Photo Historic Travels

Category: Nature

Scenic Parks, whether local, regional, or national.

  • How to Maximize Your Trip to Winchester Virginia

    How to Maximize Your Trip to Winchester Virginia

    4–6 minutes

    On my final full day in Northern Virginia, I actually left the NOVA area to travel to Winchester VA. Although Winchester is not considered part of NOVA, it is relatively nearby as the town was an hour away from my hotel. It was a beautiful drive to Winchester as the landscape changed from flat, urbanized land to rural mountains. This is part three of my NOVA trip, following Alexandria and Leesburg/Waterford.

    Old Town Winchester

    Winchester is the most unique small town I’ve been to because the main thoroughfare has no road going through it. Instead, Old Town Winchester is an entirely pedestrian friendly walking mall that retains the original buildings. It was nice to film a charming small town without having cars and trucks constantly driving by. The rest of Downtown Winchester is more conventional with roads, but it still retains its historic nature.

    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Close up of Building in Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Old Town Winchester Virginia.
    Buildings in Downtown Winchester VA.
    Kimberly Store in Winchester VA.
    This Building Served As Headquarters For A Union General

    There are plenty of restaurants in Winchester. I went to Benny Meloto’s Pizza which if I’m being honest was not that great of a pizza. However, it was cheap, quick, and filling (since a single slice can fit on two paper plates), so it’s an option for those who want to maximize their time in Winchester.

    Places to See in Winchester

    The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum.

    Located in the heart of Old Town Winchester is The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, located in what was the third courthouse of Frederick County. The downstairs section talks about the courthouse’s history while the upstairs exhibit talks about the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley. The design of the second courthouse was so controversial that part of the county broke apart and formed its own county. The Judge presiding over the John Brown trial was came from this court. Winchester changed hands 72 times during the Civil War, the most of any place in America. Graffiti from both Confederate and Union troops remains visible today. The building remained a courthouse until 1984.

    George Washington Office Museum.

    Near Old Town Winchester is the George Washington Office Museum, which delves into George Washington’s early years as a surveyor, as well as recounts Winchester’s early years. I did not know that George Washington became a burgess (member of the legislative body) for Frederick County in 1758. After George Washington left, a family lived in the office until 1908 when the city bought the property.

    Handley Regional Library.

    Also near Old Town Winchester is the Handley Regional Library. This grandiose building is still a working library, but they offer tours twice a month. Look up to marvel at the stained-glass dome.

    Sign Advertising Tours of Handley Library.
    Interior Picture of Handley Library.
    Stained-Glass Dome in Handley Library.
    Stonewall Jackson Headquarters Museum.

    A bit further away is the Stonewall Jackson Headquarters. Jackson originally headquartered at a hotel, but moved to this building when invited by Lewis T. Moore, the second owner of the house. The two men originally met during John Brown’s trial and execution. The tour guide recounted how the women of Winchester hated the Union so much that they grabbed guns and shot at Union troops. The actress Mary Tyler Moore is a descendant of Lewis T. Moore. Also, the visitor entrance seen above was not the original entrance to the house.

    Sign Saying Patsy Cline Memorial Park.

    A 15-minute walk from Old Town Winchester is the Patsy Cline Historic House and Patsy Cline Memorial Park. While I did not go to the Museum, I highly recommend visiting the Park to appreciate the unique landscaping. I recommend walking to both places, since they are located in an old suburb with minimal parking.

    Metal Statue with Old Suburb In Background.
    Mental Statue with Cutout of Patsy Cline in Background.
    Pedestrian Bridge at Patsy Cline Memorial Park.
    Pedestrian Bridge at Patsy Cline Memorial Park.
    Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

    A several minutes’ drive from downtown Winchester is the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. This museum is a bit odd, since it is a mix of a history and art museum, with displays of quilts and miniature houses. I noticed that the Shenandoah Valley history section had several historic kitchens on display. The Museum is built around the Glen Burnie estate, which remained in the family’s hands throughout the years; the last owner of the house was gay, which probably the first time I’ve ever been to a museum with some LGBT history.

    Glen Burnie Mansion at Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
    The Glen Burnie Mansion, Which The Museum Was Built Around
    Plants and Metal Mesh with Silo in Backgorund.
    Kinetic Art inside Silo.
    Blue Wall with Cutout with Trees in Background.
    Interior of Pavilion with Fountain in Background.
    Interior of Chinese Pavilion with Chinese Garden in Background.
    Chinese Garden with Ornamental Footbridge in Foreground.
    Close up of Small Waterfall.
    Parabola and Trees.
    Small Elf Building with Trees in Background.
    Long Branch Historic House and Farm.

