This installment will mark the 24th day trip I have taken in my 1978 Fiat Spider.  As some of you will remember, I started this when gas prices were $4.00 a gallon and people started staying home and business began to suffer.  My intention was to encourage people to travel together, share the cost of the gasoline, and keep on day tripping.  Since then gas prices have fallen but are now back up to about $2.65 a gallon.  The economy is turning around, the weather is getting warmer each day and day trips abound.

    Starting next month we will make a few changes to our day trip.  We will move it from the front of the magazine to a spot in the “Bay to the Blue Ridge” section since that is the area of most of our destinations.  We will also look at longer destinations which may require an over night stay.  There are many destinations that require two or three days to really enjoy what they have to offer.  This month we will take a short drive to Old Town, Manassas which is only about 30 miles from Washington, D.C.

    Like Alexandria, Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County.  In 1861, the First Battle of Manassas – also known as the First Battle of Bull Run – the first major land battle of the American Civil War, was fought near here.  The Second Battle of Manassas (or the Second Battle of Bull Run) was fought near here on August 28-30 in 1862.  At the time, Manassas was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with tracks running to Washington, D.C., Richmond, and the Shenandoah Valley.  Although both battles were confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in the hands of Union Forces for most of the war.  Following the war, the crossroads grew into the town of Manassas and was incorporated n 1873.  In 1892, it became the county seat of Prince William County, and in 1975 became an independent city.

    Today the renovated Depot is now home to the historic Manassas Visitor Center and the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery.  The site is also a busy stop for daily Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express commuter trains connecting Manassas with Washington, D.C. and beyond.

    For over a century, people have been coming to Old Town Manassas to shop.  Today the tradition continues with an outstanding array of unique establishments.  Manassas is a blend of old and new and where antiquing is a serious pursuit.  The town’s merchants are friendly and helpful with history about their town.

    The crossroads in old Town Manassas today are Routes 234 and 28.  These major arteries cross in the middle of town.  Even though these roads carry a high volume of traffic, the drivers are courteous for the most part and walking around town is a breeze.

    Right across the tracks from the depot is Foster’s Grill where you can find a quick meal, a cold brew or a hand made milk shake. Next door you will find the City Square Café offering lunch and dinner in a bistro style setting and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.  Both of these eateries offer outdoor dining.

    Located a bit farther down the promenade is the Center for the Arts and Hopkins Candy Factory.  The Center offers a variety of changing exhibitions of visual arts in the Caton Merchant Family Gallery.  The candy factory, built in 1908, once produced over 8 tons of candy a day.  First floor exhibits tell the story of the Hopkins Candy Factory building and its recent renovation through early photographs and engravings of Manassas and archaeological artifacts uncovered during the restoration.  Near the candy factory is Jake’s Steaks and Seafood offering large servings and a great price.

    If you are looking for a good bottle of wine visit the Opera House Gourmet.  This store offers a variety of wines, local and from around the world.  The store also has a wide array of gifts and can put together a gift basket of your choice.  What I particularly like about the store is that they have a wide selection of Virginia wines.  The Old Town Crier has been following and writing about Virginia wines for 20 years, and there are some pretty good ones out there.  Across the street is Prospero’s Books.  Not only is it a great used book store, but is also home to Pringles, a 15 year old gray tabby cat who guards the building at night.  A little bit farther down Center Street you can find Okra’s, a Looziana kind of place where every day is Mardi Gras. Stop in and have a “Hurricane” with Antonio!!

    Here in the heart of Old Town Manassas the great fire of 1905 destroyed much of the area south of Center Street, but still to be seen are many replacement buildings…the 1906 Post Office, the 3-storied Masonic Temple and the 2-storied red brick building which housed the Conner Opera House on the second floor.  Built in 1906, it served as the local theater, dance hall and civic center until the late 1940’s.  The last  reunions of Confederate Col. John S. Mosby’s Rangers were held here.

    This is just a small section of Old Town Manassas, clearly there is much more to see and do.  With the addition of a new parking garage, there is no shortage of parking.  For those of you in Manassas who read this, take a day trip to Old Town Alexandria…the road goes both ways.

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