Prince William County Community Guide
Prince William County is located on the Potomac river in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The county is part of the Washington Metropolis Area. The county seat is Manasses.
Prince William County is growing quickly in population. As of 2012, the county’s population was 421,164.
The county is a very wealthy area of Virginia, listed as one of the highest income counties of the United States.
History
The area known today as Prince William County was first recorded by John Smith, who wrote of a village named Pemacocack, inhabited by a Powhatan tribe of Native Americans, located on the west bank of the Potomac River.
Prince William County was created in 1731 by the General Assembly of Virginia. The county was named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, the third son of King George II.
Prince William County is home to Rippon Lodge, built in 1747 by Richard Blackburn. George Washington was a good friend of Blackburn, and is believed to have visited the house often.
Manasses, the county seat of Prince William, is the site of the Battle of First Manassas, which took place in 1861 during the Civil War.
Today, visitors to the county can visit the Manassas Museum to find out more about the county’s rich history.
The Land
Prince William County covers an area of 348 square miles, 11 of which are water.
With 25,000 acres of green space and 160 miles of trails and parks, the county provides plenty of opportunity to enjoy nature.
Both Prince William and Manassas National Parks are part of Prince William County.
What to Do
Visitors to Prince William County are given plenty of opportunity to enjoy restaurants, wineries, golf courses, and movie theaters.
Restaurants
Prince William County offers a wide variety of dining and places to eat. The county has several farmer’s markets, and many of their restaurants cook with fresh and local ingredients.
Absolute BBQ http://www.eatabsolutebbq.com/
Adam’s Pizza Subs http://www.adamspizzaandsubs.com/
Ashton Family Diner http://www.ashtonfamilyrestaurant.com/
Blue Ridge Seafood http://www.blueridgeseafood.com/
Cupcake Heaven and Cafe http://www.cupcakeheavenandcafe.com/
Dixie Bones BBQ http://www.dixiebones.com/index.html
Wineries
Prince William County has multiple wineries for visiting and tasting.
Winery at La Grange http://www.wineryatlagrange.com/
Pearmund Cellars http://www.pearmundcellars.com/
Cork and Fork Wine and Beer http://www.corkandfork.co/
Paradise Springs Winery http://www.paradisespringswinery.com/
Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe http://www.olddominionwine.com/
Golf
Golf provides an excellent avenue for getting outside and enjoying nature. Prince William County has several well managed golf courses.
Prince William Golf Course http://www.princewilliamgolf.com/index.php
General’s Ridge Golf Course http://www.generalsridge.com/index.php
Forest Greens Golf Course http://www.forestgreens.com/index.php
Lake Ridge Park Golf and Marina http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/usa/virginia/woodbridge/lake-ridge-park-golf-marina.html
Movie Theaters
From foreign films to mainstream cinemas, Prince William County offers the full range of movie theaters.
Manassas 4 Cinemas http://www.manassas4cinemas.com/
Rave Cinemas http://www.ravemotionpictures.com/
AMC Theaters http://www.amctheatres.com/
Culpeper County
Culpeper County is located in the central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Culpeper County covers an area of 382 square miles. The population in Culpeper County was last recorded in 2010 as 36,689.
The county seat is Culpeper. Culpeper is also the only town in Culpeper County.
Culpeper County is one with a large discrepancy between the rich and the poor. Much of the wealth is inherited by families over generations, but much of the Culpeper populaition lives below the poverty line.
History
Culpeper County was first established in 1749 as a break off of Orange County.
Culpeper County is named for Thomas Colepeper, the colonial governor of Virginia from 1677-1683.
May 1749 marks the first convening of the Culpeper County Court.
At 17, George Washington served as the county’s first surveyor. Part of his job was to design the county’s courthouse complex.
The Culpeper Minute Men fought valiantly during the Revolutionary War.
Several battles took place in Culpeper County during the Civil War, including The Battle of Cedar Mountain and The Battle of Brandy Station.
The Land
Culpeper County is close to the Blue Ridge Mountains, accessible to all kinds of hiking and outdoor activities.
The county is very close to the well known hike, Old Rag, and Skyline Drive.