    About a 24-minute drive away from downtown Winchester is the Long Branch Historic House & Farm. The original builder of the mansion died in the War of 1812, and thus never lived in the house. After the Civil War, the widowed wife of the new owner lost the house, but ended up buying back the house and land in auction. The last private owner of the house owned successful racehorses, and modified the mansion to what it is today.

    Field with Cows with Tree Branch in Foreground.
    Tiny Garden with Field in Background.
    Barn Building with Mountains in Background.
    Flowers with Lake in Background.
    Lake with Mountains in Background.
    Lake with Weeping Willow in Foreground.
    Lake with Bench in Foreground.

    Conclusion

    Those looking for a charming small town with plenty to do should look no further than Winchester, VA. You should spend at least two days exploring Winchester and the surrounding area, because I did not visit the Patsy Cline Historic House, Abram’s Delight, or explore the nearby Sky Meadows State Park. Winchester is definitely worth a stop if one is in the Washington D.C./NOVA area, and is close to both Harpers Ferry or Shenandoah National Park.

    Some important information: The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is closed on Monday, while the Patsy Cline Historic House is closed on Tuesday. When arriving at Long Branch Historic House & Farm, ignore what Waze says and turn right to the north entrance. Once you arrive, the visitor entrance is neither the front or back door, but in a small wing to the left (in orientation of the picture above). Once you arrive, let someone know that you’re a visitor and you would like a tour of the house, as they may be in the back.

    Below is my companion YouTube video entitled Best Things to Do in Winchester Virginia. Please subscribe if you liked the video.

  • York River State Park Review: Beautiful But Flawed

    York River State Park Review: Beautiful But Flawed

    3–4 minutes

    I first went to York River State Park in 2016, but I remembered little about it. I decided to go back to the Park this time because I overslept and missed an opportunity to travel further afield. So, what did I think of York River State Park with context now known? Keep reading to find out, and watch the accompanying YouTube video.

    Fossil Beach: The Prettiest Section

    Sign in York River State Park with pictures of fossilized shells.
    Sign Talking About What You Can Find in Fossil Beach

    Fossil Beach is the most beautiful and interesting section of the Park. The fossils themselves are not much, being small shells located in the sandy cliff; you would assume that these are shells that washed up on the beach without knowing the context. But I have always loved wild beaches for their quiet beauty and peaceful nature.

    Sandy Cliff in Fossil Beach at York River State Park.
    Fossilized Shells in Sandy Cliff.
    Dead Trees on Fossil Beach.
    Dead Trees on Fossil Beach with woods to the right.
    Small beach and grass in York River State Park.
    Small beach and grass in York River State Park.
    Blue Heron in Water in York River State Park.
    Looking Down on Fossil Beach.

    Other Scenic Places

    Besides Fossil Beach, York River State Park has other beaches. These beaches (like Seining Beach) are much smaller, but they are still quite nice. York River State Park also contains a pond and marshlands.

    Seining Beach in York River State Park.
    Beach with dead tree roots in York River State Park.
    Woodstock Pond in York River State Park.
    Woodstock Pond in York River State Park with bench in foreground.
    Boat Launch in Croacker Landing.
    Branches in Water in Croaker Landing.

    Besides the aforementioned beaches, pond, and marsh, York River State Park also has some specific places that are worth noting. An elevated platform stands at the end of the Pamunkey trail, allowing park-goers to see views of the York River. The trails leading up to Fossil Beach and the marsh at Croaker Landing are also lovely.

    Observation Deck Stairs with grasses and trees in background.
    Stairs Leading to the Observation Deck
    Footbridge on Mattaponi Trail in York River State Park.
    Footbridge Leading to Fossil Beach
    Two stairs leading to Croaker Landing.
    Stairs Leading to Croaker Landing

    The Woods

    Much of York River State Park is woodlands. I have become used to the woods of the Tidewater region of Virginia, which can be described as relatively flat with small hills and endless trees surrounding the trail. From this description, this does not make for interesting photographs. Still, I managed to take a few photos of the wooded areas.

    Dam and trees at York River State Park with York River in background.
    Trees with York River in background.
    Footbridge in woods at York River State Park.
    Backbone Trail with wooden fence in foreground at York River State Park.

