Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Favorite Things in My Town

Those of you who are long-time readers know that while I do share that I live in Virginia, I do not publicly share the name of my town. Call me crazy, call me paranoid...it's just not something I'm comfortable with. I realize that any 40 year old weirdo in his mom's basement in Iowa could probably do some sleuthing and track me down, but the knowledge that T would greatly enjoy brandishing his shotgun at an intruder makes me feel safer.

Aside from worries of 40 year old bachelor basement dwellers, I thought it might be fun to show you some of my town. Most of it looks like any other small suburban town. We have a few of my favorite stops: Target, Borders (not for much longer!), Starbucks, Panera, Hobby Lobby, and a mall. I can head just 30 to 40 minutes north to browse IKEA, and 60 minutes south to play at Pottery Barn. I love the Salvation Army.

What makes my town special is the history. The town's history dates back to the 1600s, and several of our founding fathers had ties to this area. The town played a role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars! I don't go into "Old Towne" often, but it was really fun to take the girls and explore earlier this week.

The main street in Old Towne is filled with shops and restaurants, and lined with trees (at Christmastime, they are all lit).
























The buildings are mostly old. Visitors get a kick out of seeing shops, homes, and churches that have been around for two hundred years. My girls love all the cool alleys and tunnels to explore.





As serious as all the history stuff may seen, you'll see a cheerful (even humorous side) with the brightly colored shops and apartments:


























There are bistros, cafes, diners, fancy gourmet spots, and a well-recognized ice cream shop. Having choices right off the sidewalk was helpful when the girls started whining about being hungry. We chose a little diner known for its sweet potato fries.

























There are loads of beautiful homes downtown, and several that offer tours. We had fun riding past many of them, until I felt kind of stalkerish for taking pics from the Swagger Wagon and decided to stop and let the girls stretch their legs again at one of the historic homes that allows visitors to walk the grounds.









As you can see, I kind of have the best of both worlds: proximity to large cities, culture, and shopping... and the hometown apple pie America factor.

Pretty sweet indeed!

Linking to Favorite Things in My Town at Centsational Girl.

Posted by Amanda @ Serenity Now at 8:01 AM
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48 comments:

  1. FrouFrouBritchesAugust 31, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Such beautiful photos! I love the downtown area with all of the alleyways and colorful storefronts. Gorgeous! The big historic homes are fabulous too. I'm still totally jealous that you have an IKES so close!

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  2. FrouFrouBritchesAugust 31, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    I mean, IKEA.

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  3. ElyssaAugust 31, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    IKEA and Pottery Barn close. I am beyond jealous! :)

    This is such a quaint lovely old town! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. CMTAugust 31, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    I won't name your town but I grew up there! It is a great place to grow up and the history is amazing! Your pictures make it look great as well :)

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  5. Angela @ Our Family JourneyAugust 31, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Your pictures are great! Your town has a charming historic and old world feel! It's beautiful!

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  6. DawnAugust 31, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Oh my gosh! How charming! Love the old brick, and that grey house with all of the steeples...swoon! The name of that tattoo parlor cracks me up!

    Hugs!
    Dawn @Eventually Cottage

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  7. Yvonne@StyleBurbAugust 31, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    Oh my goodness, Amanda... you get to live there... I love your town! Such scope for the imagination.

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  8. christinaAugust 31, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Your town looks amazing. So cute...I always wanted to live in a town where you could walk down one street and get pretty much anything you want. i live in a big city so we dont have that!

    http://adventureswithbubbles4.blogspot.com/

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  9. Mom in High HeelsAugust 31, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    I know where you live!!!! I've been there and it's beautiful. Your photos are lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. UnknownAugust 31, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Incredibly charming! Holy cow! And yes so much history! Thanks for sharing your photos...I promise I am not a basement dweller in Idaho.....Im from nashville...heheh

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  11. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardsAugust 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    The houses are gorgeous! All that history is just awesome. And your girls look too cute.

