ears ago my parents, sister and I were on a camping trip with my grandparents to West Virginia. Our route had taken us from our home in Fort Meade, Maryland, around Washington DC and through the countryside of Virginia. After a while there was nothing but farmland for miles and miles around us. At one point we made a momentary stop in a particularly small town. My sister and I (both teenagers at the time) watched the small town go by from the window of the RV and looked at each other.
“Who would ever want to live here?” I wondered aloud.
Us, it turned out. Apparently.
Just a couple of years after that camping trip, my dad retired from a twenty year career in the US Navy. After a slew of interviews he accepted an offer from a company in Virginia. We quickly had to find a house to live in, so one day I accompanied him to look at some homes for rent with a local realtor. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that we would be moving to the same small town that we had driven through a few years previously. The same town my sister and I had made fun of for it’s lack of…everything.
Even more surprising is that over 25 years later I would still be living here, but this time with my own family. Sure, I moved away for a few years, but once I got married and had a kid, Warrenton just felt like as good a place as any to raise a family. I think more than anything, for the first time in my life I felt like I had a home. Life as a military brat is chaotic and unsettled. As soon as we moved somewhere new and I made a few friends, we were off to a new duty station. But Warrenton gave me that comforting feeling of home.
The town has grown over the years and now has many more amenities, stores, and restaurants then when I first saw it as a teenager. Of course, friends and coworkers that live in larger cities in northern Virginia probably think we don’t have indoor plumbing. But for us, it’s the perfect location. Just over an hours drive east and we are in Washington DC. Just an hours drive west and we are in the Shenandoah Mountains. Add a few hours driving east and we are at the beaches on the eastern shores of Maryland and Delaware.
But let’s talk about Warrenton. If you have never heard of our little town, or if you never knew there were a lot of things to do here, this post is for you!
The heart of Old Town Warrenton is Main Street, where most of the action is. Don’t worry, it’s not a very long street. It’s also not closed to pedestrians, so you will have to keep an eye out for traffic as you cross the road. However, don’t forget to peek down some of the side streets where you will find more little shops and cafes.
Start Your Day With a Great Cup of Coffee
In my opinion, a great day starts with a great cup of coffee. We are fortunate here in Warrenton to have several great spots to grab a cup of coffee and pastry – two on each send of Main Street – before you start your day! At one end of Main Street (near the Court House) you have two options:
Deja Brew Cafe – this cozy cafe is the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee (hot or cold) or a smoothie to start your stroll along Main Street! While I tend to go for basics like mochas and cappuccinos, my daughter’s absolute favorite drink is the iced dirty chai with vanilla.
Red Truck Bakery – this bakery has won accolades for their pies and pastries. They are so good, celebrities order them and they’ve even received a shout-out from the Oval Office! I am a sucker for their Meyer Lemon Cake and once in a while they will have a gluten free cookie or pastry. Don’t forget to take a photo with their famous red truck parked out front!
On the other end of Main Street you have two other options:
Great Harvest Bread Company – Great Harvest mills their own whole grain flour and turns into delicious bread, pastries, sandwiches and other goodies. They also sell locally-made products. When I stop in I can never resist their cinnamon roll! My daughter Emma loves their lemonades and Italian sodas.
Goodness & Grace – One of Warrenton’s newest coffee and pastry shop, it has a unique, friendly vibe. The market-style bakery has a small play area for children and their speciality drink menu changes daily based on what their baristas come up with!
Learn The History of Warrenton
If this is your first time visiting Warrenton, I suggest the first stop you make after grabbing a cup of coffee is the Old Jail Museum.
The Old Jail Museum is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the old jail buildings now turned into a museum. Upon entering and paying the entrance fee, you will be greeted by enthusiastic volunteers who will give you a brief rundown of the history of Warrenton and Fauquier County before you start your self-guided tour. There are several exhibits ranging from early Native American artifacts to present day history of Fauquier. The museum is also haunted, so don’t forget to ask about some of the friendly residents. The museum also has a small gift shop with Warrenton souvenirs and books about the town and county.
where to shop
Now it’s time to shop ’til you drop! Well maybe not exactly as it’s not a huge shopping district, but there are a lot of independently-owned shops along Main Street are really fun to browse.
The Open Book – As a voracious reader, this my most favorite store on Main Street! At this independent bookstore you will find everything from new releases to beloved classics. They also hold book signings, book clubs and many other events, all of which you can keep up to date with on their Facebook page. And don’t forget to stop and give Fable a few pats before you leave!
Do You DeJa Vu – a funky and hip thrift and consignment store that is a town favorite among teens and woman of all ages. Keep up to date with sales and incoming merchandise on their active Facebook page.
Studio Luxe Boutique – This is a really cute store that specializes in chic women’s clothing and accessories. The sales team are all super friendly and helpful, especially the owner Brandi! Stock is always changing, so you will always find something new every time you go in. I love to shop here when I need a new outfit for a trip or special dinner out!
The Town Duck – An upscale shop that specializes in unique gifts as well as fine foods and wines. If you are looking for a special gift (or a treat for yourself) this is the place!
Latitudes Fair Trade – As their website says, they are a store with a mission! Here you can find beautiful, handmade clothing, jewelry and household items fairly-traded from around the world! I always find little “thinking of you” gifts for family and friends here. And the occasional cute thing for myself!
Warrenton Market – This beautiful shop stocks a well-curated selection of locally made products. A lot of goodies can always be found here, from jams & jellies to handmade soaps!
Where to Grab a Sweet Treat Or a Full Meal
After a couple of hours of shopping you will most likely want to take a break for a drink and snack, or maybe even a full meal! Here are our favorite places to dine around Old Town Warrenton.
Ellie’s Place – This is our go-to place for lunch! In fact, we go there so often we don’t even have to tell the owner what we want, they just put our order in as soon as we walk in the door. My favorite is their BLT! We also appreciate that they have gluten-free bread. Oh, and their fries are the best!
Licorice Pizza– If you are in the mood for pizza, Licorice Pizza has a delicious menu! The pizzas are great, and they even have a dedicated gluten free food prep area and oven! Although I do question the Pickle Pizza they offer.
The Frozen Yogi – If you are in the mood for something cold and refreshing, head over to the Frozen Yogi! It’s an eclectic shop offering not only frozen yogurt, but also drinks and snacks from Asia!
Haute Cakes Pastry Shop – If you really need to satisfy your sweet tooth, head to Haute Cakes! They have the most amazing cupcakes and macarons!
Take Some Photos
While there are many areas around Main Street that are picture-worthy, two of the most popular places for visitors to take photos are found down 4th Street – the Warrenton Caboose and the Love sign!
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the shops, cafes and restaurants in Old Town Warrenton. There are many more for you to discover! These are just the ones that I tend to patronize the most! If you have any questions about planning your day trip to Warrenton, Virginia, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below or shoot me an email at jdyrholm@comcast.net.
important information
There are no public restrooms, but there are bathrooms located in some of the cafes that you can use if necessary.
There is ample free parking behind Main Street, just follow the signs!
Keep up with daily and weekend happenings in Old Town Warrenton on the Experience Warrenton website and Facebook page!