    My real complaint about York River State Park is how confusing the maps are and how few things are labeled. There are several historic house foundations listed on the map, but they were impossible to find. I foolishly tried to figure out where I was on the Backbone Trail using the branching bike trail, but those trails went all over the place. At some point on the Backbone Trail, there was fork in the road that was (maybe) not listed on the map; I took the right one in a field thinking it would lead me somewhere, but I ended up on private property.

    Conclusion

    Overall, I feel that York River State Park has a few nice places, but it’s mostly uninspiring woodlands; the Backbone Trail in particular is a long slog to get through. My assessment might be too harsh, but York River State Park is very similar to other parks in the Tidewater region of Virginia, particularly since many of those parks are free. Perhaps I would have appreciated the Park more if I lived in a different ecosystem. Still, there is much to recommend in York River State, and those looking for outdoor recreation can find plenty to do.

    Below is my companion YouTube video about York River State Park, which has footage not found on the blog. I also have two videos from my old channel about two other State Parks in Virginia, Machicomoco State Park and High Bridge Trail State Park.

    Restaurants

    The closest major city to York River State Park is Williamsburg, which has many restaurants. Here are my recommendations from the Colonial Williamsburg post: in order from closest to furthest from the Park is Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que, Maria Bonita Cantina, Anna’s Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta, Honey Butter Kitchen, the restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg, and Bonanza Social Kitchen.

  • Best Places to Discover Southwest Virginia: Unique Things To Do

    Best Places to Discover Southwest Virginia: Unique Things To Do

    7–10 minutes

    I have lived in Virginia for most of my life, and yet Southwest Virginia had always remained a mystery to me. I had never even heard about Breaks Interstate Park or the Great Channels of Virginia until my adulthood. For someone living in Coastal Virginia, Southwest Virginia (or SWVA) is around a six-hour drive, and for certain destinations even longer. Finally, I received time off from work so I took the opportunity to finally explore what Southwest Virginia had to offer. Keep reading to watch my companion YouTube video.

    Abingdon

    Barter Theatre Abingdon Virginia.
    The Barter Theatre

    I chose Abingdon as my headquarters for this Southwest Virginia trip because it is consistently ranked as the prettiest small town in SWVA. While I would personally rank Damascus (discussed below) as more beautiful overall, Abingdon is still a very charming small town with many historic buildings.

    Buildings in Abingdon Virginia.
    Buildings in Abingdon Virginia.
    Main Street Buildings in Abingdon Virginia.
    Statue in Abingdon Virginia with Church in Background.
    Statue Fountain in Abingdon Virginia with Love in Background.
    Mural Thing in Abingdon Virginia.
    Mural of Bikers in Abingdon Virginia with Bushes in Foreground.
    Rural Scene in Abingdon Virginia.
    This Was Right Next To My Hotel

    On our first night there, my Dad and I ate at The Tavern, located in the oldest building in Abingdon. I recommend dining at the restaurant for its atmosphere. We ate outside because the forecast said rain for most of my trip, but I would have been equally happy eating in one of the many historic rooms.

    Sign telling information about the Tavern Restaurant in Abingdon.
    The History Of The Building
    Historic Dining Room in The Tavern Abingdon.

    A little bit outside the city is the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace, which serves as a welcome center and sells handiwork by local artisans. There were also exhibits about local history but some of them were covered-up by items for sale. The place is worth a quick stop to check everything out, about 15 minutes at most unless you intend on buying something.

    Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace.

    The Channels Natural Area Preserve

    On Monday I went to The Channels Natural Area Preserve and Breaks Interstate Park (discussed below). These two places were the highlight of my trip. It seems so strange that these two places are not frequently advertised in the best of Virginia.

    First, information about The Channels, also known as the Great Channels of Virginia: there are only 10 parking spots and they fill up pretty quickly so arrive early. We arrived at around 7:30 on a Monday to find an already half full parking lot. Although the climb only takes about three hours round-trip, be prepared for an seemingly endless amount of uphill climbing. The first three images provide important information about hiking the Channels, and more practical information can be found here.

    Beginning of Trail at the Channels.
    This Is Where The Trail Begins
    Sign noting Brumley Mountain Trail at the Channels.
    The Name Of The Trail And Important Information
    Fork in the Trail at the Channels.
    Turn Left On This Fork On The Trail, The Right Leads To Private Property

    I couldn’t find any information about how The Channels were formed, either on site or on the internet. Still, definitely a unique experience exploring the unique rock formations. Below show what you can expect to see hiking the Brumley Mountain Trail and the otherworldly beauty of The Channels.

