If you want to take a step back in time and visit a small Virginia town, then take a beautiful…read morecounty drive to Clifton. There are NO chain stores here. In fact, there are only 1-2 shops and several restaurants. The main draw are the historical markers along the railroad tracks that describe their history and importance and the quaint 1900's architecture. The first railroad station, now gone, was built around 1850. The railroad was important during the Civil War with many battles fought near this border town. The town remains unchanged since the 1930's. Colorful homes line the street each telling a story. Amenities are limited. There is some street parking and a small parking lot behind Buckley's store. Parking is free. The only restrooms are in the restaurants. All the restaurants are good. Gas up before you come.

This is a nice town in Virginia. Surrounded by both Fairfax and Prince William Counties, bring cash…read moreand credit cards. Nothing is cheap here. In many ways it's a lot like Middleburg. On a plus note I do like the trains a lot. Also the caboose exhibit is a nice aspect. Yet do take care, as the main road can be fairly congested. Old Town Alexandria or Fairfax, are more foot traffic friendly. Is it pretty? Yes. The old church and general stores are very attractive. Seeing the old Texaco sign is always pleasant. There are some expensive craft shops and restaurants. Petersons Ice Cream, is higher than most, but I do love them for a dessert treat. Parking can be a challenge, but overall small and quaint.

We could have done without. There's no sign and you can not see it from the road but once you pass…read morethe zoo, it'll be on your right hand side. A white fence is road side.

This was a fun stop on our 19 hour road trip! It is only about 5 minutes off the highway so it was…read moreeasy to find and hop back right on the road after. Was also nice to get out, stretch our legs and let the dog do his thang. Makes for some good photo ops, and you could probably fool some people! Haha There looked like some hiking told nearby too if you have time to kill. I'd take friends here if I go that way again on a road trip!

Most of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was buried in a Lexington, Virginia, cemetery that now…read morebears his name, but he was so famous at the time of his death that his amputated left arm was spirited away to its own separate grave. It was just after dark on May 2, 1863. Jackson had just launched a devastating attack against Union forces at Chancellorsville. Returning to his own lines with several staff officers, Jackson, ever the aggressive soldier, decided to conduct reconnaissance in the area. As he and his staff rode through the woods near Confederate lines, a North Carolina regiment, unable to see who was riding up on them, opened fire. Jackson was struck by three bullets, two of them shattering his left arm. The general was evacuated from the area and given medical treatment, but the arm couldn't be saved and was amputated. Pneumonia set in, and on May 10, 1863, the South lost its most effective tacticia. Thinking that the limb of so great a solider was too precious to simply throw on the regular body part trash pile, Jackson's unofficial company chaplain, Reverend Tucker Lacy wrapped the arm in a blanket and took it to his family cemetery. The reverend gave the limb a standard Christian burial and placed a marker above the site. Supposedly Stonewall Jackson's arm was dug up and reburied numerous times in the ensuing years and there is no concrete evidence that it still resides in its original burial space, but the simple gravestone remains.

"Jackson has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right"…read more -General Robert E. Lee Jackson's last words were apparently, "Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees." It seems like a lot of words for a dying man. If, however there is truth in this story, then the resting place of this limb seems fitting. The lone tombstone sits quietly among a small group of trees on the Virginia countryside. The picturesque views were once covered by war field hospitals and now is the resting place of the left arm of one of America's most famous Generals. A little history: Stonewall Jackson's arm was destined to be buried along with other amputated limbs until Jackson's Chaplain, Reverend Lacy, retrieved it from a macabre pile of appendages and eventually buried it on his own plantation, Ellwood Manor. The limb was buried several days before Jackson's death as a way for his staff to pay tribute to the man that they had followed through battle. It's probably the least they could do considering that his own men accidentally shot him. I'm just sayin'. The story of a buried arm is surreal, but a little research makes the story a little more humane. Even if Jackson fought on the wrong side of history, every body (or body part) should be so lucky to be buried in a place so serene. Verdict: Great for Civil War buffs, the curious and people spending a little time in nearby Old Town Fredricksberg. Or Cross it off your Weird Virginia (book) list. Weird tidbits: The arm has been dug up a few times in the past, but has always made it's way back into the ground. It seems that the curious return it to it's resting place after learning that there REALLY is an arm buried in the ground. FYI: The last time I attempted a visit, the grounds were closed contrary to the information found on the website. If in doubt, it's best to call.

One of the lesser known, but uber-popular tourist sites in DC! This staircase near Key Bridge, on…read morethe western end of M Street in Georgetown is worth checking out. It's a quick walk from most of the spots in Georgetown. I've been here many times over the years and recently took coworkers to check it out. It's pitched rather steep, but still an easy walk to the top. Definitely spooky when visited at night! Check it out!

Very cool to see! Can't seem to ever wish to fall down them like the stunt man in the exorcist!!…read moreI'll stay upright thank you!

You've got to admire a Spite House. It's known as the Hollensbury Spite House and is 7-feet wide…read moreand 325 sq feet. It was built in 1830 and is considered to be the narrowest historic house in the U.S. So inquiring minds want to know -- why was it built? It was built to block an alleyway with too much traffic.

Cutest house and easy to find in such a charming neighborhood…read more Does someone actually live here?

