Fredericksburg Parent

14 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2021 Train enthusiasts will have a fi eld day visi ng downtown Ashland, located just outside of Richmond. Railroad tracks can be found down the center of the town's main drag, and the visitor center is housed inside the train sta- on. Ashland hosts a variety of events around the train tracks, including a Halloween event, the Light Up the Tracks Christmas Village and Ashland Train Day. Ashland Museum is home to a fully restored 1926 C&O red caboose, while the town also boasts The Depot, a restored historic venue and community event space. Other a rac ons include Bell Book & Candle, which off ers a selec on of books on the historic rail and Virginian history as well as a variety of children's books, and The Caboose Market & Café along the railroad tracks, which has a seasonal menu of farm-to-table fare and carries a selec on of beverages, locally made products and a variety of cheeses. Animal lovers might want to drop by Changing Reins, which specializes in equestrian equipment, apparel, and accessories and more, or the Fin & Feather Pet Center pet store. Grab a burger at Trackside Grill on your way in or out of town. Downtown Ashland is both pedestrian-friendly and cyclist-friendly, so you may consider bringing your bikes along for the trip. Bedford is known for the Na onal D-Day Memorial, and as the town suff ered the largest loss per capita of sol- diers during the World War II D-Day invasion. The Bedford Boys Tribute Center on Main Street houses many personal ar facts of those soldiers. "It's a moving place to learn the more personal stories of our soldiers that were lost, and the town they le behind," says Nicole Johnson, director of Tourism. Also on Main Street, Johnson suggests visi ng The Blue Lady Café and Ippolito Candy. "The café features sandwiches and salads and is a popular lunch des na on," Johnson says. "Ippolito Candy features handmade chocolates, made right there in the store. They make custom choco- lates, candy and cakes. They go all-out with decora ng for every holiday." If you prefer Italian, there is the family-friendly Bella Italia, and Magic Ice Cream has a large deck with picnic tables and umbrellas. Bedford's Main Street is also home to the Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library and the Bedford War Between the States Museum. Every September, the town hosts Centerfest, one of Virginia's largest street fes vals with vendors, food, kid's ac vi es, live music, and more! And, like many towns, Bedford also has the famous Virginia LOVE sign. VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS Day Tripping continued from pg 13 BEDFORD ASHLAND

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