    Trail at the Channels.
    Trail at the Channels with Rock Formation.
    Trail at the Channels with Rhododendrons.
    Entrance to the Channels Slot Canyon.
    The Channels Slot Canyon.
    The Channels Slot Canyon with Tree.
    The Channels Slot Canyon.

    Breaks Interstate Park

    Afterwards, we drove through winding mountain roads to get to Breaks Interstate Park, a massive park that borders Virginia and Kentucky. There was much to do in the park (including a water park), but the highlight is definitely the canyons.

    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park.

    The Breaks is frequently referred to as “the Grand Canyon of the South” and it’s easy to see why with views like this. The Breaks is the largest canyon east of the Mississippi River. Once again, it’s so strange that this natural wonder remains under the radar.

    Sign telling why the Breaks received it's name.
    Sign That Explains The Meaning Of The Name

    While the park is massive, you can drive through much of it. Most of the scenic spots have short trails, if any, and it’s convenient to park your car up to any place you wish to stop. Do keep in mind that the Tower Overlook and the Tower Tunnel Overlook are two different places.

    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park.
    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park.
    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park with Ledge in Foreground.
    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park.
    Canyon at Breaks Interstate Park.

    Cleveland Town Park

    Between The Channels and The Breaks, there is a small town called Cleveland, which has a small community park. But this park is unique because it has a suspension bridge over a river. I highly recommend stopping here to take in views of the river.

    Frame of Cleveland Town Park with ramp to swinging bridge in background.

    Bristol

    Famous Sign of Bristol Tennessee Virginia.

    On Tuesday, we went to Bristol Virginia/Tennessee. Bristol is the largest city in the far west of SWVA. The border between Virginia and Tennessee sits right in the middle of Bristol’s main thoroughfare, State Street. One could easily have dinner in one state and catch a show in the other state.

    State Street in Bristol Virginia.
    The Virginia Side Of The Street
    State Street in Bristol Tennessee.
    The Tennessee Side Of The Street

    Bristol prides itself on being the birthplace of country music. On the Virginia side of the city is the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This museum documents the historic 1927 Bristol sessions, as well as country music’s Appalachian background. Overall, an fascinating look on a topic that I am not necessarily interested in.

    Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol Virginia.
    Mural depicting country music signers saying Birthplace of Country Music.
    Apache Attack Helicopter on display in Bristol Virginia park.

    Chilhowie Bluegrass JAM-Boree

    Lion's Club Building in Chilhowie.
    Parking Was Chaotic, We Parked Next To A Ditch Across The Street

    To continue with the Country Music theme, we went to Chilhowie to see the Bluegrass JAM-Boree. The JAM-Boree happens every Tuesday starting at 6:30, located at the Chilhowie Lions Club. I only recommend going if you are fond of Bluegrass or Mountain Music, if not you could probably skip it. However it was intriguing seeing a world different from my own, and I was mesmerized watching the people doing buck dancing.

    Interior of Lion's Club Building in Chilhowie with Bluegrass band playing.

    Big Stone Gap

    Painting of Tree and Mountain with Big Stone Gap.

    On Wednesday, we went to Big Stone Gap to see the Southwest Virginia Museum Historic State Park. The town of Big Stone Gap is small but completely surrounded by the mountains giving it grand views. There’s also a river that runs through the town adding to its loveliness.

    Main Street of Big Stone Gap.
    Ivy Covered Building in Downtown Big Stone Gap.
    Bridge and River in Big Stone Gap.
    Clouds and Mountains near Big Stone Gap.

    The Museum itself is actually run by the Virginia State Parks systems, making it the smallest state park in Virginia. The Museum itself is organized a bit awkwardly, with the first floor dedicated to the town’s mining boom years, the second floor dedicated to the mansion’s former owners, and the third floor dedicated to the lives of the early settlers. Still, it’s an interesting overview of the regional history.

    Southwest Virginia Museum Historic State Park.
    Stairway with wooden carvings of Southwest Virginia Museum Historic State Park.

    Damascus

    Main Street Damascus Virginia.

    After lunch, we drove to Damascus, which ended up being my favorite of the small towns. While Abingdon’s buildings were nicer, charming Damascus won out with its rivers and nature. Damascus is actually an important stop on the Virginia Creeper Trail, but unfortunately the trestle was closed while we were there.

