They also had free printed photos that you could take as a souvenir which was so incredibly nice because I would have paid for something like that anyway. There was also a video playing in the back room and a free 30 minute parking lot. Furthermore, they had public restrooms! I 100% recommend you stop here if you’re visiting Fredericksburg and have no idea where to go - they will point you in the right direction! :)"