Sugartown Alexandria Trail: A Short Stroll Through History

In the midst of Old Town Alexandria lies a hidden, gently overlooked past.  This past includes sugar houses, a fire house, and beautiful homes, both past and present.  The Alexandria Historical Society and other citizens decided to uncover this past for the casual stroller, even if the walker can't always see it.  In the book Walk and Bike the Alexandria Heritage Trail, the reader and walker is guided through a walk that is less than a mile and shows where Alexandria history rests.

The Sugartown trail starts at the Alexandria Black History Resource Center and Reading Room, which began as the Robinson Library until the 1960s when the local community revived the site and turned it into the Alexandria Black History Resource Center and reading room.  After that, the walker passes a bunch of beautiful townhouses before getting to the next visible historical site.

The next site is what the book calls the Friends Burial Ground, but what you initially see is a local library.  Upon closer inspection, there is one, and only one, burial site -- the grave for Alexandria Quaker, a person whose name inspired the Quaker Lane that runs from I-395 all the way to Duke Street.  The town of Alexandria itself may have been named after this remembered person!  Strangely, the book does not mention this grave site or person at all, just the Friends Burial Ground.  This omission leaves one of many mysteries about the history of Alexandria.
The hidden history lies most at the addresses where there used to be sugar houses (two different ones) but are now simple modern buildings such as the American Red Cross and stores.  As the reader may know, in the early 19th century, Alexandria was one of the largest producers of refined sugar in the United States.  This fact says a lot about the size of our country at the time.  Old Town Alexandria was very small, and had only two sugar houses.  Not much sugar would have been produced from just those two, and yet they were the largest sugar producers.  There must not have been enormous demand yet at that time.  Our country was still small.

One of the last historical landmarks on this walk is the town's favored historical firehouse, which is now a museum that is open to the public.  Ironically, the fire house itself survived two fires, and the date on the door commemorates one re-building of the fire house itself.
The walk goes for two further blocks, to include two houses that are famous old houses in Alexandria's historical homes tours.  Although little is known about the houses, the initial residents, or why their styles are so vastly different while they are across the street from each other, they are still worth seeing. 
Unlike the last walk, this one is short enough with a specific enough subject (sugar houses) to keep the walk short.  There are other walks and bike rides from this book that I will likely venture on throughout the summer!  For the casual history stroller, I recommend the Sugartown Trail.

Walk and Bike the Alexandria Heritage Trail: Guide to Exploring a Virginia Town's Hidden Past (Capital Travels)

Lake Anna: A Place for R&R

Resting just a few hours south of the DC area lies a large lake with what many consider to be "coasts".  Unlike many local lakes, this one is so large that you can't see the all the coasts if you are resting on one of them.  Known by a select lucky few, this lake is deep enough and wide enough for all kinds of activities: swimming, boating, jet skiing, fishing, and anything else you can think of.  The lake is also so large that all the activity of the lake is spread out, so that anyone resting in any given coastal house still has a restful sense of peace from the city.

To give you a flavor of what its like to stay at Lake Anna, when I heard it would rain for my last visit, I brought some indoor activities to do that needed to be done.  It's a great retreat for local writers, musicians, and other people whose arts take them indoors for occupied hours at a time.  On the other hand, if its sunny then the lake, the lawns, and the beach on Lake Anna are a great place to recharge and get some natural Vitamin D!

 
If you are looking for a quiet place to enjoy water-based activities, this is the spot.  Let me help you get there.

Getting There
Lake Anna is located near Fredericksburg off 95 South. For directions, click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/directions.html

Where to Stay
This depends on what suits you.  If you really want to stay right on the water, there are campsites and some Bread & Breakfasts.  If you are particular about food, your best bet is to find a place where you can cook your own.  You are far from the fancy restaurants of the DC area, and although restaurants are on Lake Anna, there are slim pickings.
If you want to camp-out on the Lake, you can click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/camping.html
If you want a B&B, you can click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/BusinessdirA.html#bandb

I've already mentioned eating out here, but if you camp-out, or prefer not to cook during your rest, I recommend the lakeside restaurant that lets you sit on the deck near the water.  This restaurant is appropriately called Lakeview Restaurant.

I recommend Lake Anna to anyone in the DC area who wants a nearby weekend escape.  Because this location will have different value for persons of different interests, I am posting some resources below.  Just remember, if Obama can get out town for a weekend to relax, so can you!

How to Fish Lake Anna, Virginia (VHS Tape)

Smithsonian Crafts Festival - Go for Unique Goods & Gifts!

Last month the Smithsonian sponsored a Craft Show.  For anyone who likes unique jewelry, furniture, or clothing, it is worth considering going to the show.  First of all, it took place in the National Building Museum, which is beautiful both inside and out!  In addition, for those of us who are trying to be unique in this town, you will find one-of-a-kind work.

At this event you will find decorative items, wearable art, furniture and jewelry made from a variety of items including ceramics, glass, leather, metal, paper, and wood. It is worth visiting even if you don't buy anything, because you're also just looking at beautiful work.  At this event the person I was with bought a wearable art jacket -- and let me tell you, she bought it as soon as we entered the fair.  No time was wasted!  I got a very unique pair of two-metal earrings.

If you missed April's event but are now curious, the Smithsonian is having another crafts festival in the Fall.  The best thing to keep in mind if you go is that street parking is competitive on weekends but there are garages within a few blocks of the museum.

For information about this event, you can visit: http://smithsoniancraftshow.org/indexmain.asp