    Building in Damascus Virginia with string of light bulbs in foreground.
    Shed with arts and crafts in Damascus Virginia.
    Man made waterfall with deck and dining table in foreground and Love sign in background.
    Views From The Damascus Old Mill Inn

    Wytheville

    Logo of Downtown Wytheville.

    On our final day, we went to Wytheville to see the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum. The town is a typical nice small town, with many nice historic buildings. The most notable thing about Wytheville is the giant pencil suspended from a building.

    Tile showing Main Street Scene of Downtown Wytheville in 1950s.
    Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum.

    The Museum itself shows an entertaining look at Edith Bolling Wilson’s girlhood in Wytheville and her time as First Lady of the United States. The upstairs was undergoing renovations when were there, but they provide a video explaining the history behind each room. Renovations should be complete in late 2026.

    Conclusion on Southwest Virginia Vacation

    I accomplished a decade long (if not longer) dream of exploring Southwest Virginia. Although I did so much, there are still places I didn’t get to visit (like The Devil’s Bathtub and the Natural Bridge State Park), making SWVA a perfect vacation opportunity. I feel SWVA has much to offer for travelers wishing to discover an little known Virginia with unique landscapes and a different history.

    Below is the companion YouTube Video for this blog. My video has much more footage of each destination. If you like what you see, please consider subscribing to my channel.

    Restaurants In Southwest Virginia

    Listed below are the restaurants I ate at on the trip that I recommend. I will go in Alphabetical Order.

    Damascus Old Mill Inn Restaurant.

    Damascus Old Mill Inn: This hotel has a restaurant on the first floor. I recommend eating here for the views of the river and little waterfall. Located in Damascus.

    GoodTimes Coal Fired Pizza & Pub Restaurant.

    GoodTimes Coal Fired Pizza & Pub: If you’re wondering about coal fired pizza, they use anthracite coal (different from the coal used for powering trains) found only in Pennsylvania, which emits high heat and low emissions as noted by our waitress. All this leads to a great pizza. Located in Big Stone Gap.

    Jack's 128 Pecan Restaurant.

    Jack’s 128 Pecan: This place must have been a former house, because they were many rooms all decorated differently. They had the best food of all the semi-fancy restaurants we ate on our trip.

    Pal's Sudden Service Restaurant with cars at Drive-Thru.

    Pal’s Sudden Service: For those looking for local color, Pal’s is the local fast-food chain of choice. With its gaudy buildings and commanding pylon signs (the message the day we went said “Respect Is Earned”), Pal’s is definitely an experience. Keep in mind it’s drive-thru only. Located all over SWVA.

    Skeeter's World Famous Hotdogs Restaurant.

    Skeeter’s World Famous Hotdogs: Only two doors down from the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum is Skeeter’s, which has been open since 1925. Definitely come here if you love hot dogs, because there was only one non-hot dog thing on the menu; I had the BBQ sandwich. Located in Wytheville.

    The Tavern Restaurant.

    The Tavern: I’ve already talked about The Tavern above, but here’s some more about the restaurant. It serves a mix of New American and German food. I recommend eating here to absorb the historical ambiance. Located in Abingdon.

  • A Fun Day Out in Underrated Woodbridge Virginia

    A Fun Day Out in Underrated Woodbridge Virginia

    Woodbridge is not the first place one thinks of when thinking of major travel destinations in Virginia. Much of the discourse around Woodbridge online revolves around its suburban character; the Prince William County Tourism Website proclaims Woodbridge as having Virginia’s largest outlet mall. But I believe that there are hidden gems in the most seemingly mundane places that are worth a day trip. So here is my suggestions for a fun day out in underrated Woodbridge Virginia. Keep reading for YouTube Videos about other places in Prince William County.

    Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

    Table of contents

    Restaurant in Woodbridge, VA

    Dhansiri Bangladeshi Restaurant located in strip mall in Woodbridge VA.
    A Good Unique Dining Option

    The deciding factor for me to go to Woodbridge was trying Bangladeshi food at Dhansiri Restaurant. Bangladeshi food bares some similarity to Indian food, but more beef oriented. I ordered Beef Bhuna, which was tasty, but even after asking for the mild it still had heat, so I would suggest eating elsewhere if you can’t handle spice.

    Rippon Lodge Historic Site

    Sign with word Welcome to Rippon Lodge Historic Site Circa 1747.

    After lunch, I drove to Rippon Lodge Historic Site, which is the second oldest house in Prince William County. Rippon Lodge has seen many changes over the years; it was once a small house built around 1745-1747 by Richard Blackburn, whose son Thomas Blackburn fought in the Revolutionary War under George Washington. The Blackburns and Washingtons grew closer when Thomas’ daughter married George Washington’s nephew.