    And why does everyone pick on Iowa? There are crazy guys in mom's basement everywhere. ;)

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  12. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardsAugust 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    PS - I'm literally looking at Iowa out my window now. I get a little defensive about my Midwest. hehe

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  13. Kelli WAugust 31, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    That looks like such a great town Amanda! We live in the country, so we don't really have a town close by just a bigger city about 20 minutes away.

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  14. AmandaAugust 31, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    My family used to drive 45 minutes to that Carl's for custard but I've never seen the rest of the town. It's adorable and I love all the historic buildings. You must love living there! Great post!! Your girls are so stinkin' cute!

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  15. KelseyAugust 31, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    I love all of the history your town has Amanda! We live in a town which was established in 2000, so there is hardly any history here!

    I'm off to link up my post to Censational Girl now - I hope you will check it out! :)

    -Kelsey
    www.poofycheeks.blogspot.com

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  16. stephaniegieseAugust 31, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    I love the name of that tattoo shop and sweet potato fries are my favorite thing on earth! I wish I knew the name of your town so I could visit.

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  17. destinyAugust 31, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Your town looks amazing!!! Old and new...I love it! It seems like it would be a really nice place to visit. Our town has a little downtown area with old buildings and neat shops too(but on a much smaller scale) that I love! And how nice to be so close to an IKEA!

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  18. Janet Metzger, ArtistAugust 31, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    Hello Amanda,

    I have eaten those fries...delish!!! I love your 'Old Towne' .

    I was a vendor at the University for a holiday show a few years back....beautiful buildings.

    Thanks for the tour and those models of yours should get a raise! (or more fries)

    Janet xox
    http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

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  19. My Mercurial NatureAugust 31, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    We live in a similar small, historical town...though across the country from you. Great photos...there's something so wonderful about seeing it all laid out as you did. Fun! Thanks!

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  20. WendyAugust 31, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    Tsk Tsk -- you've shown all the stalkers and basement weirdos Carl's. They'll probably be butting in line before you know it. Beautiful pictures. I'm enjoying Centsational Girl's party.

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  21. Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.comAugust 31, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Your town is charming. I love historical places. Your girls are adorable too. In fact, my 2 year old is wearing that same green striped polo dress right now that your older daughter is wearing. I'm kind of paranoid about stalkers, pedophiles, too and was a bit wary about doing this post.

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  22. Richella ParhamAugust 31, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    You DO have the best of both worlds! Lucky girl!! And you're in Virginia. . . which in and of itself is swoon-worthy, if you ask me. (Have I ever told you that Jack and I moved to Charlottesville when we'd been married three weeks? My first home was in Virginia!)

    Gorgeous photos, Amanda. Of course, with Natalie and M.B. to pose for you, how could you go wrong? :)

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  23. MariaAugust 31, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    HI Amanda, that downtown area is so quaint I'm in love with the historic homes too.

    Thanks for stopping by!
    Maria,
    www.ourlakelife.com

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  24. The Tall ChickAugust 31, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    LOVE IT! And Ikea. I can only dream!! Thanks for stopping by my blog to leave a comment. :)

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  25. The Mommy TherapyAugust 31, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Amanda, your town looks amazing!

    I love all the old buildings, the cute shops and restaurants, and the fact that you have all the standard stores too is phenomenal.

    Thanks for sharing. What a fun tour!

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  26. UnknownAugust 31, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Oh gosh! The Sorry Mom tattoo place is too funny! :) How fun to take the girls out to see the sites! There are lots of fun little places around my hometown and new town that I have never been too. Think it's time to check them out, huh!

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  27. Jessica @ FourGenerationsOneRoofAugust 31, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    Hi Amanda, great photo's! I like the ice cream diner ...very homey!REminds me of where I live with all the old homes & history...I need a new camera I think..your pics look great!

