There is a certain rhythm to the drive from the Richmond area to Northern Virginia – a transition from the leisurely feel of the River City, to the fast-paced energy of NOVA. And while seasoned travelers know that I-95 can be “a beast,” there is still an appreciation that when you travel this route, it is a journey through the heart of this Commonwealth.
Manassas is a city, located a little under 2 hours north of Richmond. There are four official LOVE signs here – at the Manassas Regional Airport, next to a Hampton Inn, in front of Micron Technologies, and one at the Harris Pavilion (pic featured at the top of this blog).
Some interesting tidbits about Manassas that were new to me:
– Manassas Regional Airport is the busiest airport in Virginia for general aviation, handling a high volume of private and executive flights
– The 1911 Peace Jubilee was held there where both North and South veterans returned to shake hands honoring 50 years of peace…and
– The historic Manassas train depot served as the cover of the 1972 album by the band Manassas, formed by Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – which inspired the title of this blog.
Have you ever had a Turkish breakfast before? I hadn’t until I visited My Cravingz. What started as a wholesale bakery, has transformed into a restaurant offering breakfast and lunch items. I mean, it may have been the most beautiful (and tasty) breakfast I’ve been served. The atmosphere was cozy with a mix of seating options (soft and tables) to fit whatever mood you were in.
Not far, I made a pit stop at McKay Used Books (if you’ve been following, you know my love for books). This is a huge book store with a vast array of genres at reasonable prices. When my arms got full, I rushed to get a shopping cart (like many of the other shoppers). I left with a box filled with some of my favorites (most first editions) that I’ve read over the years. I can’t wait to come back to this place 🙂
From here I made my way to downtown Manassas to check out some of the places that were open:
– The Manassas Museum, which offered nice displays of overall Virginia history and spotlighted some local historical stories as well
– The Virginia ARTfactory, located in the old Hopkins Candy Factory building, provides the community with an art gallery, theatre arts, visual and performing arts education, and other creative programs, and
– The Iron Horse Antiques, which has a whole slew of quality antique and vintage items. This was a fun place to browse and I left with several glass dishes (for my house plants) and a vintage toiletry suitcase I plan on using for upcoming overnight LOVE adventures.
Finally on my way home, I grabbed appetizers and a cocktail at the Black Sheep. I have to give AI credit for this one…when I asked for fun and hip restaurants in the area, this was recommended. And it did not disappoint. There is so much I could write about this place – what I will say is that the bartenders know how to make drinks, the food was excellent, and I loved the country chic vibe of the building and decor.
And while there, I made three new friends (Beth, Elizabeth and Jera). As a woman who travels alone at times, I truly felt comfortable and would have stayed longer if I didn’t have to make the long drive home.
Manassas is a place to love…
Manassas can be described as a city with a “Historic Heart and a Modern Beat,” where the echoes of the Civil War meet a vibrant, walkable downtown full of quirky boutiques and delicious foodie options. It’s a place where you can spend the day walking famous battlefields, shopping for unique items or enjoying drinks on a rooftop bar. The next time you find yourself in the northern-Virginia area, make sure you visit Manassas, I know that I will.
Planning a trip to Manassas soon? This may help you get started.
♥️♥️♥️♥️
| Official ♥️ Signs Visited = 71 | LOVEworks Official Signs = 336 |
| Unofficial ♥️ Signs Visited = 60 | LOVEworks Unofficial Signs = 400+ |
| TOTAL VISITED = 131 | TOTAL LOVEworks Signs = 700+ |
Is this your first Leah LOVES Virginia blog post read? Thank you for taking the time to visit. If you’re wondering how this adventure got started, check-out my first blog post and my about page. Want to stay connected? It’s super easy and you’ll only hear from me when a new blog gets posted. You can also follow along by friending me on my Leah LOVES Virginia Facebook page.
Important note: I always do my best to ensure everything in my blogs are factual and that I give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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