Kenny Franklin, REALTOR® ~ Stafford, Virginia

Spotsylvania County, Virginia is basically in the middle of Richmond and Washington, D.C. It takes about an hour to get to Richmond or Washington, D.C. (non rush hour) on Interstate 95.

Spotsylvania is surrounded by Stafford County to the North, Culpeper County to the north, City of Fredericksburg to the north, Orange County to the west, Caroline County to the south, Hanover County to the South, Louisa County to the South.

The City of Fredericksburg, Virginia is basically in the middle of Richmond and Washington, D.C. It takes about an hour to get to Richmond or Washington, D.C. (non rush hour) on Interstate 95.

The City of Fredericksburg is surrounded by Stafford County to the north, Spotsylvania County to the south and King George to the east.

Stafford County, Virginia is basically in the middle of Richmond and Washington, D.C. It takes about an hour to get to Richmond or Washington, D.C. (non rush hour) on Interstate 95.

Stafford is surrounded by Prince William County to the North, Quantico Marince Corps Base to the north, Fauquier County to the west, Spotsylvania County to the south, City of Frederickburg to the South and King George to the east.

Today, my daughter and I took one of our daddy/daughter walks through historic Fredericksburg. Everytime we go it brings back childhood memories. I grew up in Stafford and Fredericksburg is where you went shopping. We didn't even have a grocery store in Stafford when I was a kid.

On today's trip my daughter, Sydney, was the tour guide. We went to the stores that she wanted. Her favorite store is the Cat's Closet. This shop has everything pertaining to cats. They even have 3 cats living in the store. Next door, to the right, is our friends jewelry store called Bejeweled Designs. It's a great name for her store since her name is Christine Jewel. She makes a lot of her own jewelry. I was informed, before Christmas, by my wife that she carries Pandora bracelets. I got the hint.

It was a little chilly and windy outside so we headed for Goolrick's Pharmacy to get some hot chocolat. This place has been around since the Civil War. Goolrick's is the only place that I know of that still makes a Cherry Smash. If you haven't had one, you don't know what you're missing. My standard meal there is a tuna salad on wheat toasted, chips, pickle and a chocolat ice cream soda.

From there we headed to the old Woolworth's store. When I was a kid my mother would take us to Woolworths's fountain to get a bowl of ice cream. Now the store is an antique mall. There are antique shops everywhere in Fredericksburg and I love antiqueing.

From there we went to Dog Crazy to see the English Bulldog named Piglet. A few stores down the Kitchen of Wellington still had thier candy castle in the display case. It is made of gum drops, rock candy and ice cream cones. My daughter's "coat of many colors" compliments the castle.

The sun was starting to set and so was the temperature. We decided it was time to head home. If this was a warm day we would have stopped by Carl's to get some frozen custard ice cream.

I really cherish these daddy/daughter moments. I do special things with my son and my wife, too. Everyone should have something special that they do with their family individually. As long as I can get around I plan on taking these trips with Sydney for the rest of our lives. Who knows, maybe some day I'll have a grand daughter and I can take her on the same trips.

"America's most historic city." My wife and I bought our first house in the City of Fredericksburg. It was on the old VEPCO Canal, now called the Fredericksburg Canal. Fredericksburg is another historian's dream.

• Capt. John Smith sailed up the Rappahannock River and literally left his mark
• Land where city was founded was patented in 1671
• George Washington's mother, Mary, and his sister, Betty were residents
• Five Revolutionary War genreals lived here as well as John Paul Jones
• President James Monroe's law office is a museum
• There were many Civil War battles

This list could go on and on.

Here is a list of historical books about the City of Fredericksburg. This is not an exhaustive list, there are many more in and out of print. Also, there are many books on the genealogy of Fredericksburg families.

• History Of Fredericksburg, Virginia by Alvin T. Embrey
• The Forgotten Charge: The 123rd Pennsylvania at Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Virginia by Scott B. Lang
• "Stonewall" Jackson at Fredericksburg: The Battle of Prospect Hill, December 13, 1862 : the Fredericksburg Campaign (Virginia Civil War battles and leaders series) by Frank A O'Reilly
• Porches and portals of old Fredericksburg, Virginia by Virginia Carmichael
• Historic Resources Along the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. City of Fredericksburg, Virginia by VIRGINIA CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG
• In Fredericksburg: The past & presence of an old Virginia town by Ronald E Shibley
• Historical Map of Fredericksburg, Virginia by L. J. Houston
• The History Of The City Of Fredericksburg, Virginia by Silvanus Jackson Quinn
• George Washington's Fredericksburg (Virginia regional history series) by Paula S Felder
• Handbook of historic Fredericksburg, Virginia by Barbara Pratt Willis
• Fredericksburg, Virginia;: The home-town of the Washingtons for fifty years by Emily White Fleming