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  28. Jen @ The Decor SceneAugust 31, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    What a charming town you live in. I wish I could say the same for my town. I'm going to take pictures for my blog of my town, once things are cleaned up from Hurricane Irene. It's not charming like yours, but it has nice places. Thanks for sharing Amanda! :)

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  29. Jo-Anna@APrettyLifeAugust 31, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    What a great tour! I love all the buildings and history! Looks like my kind of town! Thanks for sharing!
    Jo-Anna

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  30. newcombhomeAugust 31, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    Thank you for sharing your great town :) I love the Sorry Mom Tattoo! So funny. And your girls are adorable!

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  31. Erin @ How to Nest for LessAugust 31, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    LOVE this! Reminds me of the little boardwalk I just featured. I could move away to a small town with Victorian architecture any day. Thanks for sharing!

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  32. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    What a beautiful little town! Love your shot of the girls from the back in the alley. Stopping by from Censtational Girl's party.

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  33. PamAugust 31, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    We live up the road from you. LOVE the grill with the sweet potato fries. But if looking for a good tatoo, Jack Brown's Tatoo Revival is better than Sorry Mom. I only know this because my son and husband got tatoos at Jack Brown's this summer. :)

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  34. Me and My Pink MixerAugust 31, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    I know your town and have been there a few times. I live in Virginia too! Love your pictures :)

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  35. Paula@SweetPeaAugust 31, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Your town is one of my favorites in Virginia. I love the history there and your fabulous downtown. I waited in line for-ev-er for Carl's ice-cream the one time I had it. If I were a local, I'd line up for it often, too!

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  36. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    What a beautiful town, and great photography! I just love sweet potato fries ;) I love reading about everyone's towns. The old homes near your house are fabulous!!
    ~Kelly @ Corner of Main

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  37. Elle @ Ellementary HomeAugust 31, 2011 at 10:24 PM

    What great photos! Love that old brick Colonial house -- I think my parents dragged me there once when I was a kid. I should go back now; I'd be way more into it!

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  38. BrendaAugust 31, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    Your photos are beautiful! So many historic buildings and homes to see. I love all the bright colors. Thanks for sharing with us. :)

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  39. Kirsty GirlAugust 31, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    Wow that's a pretty magical street you have there! So pretty!

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  40. Lime Green RhinestonesAugust 31, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Looks like you live in a really charming town. I especially love the name "Sorry Mom Tattoo" for the tattoo parlor!

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  41. Kate Riley September 1, 2011 at 12:35 AM

    Oh by the looks of your town you live in ..... would you die if I revealed it? Ha! I love love love looking at the historical buildings in your town captured through your eye, and your girls are so precious! Thank you so much my friend for linking up to this fun par-tay!
    xo
    Kate

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  42. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    I'm a sucker for historical towns. Yours is beautiful! Love the amazing houses, too.

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  43. KellySeptember 1, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Loved seeing our town through your lens! It is so funny how easily we take it all for granted, it really is such a beautiful place to live. Makes me want to head downtown this weekend and remind myself why we moved here!

    (And if you would email me the diner with the sweet potato fries I would love it. Yum!!)

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  44. StephanieSeptember 2, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    I totally get the stalker thing...I am right with you. Love, love your town. We have no real history in San Diego, but with our weather it makes up for it. I love the history your town has, but the tattoo shop was the funniest! Great character your town has.

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  45. Homestyling101September 2, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Love the sweetness of your hometown...now you've got that stalker idea in my mind! And if you end up doing that girls weekend in NYC- I'll meet you in the city!

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  46. Kristina @ A Home Made by KikiSeptember 3, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    What a fun place!! My friend is actually getting ready to move there and we head that way to go to IKEA multiple times a year. I'll definitely have to take a look at some of the historic areas the next time we drive through! Thanks for sharing!

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  47. Vanessa@decor happySeptember 4, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    Looks like a very charming place to live and your girls are adorable!

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  48. XazminSeptember 5, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    I loved looking at all the pictures. Especially the historical homes. I soooo want to come out that way and visit someday. U.S. History is very dear to my heart! I miss you friend! One of these days I'll learn to balance blogging with the rest of my life!

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