    Black and White Photograph of Rippon Lodge as it appeared in circa 1921.
    Rippon Lodge As It Looked Before 1924

    Eventually, the Blackburns lost the property and Rippon Lodge changed hands several times until 1924, when Wade H. Ellis and his wife drastically changed the shape of the house to its current appearance. A descendant of the Blackburn family bought the house in 1952 and owned it for half a century. Prince William County acquired the property in 2000 and opened the house for tours in 2007.

    RIppon Lodge with Well in Foreground.

    I received a self-guided tour with a pamphlet providing information about the house (which is where the above information came from). The employee led me from the admission room to the opposite side of the house. He gave me a basic overview of the house before leaving me on my own. Although I was expecting a guided tour, it was nice to be able to go on my own pace.

    One thing Rippon Lodge did that I like is showing what the house looked like throughout the years, rather than focusing on one specific era. I always felt that many historic house museums should focus on a more comprehensive look at the site’s history, especially if no one particularly noteworthy owned the house. The house also revealed the many architectural changes it went through, such as how they moved the chimneys and altered rooms.

    Grounds of Rippon Lodge with Flowers in Foreground and Well in Background.

    The grounds of Rippon Lodge are very beautiful. The pergola covered with roses particularly struck my eye. There’s also a well, some outbuildings, and a family cemetery located on one of the trails.

    Rose Covered Wooden Pergola at Rippon Lodge Historic Site.
    Inside Rose Covered Pergola with Hedges in Foreground and Rippon Lodge in Background.
    Close Up of Roses Growing on Pergola.

    Neabsco Creek Boardwalk

    Sign with words Neabsco Regional Park 15125 Blackburn Road Prince William Parks, Recreation & Tourism.
    Neabsco Regional Park Is Also Known As Rippon Landing Park on Google Maps

    After Rippon Lodge, I went right across the street to visit Neabsco Regional Park, which is particularly notable for the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is a winding 3,300 feet long (or .625 miles) trail that goes above the marshy Neabsco Creek. The 90-degree heat made the mostly treeless boardwalk a slog, but the views and seeing a beaver building a dam made it all worth it.

    Sign of Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with Neabsco Creek and Trees in Background.
    Shadows being cast from fancy gate in Neabsco Creek Boardwalk.
    Neabsco Creek Boardwalk as it winds through the marsh.
    Neabsco Creek Boardwalk and Small Waterfall.
    Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with Trees in Foreground.
    Neabsco Creek Boardwalk from Far Away.
    Close Up of Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with Shadow and Pussy-willow.
    Multistory observation tower at Neabsco Regional Park.
    Neabsco Creek.
    Neabsco Creek with Boardwalk in background.
    End of Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with Neabsco Creek in Background.
    Neabscro Creek Marsh with Trees.

    At some point, the Boardwalk abruptly ends and turns into a narrow wooden trail that goes deep into the woods. It turns out that the boardwalk is the only connection between the two different sections of Neabsco Regional Park. I only found that out after getting lost in an unmaintained section of the park.

    Boardwalk Trail through Neabsco Regional Park.
    Boardwalk Trail through Neabsco Regional Park.
    Boardwalk Trail through Neabsco Regional Park.
    Poorly Maintained Boardwalk Trail through Neabsco Regional Park.

    Conclusion

    I enjoyed exploring the things to do in Woodbridge. I hope this blog post allows people to view Woodbridge through different eyes. So next time one is looking for a fun day out, consider Woodbridge and Prince William County in Northern Virginia.

    The grounds of Rippon Lodge Historic Site are open every day from dawn to dusk, but the house itself is only open from Friday-Monday from 10:00-4:00. Guided tours are supposedly at 11:00 and 2:00, but I arrived at 1:40ish and the employee only gave me the self-guided option, so keep that in mind. More information about the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk found here.

    Below is the companion YouTube video, which show in greater detail Rippon Lodge Historic Site and Neabsco Creek Boardwalk.

    Other Towns in Prince William County

    If one wanted to make a full weekend (or weekday) vacation to Prince William County, I have two videos from my old YouTube channel about Occoquan and Manassas (links in name). Occoquan Historic District consistently ranked as one of Virginia’s most beautiful small towns. Old Town Manassas is the County Seat of Prince William County and played an important role during the Civil War.

    If you want to explore more of the NOVA area, read my blog post about Alexandria.