The Barrett House is a two and a half story wood-frame house built in 1901 by William Wimsatt, a…read morelumber merchant from the DC. The house was later expanded and renovated for use as officer and employee housing for the DC's low-security Workhouse Prison Farm in Lorton. I am a big fan of historical places. This house has a lot of history behind it, but there is not much to it. You can only see it from the outside. It is fenced off and you cannot go in. There is a little area in front of the house that has a few benches and placards with historical information about the house. There is also an old brick fireplace looking structure on the grounds. There is a few places to park on the grounds that are unpaved, but there are no official parking spots. You could probably hang out on one of the benches on the grounds, but outside of that, I do not see much utility or spending a lot of time here. I was here for all of 10 minutes and then I was out.

This place is amazing! And it's only getting better with the boardwalk addition that just opened…read morethis in the month of May!

Pretty neat area to explore. Successfully walked around with two 3 year olds. They enjoyed the mini…read moreboardwalks over the muddy areas a lot.

Smart little historic fort. It is an uphill walk to a berm or lookout, with wood cannons, flags and…read morelots of history signs to read through about the Civil War events that were battled during the ongoing fights for Manassas! Neat and short walk uphill: best in morning or evening! Rebel: 3

Mayfield Fort is one of the last remaining Civil War redoubts around Manassas,Va.It is now located…read morebetween an industrial park, and an apartment complex After extensive archeological digs, the fort was opened to the public in 2000.Allow 20 minutes minimum.

This place has improved beyond measure in the last 20 years. It used to be overgrown and you could…read morebarely see the house. They have done such a great job clearing that space especially on the Portner Avenue side even if the house isn't open, the grounds are worth a visit. The history of this house is fascinating.

House isn't open. A few interpretive plaques are scattered around the property. It is not worth a…read morevisit. I rate it a no stars if it were possible.

Went to see the PEEP show in Occoquan. It was awesome! Enjoyed ourselves. A++++++ Voted for the…read morehockey team and peeps-fil-a to win. Great Easter experience

Super cute little town w convenient street and parking lot parking…read more The shops along this street are majorly attractive. Plenty of trendy stores, boutiques, restaurants, ice cream shops, and art studios. I am looking forward to returning to catch more of these cutesy views and patronage a few more small businesses as everyone has been so kind to me locally.

Andrew and I visited Fort Meyers today to visit the Caisson Stables of the Old Guard. It's a little…read moreknown secret that the public is allowed to visit the army base to see the horses. I follow the Old guard on Facebook and found out about this, and naturally insisted on Andy taking me. I learned a great deal during our tour. The soldiers who are assigned to the caisson typically have no previous horse experience. They undergo a 10 week horsemanship class before they're allowed to ride in funeral processions. They also learn how to perform their own farrier services on the team, and have to be able to work without a farrier stand in case they're in the cemetery and need to replace a horseshoe on the fly. Can you imagine holding up a draft horses leg by yourself to put a shoe on?! There is only one mare left on the team of roughly 55 horses (give or take) because the mares tend to get too sassy with the other horses during ceremony. They're phasing out grey horses because of health problems (they're prone to skin cancers) and they're difficult to find in general. our tour guide said some of the best horses they've had we're actually mustangs from the BLM. He said they tend to acclimate better to tough conditions than the other horses. I also learned that the Caisson is a French word for box and is the box seat you see at the front of the carriage. In war times, that's where the ammo and dry goods were stored to stay out of the elements. The bronze stars on the carriages are polished daily and cost almost $500 a piece! The harnesses are also a lighter weight version as opposed to what you see on the Budweiser Clydesdales to keep the weight off of the horses. The soldiers clean and polish the tack every morning and every evening when they return to the stable, and their typical work day runs from 4:30AM - 6:00PM. I was so happy to have this experience and would highly recommend it to all!

What a hidden spot! I did not know here are horses!! I saw them at some ceremonies tho…read more Price: Free. Parking: Free. I saw one sad looking horse. No name tag at the door. That's why 4 stars. Besides her or him, they enjoyed food from kids;)

First use of Army Signal Corps (CSA) in Battle. Intact…read moreCivil War redoubt and Memorial marker, and a good view of the terrain leading to Bull Run Mountain. Allow 15 minutes, maximum.

This is one of the most unique elements of living in a city like Manassas…read more At 8:45 A.M. on July 21st 1861 Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run). From this hilltop Capt. E.P. Alexander, CSA, sent America's first battlefield telecommunication: Look out for your left, you are turned. This short message to Col. Evans warning him of Brig. Gen. McDowell's flank march helped turn an impending defeat into a crucial victory, thereby securing for the signal corps a permanent place in the ranks of modern armies. In memory of America's Confederate signal veterans; the first to raise in battle "the bonnie white flag that bears the crimson square."

I have to agree 100% with Kal B's review - "Q Town is what it is." Uniform tailors, barbers,…read moremilitary gear shops, some decent lunch type restaurants, a few apartments and some small homes nestled within Marine Corps Base Quantico on the Potomac River. Not much has changed there from when I first visited 29 years ago. . .I've always been amazed that there hasn't been a more concerted attempt by the Base to help clean the town up or somehow encourage businesses with staying power to invest in the town. The potential is there, with a large on-base population of military families, DoD civilians, civilian contractors, etc. Why not make the town more appealing for investors and draw in business? On the other hand, maybe that's part of the "charm" of good old Q Town - it's like going back in time to Smedley Butler's Quantico days. . .the Tokyo Japanese restaurant next to the train tracks is by far the best eatery in Q town. I've been going there for years whenever I visit Quantico for conferences, workshops, and other duties, and have never been disappointed. Yung's barber shop is the best of the MANY barbers in town - they take their time and don't rush you out of the place. The Marine Shop is legendary among Officer Candidate School and Basic School graduates for uniforms and other Marine Corps accoutrements. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit the place if I didn't have business on the base, but if for some reason you ever find yourself in the area, it's worth a stroll just to say you've visited the "Crossroads of the Marine Corps." Q Town, you will always occupy a small piece of my heart - maybe one day I can define what it is you have given me.

I think that in all fairness in saying A-OK, Quantico is what it is. A tiny town, literally in the…read moremiddle of the Gateway to the United States Marine Corps Quantico VA and those that live in "downtown" Quantico which is comprised of a bank, an ATM, the Marine Shop owned by a military company, multiple tailors and such and a hand full of restaurants and a few unappealing apartments that house the tailors for the most part and a hand full of Marines and that is IT. There is also a train station there. Quantico is and always has been a rundown tiny hole in the wall. Years ago a dental facility went in and dumped a bunch of money in with the hope of revitalizing Quantico but now that I write this and with our daughter currently at Officer Candidate School at Quantico and having been there the past several weekends, I'm not sure that it is even still there and if it is, their dream didn't come true. To come aboard Quantico, you generally have to have a DoD sticker on your car or a civilian or military identification card as well which makes it something of an annoyance at best to come aboard to go anywhere in Q'Town as it is affectionately called. I will say that one restaurant that has always been there and still is (no, not Dominos) is still a bright spot in an otherwise hole in the wall town - Tokyo Japanese is almost an institution. Don't drive from DC for it but if you're in town and need to "dine", this is the place! I've been associated with Q'town for over 26 years now. I repeat. It is what it is.