Spotsylvania County is a beautiful slice of Virginia.
Almost halfway between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Spotsylvania spreads out through the picturesque Virginia countryside.
With views of the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance to the west and the knowledge that the Potomac River is not that far to the east, a home in Spotsylvania means you really are close to everything.
But that doesn’t mean you have to travel to find the things that mean the most to you: There’s so much fun to be had right in your own backyard!
And right next door to Spotsylvania County is our BFF City of Fredericksburg. Full of its own history and excitement, you can’t talk about the fun in Spotsylvania without including Fredericksburg!
Here are our Top 12 Favorite Places to Visit in Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg:
Lake Anna State Park is many family-friendly adventures all rolled into one. Spend one day with lines in the water angling at the fishing pond. Spend another day (or few!) exploring more than 15 miles of trails through hiking, biking, or horseback riding. If you have your own boat, set out from the boat launch and sail the 13,000 acres of the lake proper. Enjoy the visitor center as you learn about the park’s natural features and the area’s history of gold mining. You can even take a guided tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine!
Just a little over 5 minutes away from Lake Anna State Park, you’ll find a place just for the adults: Lake Anna Winery. It all started with a business trip to France in 1981, when Lake Anna Winery’s owner realized the climate and soil of some parts of the French countryside were very close to those of his 1940s-era cattle farm in Spotsylvania. The farm was renovated and became a delightful local place to visit. With a full range of reds, whites, rosés, and sweet wines, Lake Anna Winery has something for every taste and to complement every meal. Enjoy their tasting room and check their website often for special events!
Nothing tastes better than cooking with locally grown ingredients. That’s why we love the Spotsylvania Farmers Market. One of the area’s largest farmers markets. this marketplace actually has two different locations: a Saturday morning market located at the Commuter Lot at Route 3/Gordon Road and a Wednesday afternoon market in front of the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Over 40 vendors—including local farms, nurseries, bakeries, meat and seafood providers, and specialty-food producers—are ready to give your palate and your plate a true taste of Spotsylvania County.
As Fredericksburg’s premier escape room experience, Rush House Live Escape Rooms specializes in whole-family fun. If their rooms were movies, they’d be rated G–PG. As you try to escape their various rooms, you can identify a mob boss, defuse a bomb, become a CIA operative, sail on Blackbeard’s pirate ship, and “live” the life of the young protagonist from A Christmas Story in the only officially licensed escape room based on the classic movie. Put your minds to the test and escape the ordinary at Rush House Live.
Originally opening in 1998, and rebranding in 2016, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts provides Spotsylvania with professional-caliber theatrical productions. With afternoon and evening main-stage performances and special children’s theater productions on Saturdays (and some weekdays), Riverside Center makes sure everyone in your family is entertained. And if you go to see their dinner theater shows, you’ll delight in a three-course, chef-prepared meal served by our experienced staff of waiters.
Downtown Fredericksburg is a walkable town full of art galleries, restaurants, boutique shops, and a dynamic calendar of events perfect for the whole family. And while you’re walking around, you’ll also be following in the footsteps of the area’s rich history. Enjoy all the fun and excitement by foot, or take your touring to the next level with trolley or horse-drawn carriage rides. Tree-lined streets and brick sidewalks will whisk you away to a destination you'll want to visit again and again. Plus, it’s where you’ll find some of our other favorite places to visit on this list!
With recipes and inspiration dating back generations, Courthouse Cafe & Pizzeria brings flavors and traditions straight from Italy to your mouth. This family-run restaurant is a welcoming place for every family to have some pizza, enjoy some company, and remember how good food brings us all together. And that’s Courthouse Cafe’s goal: to be that neighborhood pizza place that is the spot for a slice of home.
As Courthouse Cafe wants to be your everyday pizza joint, Orofino Restaurant is ready for that special occasion where you want the pinnacle of Italian cuisine. The head chef/owner was trained in the culinary arts in Palermo, Sicily, and brings that expertise and authenticity to every dish. Everything on the menu has a deep connection to all the regions of Italy, their traditions, and the baked-in Italian cooking ethic of using only simple and fresh ingredients. Dinner at Orofino will have you tasting la dolce vita in every bite!
Fahrenheit 132° is your neighborhood fine-dining steakhouse. Offering a smaller and more elegant menu, Fahrenheit 132° champions locally grown, “farm-to-fork” ingredients and seasonal dishes. Everything is focused on freshness and sustainability, which makes this restaurant a great place for a quick dinner, a fancy night on the town, or a full celebration. Expertly combining “high-end service and exquisite food,” Fahrenheit 132° fills your stomach without emptying your wallet.
10. Central Park
Central Park is one of the biggest shopping centers on the East Coast with over 200 retailers for you to discover. It will be easy for you to find all the stores with everything and anything you may need or want. But all that shopping will definitely make you hungry, so it’s good that Central Park also boasts an abundance of chain and unique restaurants. Flavors and fun await your whole family when you make a date to visit Central Park in Fredericksburg.
Spotsylvania Town Centre is our local mall. It’s destination for dining and entertainment, a place to meet with friends, and a spot to find a new hat for your escape room experience or a tie for your date night at Orofino. A place to buy games, get an ice cream treat, plan your next craft project, pick up some sports gear, and get your eyes checked. In short, Spotsylvania Town Centre has a little of everything and loads of Spotsylvania charm.
The best place to go in Spotsylvania is the home we custom build on land you already own. With an extensive collection of award-winning home styles, Atlantic Builders can transform your home site into your dream home. With over 30 years of experience, we’ve built not only homes, but also an extensive network of trade partners. When combined with our purchasing power, we’ll build you a home with high-quality materials and craftsmanship at a great value. With Atlantic Builders, you’ve got a team of professionals handling the work for you and guiding you through the design, permits, construction, and financing. Learn more how we can turn your dream home into reality by building it on your own land.