Skip to main content

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!

post signature

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Coffee Table

After more than a year of debate, I've finally decided on and ordered us a new coffee table! As mentioned here , there were several styles I was considering.  However, in the end the tufted ottoman came out on top.  Not only was it versatile, so it can be used for years to come, but it also will be good for when we have kiddos down the road.  I can't tell you how many people I know who have had to either remove their coffee tables for the safety of their kids' noggins or have had to add those tacky corner protectors.  I did not want to invest in a new piece only to have to stow it away down the road.  So this seemed to be the perfect solution.  And thanks to my Joss & Main membership, it turned out to be the perfect price too. I was all set to order a tufted ottoman from Ballard Designs.  I had already received a swatch sample of the fabric I selected and everything.  But a few days later, I got a notification from Joss & Main of a sale event called The Tufted C

Our Living Room Mood Board

Our living room is slowly but surely coming together.  The biggest To Do's are ordering a new media console, painting the room (which is unfortunately open to the dining room, kitchen, office and breakfast area which means lots of painting to be done!), order a few lamps and a console for the long wall behind the couch. I realize I haven't shared any pictures of our "new" house (we moved in at the end of last October) with you guys.  So here's a glimpse of the living room before we moved in. This is what you see when you walk in the front door.  The dining room is on the left, the living room is straight ahead and the office on the right. A closer look at the living room.  Florida loves their plant ledges...I do not.  You win some.  You lose some.  I also want to replace the tile around the fireplace.   A view from the back of the living room looking toward the front corner of the house. The room behind the half green wall is the office sans the Fr

A Heart

Lately, baby prep has been on the forefront of my mind.  Getting the nursery ready, packing the hospital bag, washing all of her clothes, setting up a pediatrician and the list goes on.  Sometimes I have to step away from it all (literally and mentally) so as not to get overwhelmed.  I put this pressure on myself to get it all done and done right.  I tell myself that all of these things are so necessary for her to be a good place upon her entrance to the world. Sure cute, clean outfits and a nice room are nice things for your child to have, but how lost I can get in the worldly things.  More than anything else, I know that the best thing I can give my daughter is a great example of a good heart.  A heart that empathizes and serves.  A heart that loves the Lord and longs for his relationship. A heart that is thankful and joyful even on the worst days. It's a frightening thing to ask myself "Will she learn this from you?  Will you be able to be that example?"  That carr