Visiting VA - advice wanted

[Noddy]

Hey folks, I'm leaving tonight for a last minute extended trip to somewhere near Fredericksburg VA.  I'll be leaving my bike behind, and am looking for any local knowledge about:

- possible bike rentals
- bike dealers / events during 2007 03
- 'don't miss it' places / activities for the physically active within easy daytriping of Fredericksburg.

Thanks in advance.

Noddy

[Riceman]

Guess I'll break the water.  I dont know of any bike rentals in the area.  Doesnt mean there arent any?  As for dealers/happenings...someone closer to Fred should be able to chime in with that and events.  There's a lot to see just in Fred itself...if youre a Civil War buff.  

Personally, even my March calendar is dry as a bone with regards to local MC happenings.

[hovmaven]

On the physically active front, get on Skyline Drive -- decent hiking in the mountains.  Old Rag is a popular day hike, too.  Charlottesville in within a 90 minute drive, you could see Monticello, tour UVa, etc.

You could also drive down to Virginia Beach -- fun stuff there, too (about 3 hours from Fredericksburg).  I'd see the Outer Banks in NC, about 90 minutes plus further, but much nicer.  Williamsburg is about halfway to Virginia Beach, you could kill a day there, too.

SWriverstone could probably direct you to West Virginia whitewater rafting or other destinations (he hang glides, too).  

On the DC or near DC front, you can see our nation's capital by foot (near or off the Mall), tour Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, or you can day hike in Great Falls on either the Va or Md side.  No shortage of things there.

Best piece of advice -- stay away from the NoVa folks -- especially Peter.  I hear that they're squids.  

Good luck.    

[Riceman]

I ride a V Max..does that make me a squid?  

[PixelPusher]

I'm a little late, but if you want to head down to Hampton Roads, the Mariner's Museum has just opened it's new USS Monitor Center. Really fascinating stuff, if you are at all a Civil War or naval fan.

[ElTee]

I don't know if you're into Civil War stuff or not, but just south of Fredricksburg is a National Park site referred to as the Stonewall Jackson Shrine. After he was wounded at Chancellorsville, they moved him to this location in anticipation of putting him on the train to Richmond, but the Union Army had interrupted the rail line and he expired here.

It's really under utilized and off the beaten track. The day my wife and I went we were left alone to stand in the room where he died with the actual bedding he laid on and a couple other original items, plus period items to full furnish the room. It was very moving, late in the day with yellowing sunlight and the ticking of a regulator clock on the mantle.

His final words, spoken to his wife were, "let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees".

[Scratch33]

Re: rentals -



http://www.eagleriderdc.com/

http://www.eagleridercva.com/

[DosEquis00]

I'm a little late, but if you want to head down to Hampton Roads, the Mariner's Museum has just opened it's new USS Monitor Center. Really fascinating stuff, if you are at all a Civil War or naval fan.

Thanks for the info PixelPusher as I go dow to Hampton Roads twice a year and I will have to check out the Mariner's Museum