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IN COUNTRYSlow Down, It’s CulpeperBy Dave RoffmanAugust 2008
A weekend getaway to Culpeper, Virginia was just what we needed after a summer full of baseball All Star tournaments (including a long, hot trip to Mobile, Alabama) and keeping tabs on a dozen 14 year olds bursting with energy. Here, in Culpeper, just an hour from Georgetown and Downtown DC, (best way to go is I-66 to Route 17 through Warrenton straight down to Culpeper) we found an historic town with delightful restaurants, antique shops, historic architecture, and Culpeper’s museum with its dinosaur tracks and Civil War artifacts. After a fun-filled Saturday in town, we packed a picnic and ventured out to explore the scenic countryside. We toured and tasted at a nearby winery (of which there are many to choose from), and sampled award-wining wines from the heart of Virginia’s growing wine industry. It was, in all, a most perfect weekend. Here’s a little history to pass on to you: After forming Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1748, the Virginia House of Burgesses voted to establish the Town of Fairfax on Feb. 22, 1759. The name honored Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who was proprietor of the Northern Neck, a vast domain north of the Rappahannock River stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to what is now Hampshire County, West Virginia. The original plan called for 10 blocks, which form the core of Culpeper’s downtown area today. (Sorta sounds like the beginnings of Georgetown, doesn’t it? Ten square blocks....) The Virginia Assembly formally renamed the town Culpeper in 1869 (Acts, 1869-1870). During the American Revolutionary War, the Culpeper Minutemen, a pro-Independence militia group, formed in the town of Culpeper, in what was then known as “Clayton’s Old Field,” near today’s Yowell Meadow Park. During the Civil War, Culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces occupied the town at various times. In the heart of downtown, the childhood home of Confederate General A.P. Hill still stands at the corner of Main and Davis streets. The last time I was in Culpeper was in the 1970s, but the town has grown dramatically since then, becoming a bedroom community of the more densely populated Northern Virginia and its DC suburbs, where a growing number of residents of the town and county of Culpeper once lived and continue to work. The increased population, economic development, and influx of people with urban sensibilities, have caused a rising tension in Culpeper’s identity, as many residents press to maintain its small-town rural character as it shifts to a more and more exurban community. Today, Culpeper is a destination for its fine dining and shopping experience: We asked Diane Logan, who heads up the Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. Mainstreet organization (sort of their version of our BID) to suggest a few places to eat while in Culpeper. Diane recommends the following: Its About Thyme on E. Davis Street (a destination for many of Culpeper’s visitors and locals); Foti’s on E. Davis Street (award winning restaurant); Chiusana Italian Table on Cameron Street (we were told it has only been open 3 weeks); Thyme Grill for a quick lunch; Tea, Lace and Roses, a great tea house on W. Davis Street; Hazel River Inn Restaurant, located in a pre-Civil War building with its own ghost (E. Davis Street); Raven’s Nest Coffee Shop on E. Davis Street; Frost Café, a great diner we were told by locals; Thai Restaurant on S. Main and Lucio on S. Main. As for the best Bed & Breakfasts in Culpeper, three come highly recommended: the historic Fountain Hall - 609 E. Street - 800-298-4748; the previously mentioned Hazel River Inn on E. Davis Street; or the Thyme Inn - 540-4264 (new located on E. Davis Street). And if you’re there on a weekend, the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market is a Saturday destination for the local community. Over 30 vendors offer locally grown produce, lamb, beef, chicken, cheese, honey, flowers, homemade baked goods and crafts. Local restaurants like Foti’s purchase products from the market and serve the goods in their restaurants. Since CRI began management, the market has grown from 8 small vendors to over 30. The market is open each Saturday from May through October from 7:30am-Noon on E. Davis Street near the Depot. ~~~ Culpeper’s downtown shops are a destination not only for the ultimate in customer service experience, but also for the incredible selection of unique gifts, home décor, and fashion. Inspirational pieces abound for the nature lover with selections from individually designed jewelry to T-shirts, to beautifully designed bird feeders, outdoor and floor art to bird seed. Pet treats can be found for both your pet and the pet accessorizer in your family. Unique gifts flourish in the many shops downtown for anyone on your list, from the antique lover to the world traveler. If fashion is your interest, comfortable yet stylish apparel for all ages, from the professional woman to the young mother to the retired baby boomer is on tap. And, yes, men’s hats, shirts and jackets can be found for the most discerning male on your list. From antiques to art inspired modern décor – it can be found in downtown Culpeper. Downtown restaurants and wine shops carry a wide variety of Virginia wines and wines from vineyards around the world. Old House Vineyards is a Culpeper favorite. Located approximately ten miles east of Culpeper, Old House has wine tastings and other special events throughout the year. Prince Michele, located on Hwy 29 S, is not only a Culpeper favorite but is a national award winner. Other wineries located close to Culpeper include Horton Vineyards, Gray Ghost with many others located within an hour drive of Culpeper.
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