Commonwealth Park, a famous site for equestrian events, is located in Culpeper County. Actor Christopher Reeve had his paralyzing accident at Commonwealth Park.
Activities
Culpeper County has a wide variety of activities, restaurants, and things to do.
Restaurants
Culpeper has restaurants and eateries for every pallette.
Dolcery Desserts http://www.dolcerydesserts.com/
Country Cookin http://www.countrycookin.com/
Ledo Pizza http://www.ledopizza.com/
Thyme Market http://www.thymeinfo.com/
Foti’s Restaurant http://www.fotisrestaurant.com/
Inn at Kelly’s Ford http://www.innatkellysford.com/
Wineries
Gray Ghost Vineyards http://www.grayghostvineyards.com/
Old House Vineyards http://www.oldhousevineyards.com/
Prince Michel Winery http://www.princemichel.com/
Unicorn Winery http://www.unicornwinery.com/
Shopping
From antique stores to storefront boutiques, Culpeper makes the experience of shopping almost as enjoyable as the products.
Apple’s Closet http://applesclosetconsignment.com/
Designer’s Choice http://www.designerschoice4you.com/
Found: Antiques, Vintage, Today http://foundantiquesandvintage.com/
The Cameleer http://www.thecameleer.com/
The Green Roost http://www.shopgreenroost.com/
The Farmer’s Wife http://www.thefarmerswifemarket.com/
Movie Theaters
Culpeper’s main movie theater is a Regal stadium with four theaters, offering enough options to ensure that moviegoers will get to see the film of their choice.
http://www.regmovies.com/
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island is designed to pay tribute to the former president’s love of nature and the outdoors.
In the 1930s, Theodore Roosevelt Island, formerly known as Mason’s Island, was neglected and overgrown. The Olmstead Brothers Firm transformed the land into a memorial to President Theodore Roosevelt. (more…)
Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park, located in the northern region of Virginia, is an escape into nature for city dwellers and country folks alike.
Only 35 miles south of Washington, D.C., Prince William Forest is accessible to residents of the nation’s capital and its surrounding areas. (more…)
Great Falls State Park
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| Great Falls, National Park Service |
Located only 15 miles from the nation’s Capital, Great Falls Park is an 800 acre escape into nature for dwellers of Washington, D.C.
The falls are an overflow of the Potomac River, which flows into the Mather Gorge.
For centuries, the Great Falls have been a gathering place for people to fish, hike, and discover nature.
In 1784, George Washington’s plan was to make the Potomac River as navigable as the Ohio River, thus drawing people west. George Washington’s work on the river required the cooperation of multiple states, thus preparing him for the job of President a few years later.
Constructors worked to make a canal of the river, with locks to bypass the Great Falls. Getting around the falls involved a system with a series of five locks that lowered or raised boats around the sharp drop.
Thousands of boats used the Patowmack Canal upon its completion. The canal was abandoned in 1830, when workers aimed to build a waterway stretching from Georgetown to Maryland.
Today, Great Falls and the Patowmack Canal are protected by the National Park Service.
Location
Great Falls National Park is located in Northern Virginia, in the town of McLean.
The address of the park is 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia, 22102.
Great Falls is a 30 minute drive from Washington, D.C., and a two hour drive from Richmond.
From Roanoke and from Virginia Beach, the park is a three and a half hour drive away.
Hours and Admission
The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk.
The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The snack bar is open seasonally.
The Visitor Center contains brochures, trail maps, and a museum. Throughout the year, events are held in the auditorium of the Visitor Center.
A children’s room is also located in the Visitor Center. This room contains puzzles, games, and educational activities for children.
Admission to the park is $3 per individual or $5 per vehicle. These passes last for three consecutive days.
Annual passes to the park are $20.
Things to Do
From the Visitor Center, the three Falls overlooks are can be reached by walking within two to ten minutes.
The park has fifteen miles of hiking, biking, and bridle trails, including the River Trail, which offers one of the best views of the Falls.
Fishing is permitted with a valid Virginia or Maryland license. Swimming and wading are not permitted.
Picnic tables and grills are available for use. They cannot be reserved and are filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Arlington House and Robert E. Lee Memorial
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| Arlington House in the Arlington National Cemetery, Wikimedia |
Arlington House has served many purposes over the years, most notably as the historic residence of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his family. The family resided in the Arlington House before the Civil War.
