USPS. Mineral, VA. This is one of the closest post offices to our home, although it's still 11…read moremiles away. We were running errands in Mineral today, and dropped into the post office to pick up some Christmas-themed stamps. The USPS employee was friendly, parking was easy and sufficient, BUT they had already sold all of their Christmas-themed stamps (more than two weeks before Christmas!) So, our Christmas cards will be going out with dahlia-themed stamps!

The small town of Mineral was founded in 1890, and as you might have guessed, was named for the…read moremining industry which supported the community. Gold, zinc and lead were all mined in the area. This post office isn't much to look at... the long brick building houses dozens and dozens of post office boxes for mail delivery in this rural town. With a population of under 600 folks, you won't find this mail center very busy. The mail carriers use regular vehicles to deliver mail, rather than official USPS mail trucks. The interior is shabby, peeling walls, dingy counters and dirty floors. Shipping and mailing supplies were low, and the racks were disorganized with several boxes just strewn on the floor. There was a greeting card display which I doubt gets much action. The clerks are friendly and efficient, and seem to know most of the neighbors around town. You won't be in a gold rush here! There are a few drop off mail boxes on the side of the building. The hours are 8:30-1:00, 2:00-4:30 M-F, and Saturday 9-11. No passport services, but the usual small town services are provided. If the workers here get the "lead" out, spruce up this government building and take some pride in this place, I "zinc" they could earn some extra gold stars! But perhaps, bureaucracy is under"mining" its progress!

We were walking around Fredericksburg on our road trip and stopped by the library. Someone told us…read moreit used to be a school house. Very pretty building! Seems like they have a lot of events

This charming library is next to downtown Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg is a great halfway spot to…read moremeet up with my NoVA coworkers or friends. I love all the local businesses nearby. I came to this library after a day spent coworking with a colleague. We had already worked most of the day from a coffee shop and were ready to say our goodbyes. I still needed to get some work done for the day before heading home to Richmond when I found this library on Yelp. I love all the seating options and different rooms in this library. I found a quiet corner with a great desk near an outlet to finish up work for the day. The wifi was strong and I enjoyed all the natural lighting. Although I didn't browse the books, it seemed like they had a lot of variety. I enjoyed taking a peek at their new releases/recommended books at the front. It's a great library to pass some time at.

Wonderful library with a lot of resources and very helpful staff. I was glad to see that they had a…read morenew feature called "Take a puzzle, leave a puzzle" run by Friends of the Library. I was able to donate a lot of really nice puzzles from my late father's collection. I know they will be put to good use. They have audio books, DVD movies, magazines, etc. When I have a few extra minutes, I love spending time at this branch. Thank-you.

The library has a good selection of books and audiobooks. They are very quick to get books from…read moreother branches when you request so the wait is never too long. The app is very helpful as well for reserving items, seeing where you are on a waitlist, keeping track of books you read/plan to read, and you can download audiobooks as well which is great for when you are traveling or commuting and not able to bring CDs. The staff is very fast with pulling your reserved books and it makes checking out a breeze.

Who knew?? I had no idea this small hamlet of Partlow existed, but we ran across it on our travels!…read moreSo whenever I see a flag flying, it catches my eye and I'm drawn to check it out! Partlow is an unincorporated community in Spotsylvania county, with a population of about 2,000. It's close to both Fredericksburg and Lake Anna. Partlow is named after a Captain John Partlow, who served in the revolutionary war. This town is also the historical site of the plantation where Kunta Kinte enslaved. John Partlow and one of his descendants, established the first post office in Partlow in the early 19th century. This "newer" post office is a simple gray building with a porch and handicap accessibility. The lawn is well maintained and the the shrubbery bed added to the homey feeling of this post office. Inside was a bit cozy, decorated with curtain valances, a nice wooden desk and several plants. There was also a shadow box with vintage post office memorabilia, a cool stamp mug, and collectible stamps. There was also a box with free books for their customers which was a nice touch! The historical significance of this post office earns the 4 stars for me! There's a drive by Mail Drop box on the side of the building. No passport services. Hours 7:30-12,1:00-4:00 M-F Saturday 8:00-10:00

The business district of Bowling Green is only about a block long. You'll find the post office off…read moreMain Street on Milford Street, across from the State Police Office and adjacent to John's Barber Shop. Yes, it's a little like the town of Mayberry! I was surprised that this post office is larger than most with a community of this small size. There's a decent sized parking lot, the interior could definitely use a facelift! It definitely has a musty, old odor! They offer passport service here, again, unusual for a quaint town like this. I hope you're not in a hurry to get your passport either, not all staff is trained for this service. If you make an appointment, you'll have better luck! The hours are 8:30-1, 2-5 M-F, and 9:30-12:00 on Saturday. Expect mediocre service, long waits and blasé personalities. The folks here aren't crazy about their jobs. Nothing to "write home about."

A post office is a post office not necessarily so never had bad service here folks are always…read morefriendly if you have questions or need advice about the town or need information directions they are more than happy to help so happy to have a post office in the area

Culpeper turned out to be one of those small towns that's easy to enjoy from the moment you park…read morethe car. The historic courthouse anchors the downtown area, and Main Street is lined with fun shops that make wandering around feel like its own little tour. I grabbed coffee at Raven's Nest, then spent time at the Museum of Culpeper History which packs a surprising amount of colonial and Civil War history into a compact space inside the old train depot. As a bonus, we happened to be there right when the Amtrak rolled in, adding a bit of unexpected charm to the visit. For a town with roots stretching back to the Colonial era, Culpeper balances history with a lively downtown really well. It's an easy, enjoyable stop with enough to see, sip, and learn without feeling overwhelming. Great little spot, and I'm already looking forward to returning. [Review 1252 of 2026 - 1616 in Virginia - 26430 overall]

Today my family and friends went to the Dallas location for brunch…read more Our host Davis was 5 star. As for the buffet 0 stars. Biscuits were HARD, HARD...HARD!!! To be honest everything except for the fruit was good. I apologize but honest the truth has to be told. Employees were GREAT and tha's all.

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.

It looks like all of the prior reviews were posted before they finished building the reconstruction…read moreof the farmhouse. I might have been underwhelmed before that too, but with the house tour I found it very enjoyable. The docents were all very knowledgeable and they have done a great job with the house and furnishings. We went on a Saturday so we didn't see the archaeologists at work, but apparently if you go during the week you can sometimes watch them at the dig site or processing artifacts at the Visitors Center. I thought it was worth the trip for sure.

So fun and everyone is so kind and knowledgeable. Def go to the gingerbread contest in December!read more