At the End of the Water

Occoquan, Virginia

by Sandra Scott

I love discovering new less touristy places and such was the case with Occoquan. The name is derived from a Dogue Indian word meaning "at the end of the water" and refers to the town and the river, which is actually a tidal tributary of the Potomac. It is not far from Washington, DC, but seems a whole mind set away.  Even thought John Smith, who explored the area, would not recognize the growth that has taken place since the 1600s, it is a whole, relaxing mindset away from DC.

My husband and I stayed at the Hampton Inn in nearby Woodbridge. We were lucky to arrive on Thursday night in time to enjoy the manager’s reception with pizza and a variety of libations. It was perfect because we headed for the ballpark to watch the Potomac Nationals, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals where we completed our dinner with hot dogs. No baseball game is complete without a hot dog. The fans acted like they knew the players personally.  When I asked an avid fan what makes it so exciting for him he said, “This is a better brand of baseball because the major leaguers just go for the home run. Here baseball is what it should be  - they really play ball.”  The team’s mascot, Uncle Slam, made a point to interact with every spectator.

We spent one morning at Leeslyvania State Park where a short canoe ride did not result in any bird sightings. However, there were several scenic overlooks of the Potomac River. Later we went hiking at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.  It was an easy walking loop along the water’s edge with plenty of duck, herons, and other birds. 

John and I needed something effortless to do in the evening.  At the Lazy Susan Dinner Theater right near the Hampton “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” was playing. It is one of the oldest dinner theaters in the Washington Area. It was the perfect way to end the day – good food and a lot of laughs.

The next day we visited Rippon Lodge. Built in 1747, it is the oldest house in Prince William County. Originally a cotton and tobacco plantation, it was designed by the same person responsible for Mount Vernon. Our guide, Barbara Rahll recounted the colorful history of Rippon Lodge with stories of duels and the time of the Revolutionary War when Colonel Blackburn, the owner, quartered a regiment of Continental troops on the property. I love small, less visited historic places because the guides are so knowledgeable and passionate about their job.

Nearby is the National Museum of the Marine Corps, which opened on November 10, 2006, dedicated to honor all marines by recounting their rich history. The museum’s dramatic soaring 210-foot pinnacle evokes the image of the World War II flag raising on Iwo Jima. The video, “What it Means to be a Marine” sets the background and explores the history of the Marines starting in 1775 when Captain Samuel Nicholas recruited the first Continental Marines in Philadelphia’s Tun Tavern.  Tun Tavern has been recreated within the museum and is open for lunch.

Patrick, the guide, explains, “There are only two kinds of people in the world – marines and those who want to be marines.”  Each gallery offers an insight into the life of the marines during various time periods. In the World War II Gallery visitors enter a replica of a ship’s briefing room for instructions on their mission before landing on Iwo Jima then board a Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel for a simulated assault. On view is one of the original flags raised on Iwo Jima along with Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photo of the flag raising.

In the Korean Gallery visitors will feel the chilling cold of the Chosin Reservoir, hear Chinese soldiers advancing up the snowy mountain, and watch the Marines prepare for the next attack.  In the Vietnam Gallery learn about the importance of helicopters and experience being inserted onto Hill 881 South at Khe Sanh – a hot landing zone.  The life and times of the marines includes their mission in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Combat Art Gallery features artwork created by marines.  There wasn’t enough time to see everything.

We were lucky because our trip coincided with one of the many special Occoquan weekends – the Occoquan River Festival. The festival celebrated the 400th anniversary of John Smith’s journey up the Occoquan River.  We toured a replica of Smith’s schooner.  I couldn’t help but wonder what Smith would think if he could see the area today with all the boats on the river.  The best part of the day was wandering around historic Occoquan. 

A tour in a horse drawn carriage took us down Mill Street and through Popular Alley after which we walked across the Nathaniel Ellicott footbridge, named for Occoquan’s founder. It was originally part of the “Great Mail Route” from Washington to the south. There is a small but very pretty waterfall on the other side. Near the bridge is the Mill House once part of a 18th century gristmill, which is now a museum with artifacts and memorabilia of Occoquan. We wandered along the street from one unique shop to another stopping along the way to listen to the street musicians, watch the craftspeople work, and chat with the re-actors portraying the 1600s.  It was a lovely end to our visit.

If you go:

www.visitpwc.com

www.usmcmuseum.org

Recommended accommodations: Hampton Inn

Recommended dining: Okras, okras.com and The Foundation, www.foundation.com