Occoquan, Virginia is a town with an exciting past. Just a four-hour drive from Atlantic City, this village makes for a great stop on a weekend trip to Prince William County/Manassas, Virginia.
Founded in 1734, Occoquan was originally a trading post 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 worked hard to restore their 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 close for the winter).
If these spirits do exist, it's understandable why many of them don't want to leave the town of Occoquan. With more than 100 antique shops, art galleries, craft stores, specialty shops and restaurants, there's plenty to keep a person happily strolling the town's streets for hours.
Artsy stores, great eats
There are so many fun and quirky shops and restaurants here that it's hard to recommend just a few. But here goes: If you've got kids, keep an eye out for what's happening at The Storytellers, a unique children's bookstore that carries educational games, puzzles and crafts for children.
Another cute store in town is Salt & Pepper Books, which offers "a book for every cook". They specialize in cookbooks of all kinds, but even if you aren't much of a cook, you'll still enjoy this cozy store, which also stocks kitchen gifts and a nice selection of food-themed novels, including mysteries such as those by author Diane Mott Davidson.
The Olde Dominion Wine Shop offers visitors a chance to choose local wines from more than 50 Virginia wineries. They have wines open for sampling daily and gourmet foods for pairing are located throughout the shop.
When hunger strikes, 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. And don't miss Mom's Apple Pie Company, whose pies could have come straight out of your kitchen oven. Their Virginia Blackberry Crumb pie is scrumptious.
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. It's a lovely, peaceful escape -- "an oasis in an urban setting."
To learn more about Occoquan visit Prince William County's website or call 800-432-1792.
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