The Arlington House has been used as a military headquarters, a personal family home, and a national cemetery since it was built in 1802.
The house was built by George Washington Park Custis, grandson of Martha Washington through her first marriage. He was raised at Mount Vernon, by George and Martha Washington.
George Washington Park Custis was the father of Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who became the wife of Robert E. Lee. George Washington Park Custis remained at Arlington until his death in 1857, and played a prominent role in the lives of the Lees and their seven children.
Today, the house is an Historic National Park, and visitors to Arlington and the Robert E. Lee Memorial can learn even more about the house’s long history, and the prominent figures who walked its halls.
Location
Arlington House is located next to the Arlington Cemetery, via the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
From Wahington, D.C., the house and cemetery are reached by crossing Memorial Bridge.
Parking is available at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center, and handicapped parking is available at the Old Administration Building, located behind Arlington House.
Hours and Admission
Arlington House is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reservations are not required to enter the house, but there may be a delay on busy days. Tour groups can only take 25 people through the house at a time, due to weight restrictions on the second floor of the house.
Admission to the house is free.
What to Do
Visitors to the Arlington House will enjoy the Robert E. Lee Museum. The museum provides a detailed overview of the famous general’s life and influence.
The museum contains original artifacts from the Lee family.
Visitors may also explore the Arlington House. Visitors can take a tour, or walk through it at their leisure.
Audio tours can be taken via personal cell phones.
The grounds of Arlington House can also be explored. The slave quarters provide detailed information on the slaves who lived on the premises, and the kind of life they lived.
For children, the park has developed the Arlington House Junior Ranger Program, designed for children ages 5-12. Participants of the program receive a Junior Ranger Badge upon visiting the house and completing the Junior Ranger workbook.
Mason Neck State Park
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| Virginia Dept. Conservation & Recreation |
The wetlands, ponds, and open fields of Mason Neck State Park make it an ideal location for observing and studying wildlife.
The park offers hiking, picnicking, bird watching, and canoe trips.
Location
Mason Neck, located in Northern Virginia, is just a 40 minute drive from the nation’s capital. The park provides an escape into nature for residents of the Washington D.C. suburbs.
Mason Neck State Park is a four-hour drive from Roanoke and a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Richmond.
Amenities
The park offers over five miles of unpaved trails for hiking, biking and running. The park has three miles of unpaved trails for hiking.
The paved trails vary in elevation, giving visitors the opportunity to see the park’s marshland from a bird’s eye view.
Bicycles can be rented at the park.
Fishing is permitted at Mason Neck State Park with a valid Virginia fishing license. A boat launch is available for cartop boats.
Between April and October, canoes and kayaks can be rented from the park, to explore Belmont Bay or Kane’s creek. Both of these areas offer opportunities to see eagles.
The park has one picnic shelter available for rent. The shelter has a vynil tent cover and is available between the months of May and October.
The shelter can seat up to 50 people and is equipped with eight picnic tables and two charcoal grills. Restrooms are available in the nearby general picnicking area.
The picnic shelter can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Mason Neck State Park has no designated swimming areas.
The visitor center has a newly renovated section called Explorer’s Hall. This area accommodates up to 30 people for meetings and can be reserved by calling the park’s office.
The visitor center has several nature exhibits on display, as well as a gift shop where souvenirs and snacks can be purchased.
Nature Programs
Mason Neck State Park offers pond study and bird watching programs, as well as guided nature walks and educational talks.
The park also offers guided canoe and kayak tours, eagle watches, and guided educational hikes.
The Eagle Festival is held in late April.
Junior Rangers is an educational program for children ages 7-10, offering a hands on experience with nature. The program teaches conservation and stewardship.
Wee Rangers is a program for children aged 4-6. This program is fun and interactive, providing young children with a glimpse into the natural world.
Overnight Accommodations
Mason Neck State Park offers no overnight accommodations.
History
Mason Neck State Park officially opened to the public in 1985.
The Mason Neck Conservation Committee was formed in 1965, after two bald eagle nests were spotted.