Despite rumors to the contrary occasionally Realtors® do take a break from their busy schedules to enjoy a holiday weekend with family and friends. For those of us in Northern Virginia we have a lot of choices. We can stay close to home and take in the history right outside our door or we can go a little bit further and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and yes even more history.
This weekend our family joined a big group of friends in the Northern Neck area of Virginia to celebrate "A No Labor-Labor Day." The Northern Neck area which covers four Virginia Counties is located between the Potomac River and the Rappahannock River and was first discovered by Captain John Smith in 1608. With both rivers out the back door and leading directly to the Chesapeake Bay it is no wonder that George Washington called it the "garden of Virginia." Our destination was in Westmoreland County just less than 2 hours from DC.
What most people who head to the Northern Neck to spend the weekend don't realize is that this area was home to three US Presidents. George Washington who is most often connected with Mount Vernon in Alexandria was actually born in Westmoreland County. James Madison and James Monroe also called the Northern Neck home. It was also the birthplace of Robert E. Lee and home Francis Lighthorse Lee who signed the Declaration of Independence.
The biggest draw for visitors to Northern Neck though is the outdoor activities. With over 1,100 miles of shoreline kayakers share the waterway with power boats. Bird watchers can watch Eagles along the marshes in the 6,000 acre Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refugee. We were fortunate to be staying with friends who had a direct view of a pair of Eagles who nest across the creek from their home. So if you are looking for an overnight getaway from the hustle of Northern Virginia then you might want to check out what the Northern Neck area has to offer. You can take in history, relax on the water or do a little of both on one tank of gas!
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