The tiny Virginia hamlet "at the end of the water"
This year I spent Halloween in historic Occoquan, Virginia. It was perfect timing -- not only did I get to see the town decked out in all of it's Fall finery, but I was there for the Harvest Festival, in which children (and dogs!) paraded down the street in a variety of adorable costumes.
An Exciting Past
This little town has quite a history. Founded in 1734, it was originally a trading post and named after the Dogue Indian word meaning "at the end of the water."
The picturesque town does indeed hug the peaceful Occoquan River, and despite the cliché, if ever a town could be called 'quaint', this is it.
Occoquan is known for the mail stage route that ran through the town as early as 1805, the Occoquan Post Office being the main delivery point for letters and packages between the North and South.
A fire in 1916 destroyed much of the town, and it was hit again in 1972 by Hurricane Agnes. The residents and merchants restored the historic buildings, however, many of which are believed to have ghosts!
Ghostly Inhabitants
You can learn all about these feisty spirits by taking a Historic Occoquan Ghost Tour, or do it yourself by reading about the building history and hauntings, and then exploring the town on your own. The tour lasts about an hour and is a lot of fun. Call 703-494-6983 to double check dates and times (they may be closed for the winter).
A Few Suggestions
- Have a crab cake sandwich at the Virginia Grill. You'll enjoy fresh blue lump crab pan-fried and served on a toasted roll with a side of house made grill slaw. Delicious!
- If you've got kids, check out what's happening at The Storytellers, a unique children's bookstore that carries educational games, puzzles and crafts for children.
- Mom's Apple Pie Company is said to have pies that could have come straight out of your kitchen oven. I hear their Virginia Blackberry Crumb pie is scrumptious.
A Cozy Book-Nook
My favorite shop in the town was Salt & Pepper Books. I don't cook much so I rarely shop for cookbooks, but the store is so welcoming I would have bought one anyway.
The owner, Christine, was more than happy to chat; she said she could special order any book, food-related or not. If you're not looking for a cookbook she also stocks a nice selection of food-themed novels, including cozy mysteries such as those by Diane Mott Davidson.
My to-be-read list is heavily stocked with fiction at the moment, so I picked up a copy of Kim Wilson's Tea with Jane Austen, a comforting collection of information about tea in Jane Austen's day. Christine laughingly told me Jane Austen fans tend to snap that book up without even opening it's covers to see what's inside.
A Peaceful Respite
When in this part of Virginia, nature lovers should allow time to hike the quiet trails of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I did it early in the morning. It was a lovely, peaceful escape -- "an oasis in an urban setting," as they say.
To learn more about Occoquan visit Prince William County's website or call 800-432-1792.
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