Virginia-A Photo Tour, Part 2

Continuing on from yesterday's post, I'll be picking up right where I left off-- in Staunton, VA.

This was a huge iron watering can in downtown.  The other side of the bridge had two huge iron pots.  Oversized sculptures always get me.

This is for Lauren (aka Laredo).  I found a shop called Little Laredo and had to pull over and snap a pic!

This is an old mill that's been transformed into a restaurant called the Mill Street Grill.

Mill Street Grill

This place was just as delicious as it was unique.  To start off our meal, they brought us out pans of different bread all cooked together like this.  And what did they serve with it?  Raspberry butter!  I've never seen or heard of raspberry butter in my life, but I knew it would make Jon proud if I gave it a try, so I did.  And I have to say it was actually pretty good. 

Then, as if the unconventional bread and butter wasn't enough to make us remember the place, they brought everyone at the table some peppermint ice cream when we finished our meals!  Excellent place!

On the second to last day of our stay, we roamed the streets of downtown Staunton and all of its historic landmarks.  One of them being this train station.  Still a functioning Amtrak station today, this was also the hub of this small town many many years ago.  And what makes it even more cool is that this is the train station my grandfather left from when he went off to fight in World War II.  Talk about stepping back in time!

From the train station, you can look back and see the streets of downtown.  Every building had its own character and story to tell.  I loved it.

Another view of downtown.

The train station was "modernized" over one hundred years ago.  Craziness.

There were cobblestones all around the train station.  Who knows how many feet have traveled over those stones.

More history...

This was one of the old doors at the station.  It took me back in time -- imaging when this door was new, and people were constantly hustling in and out trying to live up to the demands of the city.

More buildings in downtown.

Now for a tour of my dream home...well at least the outside.  That's the part that made me swoon.  Yes, in true travel nerd fashion, I had my big camera with me and had to capture a few shots this gem.

Have you figured out what made me love it so?

Here's a hint:  

If you guessed the large front terrace and huge multi-pane windows, you are correct!  Absolutely gorgeous.

The last stop on this photo tour is Fredericksburg, VA.  It was on our way to this city that we passed all of the amazing horse farms mentioned here.   
Fredericksburg was far from quiet rolling farms though, it was full of art, culture and of course, history.  We ate lunch at a darling place called Bistro Bethem.
We were told by a local that we traveled there on a great day because the weather was the best it had been all spring.  Lucky us!  It was sunny with temps in the low 70's--so perfect that the restaurant opened their front french doors so you could see out to the street while you ate.  I loved the atmosphere and food!

There were so many other things I wanted to see (including a ton of antique shops) but we ran out of time!  I guess that just means I'll have to make another trip back to Virginia soon :)
So there you go!  That's the summation of my trip in a few photos.  Now I think you should make some travel plans of your own and go check out the great state of Virginia for yourself!