Located just across the border from Washington, D.C., the town of Bethesda, Maryland is a fairly…read morewell-to-do suburb and one of the last places one might expect to find a fantastical novelty house. The house at 4949 Allan Road in Bethesda has become something of a landmark, known for the curved canopies that earned it the name "the Mushroom House." The bumpy edges and pointed tip give the house a shape slightly reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss doodle. As it turns out, though, the original design was not particularly child-friendly. See link of interview from couple who had it built. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ94C2IKSK6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

I had no idea that such a unique piece of architecture was located right in the suburbs of…read moreBethesda. I only found this out after searching for activities to do in the area and was recommended this site. Definitely a really cool crafted home that looks like a smurf or flinstone home!

After living in the area for more than 20 years, last night was actually our first visit to…read moreTrattoria Villagio in Clifton--and we can't believe we waited this long! Our son brought us to one of his favorite restaurants, and now we completely understand why. We had a wonderful table on the patio, which made for a perfect evening. We started with the Shrimp Bad Bing and the baked meatballs, and both were absolutely delicious. For our entrée, my wife and I shared the Short Rib Ragu, and it was outstanding. We'd order it again in a heartbeat. Our grandkids loved their spaghetti and meatballs, which made everyone at the table happy. The service was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. As we looked around and saw other dishes being served, we realized there are so many more menu items we want to try. We're already looking forward to coming back--and we'll probably be there next Friday for happy hour! If you've never been, don't wait 20 years like we did. Highly recommended!

First Time and It won't be my last!! I know this…read moreestablishment is a Clifton staple, and we've been talking about going to it for a while; oh how we've missed out! From the staff who took our reservation, she was so polite, and concerned if we had any issues that they should be aware of; which we did, we had two with mobility issues, so she made sure we were seated on the first level. We sat on the patio which was a great idea, beautiful outdoor dining area. Our waitress was great, she had full knowledge of the menu and made great recommendations, from appetizers to entrees. We started our experience with orders of the arancini filled with bolognese with peas and mozzarella , Zeppoles with prosciutto and hot honey drizzle, fried artichokes with a garlic aioli, and the house meatballs topped with mozzarella and baked. They were awesome! Deliciousness in every bite! On to our entrees, I ordered the spicy seafood pasta, mussels, shrimp and scallops over homemade tagliatelle with a spicy marinara sauce. The stuffed gnocchi, light fluffy pillows of pasta stuffed with Asiago cheese with a sun dried tomato cream sauce. Chicken Milanese topped with a lemon butter sauce and a tomato conserva and arugula salad. Rigatoni ala Vodka. And our final dish sausage ragu bianco, homemade radiatorre pasta in a spicy sausage ragu sauce. All of the entrees were phenomenal, we each tried some of each!!! We ended our meal with the best Tiramisu we've had in a long time, Basque cheesecake, and a cannoli. From start to finish we were blown away! If you haven't eaten there or it's been a while, GO GO GO!

I like the graffiti cliffs for a multitude of reasons. My main reasoning is it allows me to get an…read moreescape from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being right in the middle of it. Additionally, it offers a great view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the Potomac. It is one of those experiences in the city that takes you away while still being present. A couple of downsides to this area is that it can be a bit sketchy and you're best to watch your back when you come up here. On the flip side, they're there for the same purpose that you are - to chill. You leave them alone and you will be left alone. It is easy to access for the most part. Just take the stairs up from the parking below by the kayaks and you'll find yourself on the C & O Trail. Wear good shoes. You will be better off than wearing sandals.

If you want to see some American Graffiti, this is where you come. Jimmy Cliff and Cliff Richard…read more(ew) like it here too, hence it's named the Graffiti Cliffs. I didn't even know the Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown even existed (even) until my most recent visit, which is weird because I know everything, lol, and I used to live around here. But it's a must visit. I love it. The views are amazing and the graffiti on all of the cliffs and things around here is awesome. The sometimes strict local police let everything go here, so it's basically just a free artistic place. It's sort of like a tolerance zone for prostitution, but instead, it's art. Although Barbi and I consider some forms of prostitution to be art, too, especially when we do it. So Graffiti. Not as much fun as prostitution but it might be better to look at depending on who the client is. I mean artist. However, I learned that just a few weeks after I visited here, they closed it off. Not even for Coronavirus, but before Corona. Hopefully it'll be opened up again as soon as Coronavirus is over. It better be.

We drove all over the area and despite using my Garmin & Google Maps, could not find Gravity Hill…read more On the positive side, we still enjoyed our afternoon in the area. In town, Main St has beautiful old Victorian homes and a couple of spectacular old churches. We also drove the country roads looking at the farms.

#2spooky4me This…read morewhole area gives me the creeps. What's the deal with the small cemetery nearby? It's there one second and gone the next. And is nobody going to talk about the bird sized moths? What's going on in Burkittsville Maryland you guys.

It doesn't seem so foggy. What it does seem is an overpriced DC neighborhood. Foggy Bottom is an…read morearea in the western part along the Potomac, a low lying area. This is where the first Metro stop is when you're coming from Dulles. You can get off and explore the area, or follow 23rd Street to other places. Around here are quite a few attractions. One of the best is the Kennedy Center. The only thing I know about it is the Kennedy Center Awards, but there's other stuff going on. If school is in session, this place is ridiculously busy. The George Washington University campus is the heart of the neighborhood. It might be a fun game counting the Starbucks in the area. There's a ton of them. It overall is a nice neighborhood to look around. Just look because it's out of the price range of most people. There are some cool restaurants and stores.

Stop in for a quick bite on my lunch break and truly enjoyed the experience. The food was good and…read morethe service was quick!!!