Waterford, Virginia Area Suggestions

[58limited]

I will be flying to Waterford, VA for Thanksgiving to be with family. I'm flying into Baltimore and will be going to Gettysburg one day while in the area. Any BBQ joint (or seafood restaurant) suggestions? My sister has to work everyday except Thanksgiving so me and my BIL will be hitting several brew pubs and at least one meadery during my 7 day stay. BBQ would make a great lunch but being fairly close to the Chesapeake area I'm interested in seafood as well.

[RonB]

I wish I could help, but I had to look up where Waterford is...

It looks like you will be about 15 miles from Leesburg which is a fairly large city, so you might try searching for restaurants or brew pubs in that area.

[Donw]

Can’t help with the restaurants but you can have a lot of fun on your meanderings, especially if you enjoy history. Antietam Battlefield is close by. Pick up some apples by Thurmont. Catoctin National Park is also nearby. On the main park road the road signed Camp 2 is actually the Presidential Camp David. Camp 3 (Greentop) just next door on the opposite side of the road was the secret OSS training camp during WW2. And Harper’s Ferry is an interesting visit too where Lewis and Clark started from and John Brown’s raid took place. Enjoy your trip.

[CaptainMike]

I've read that walking across the Burnside Bridge can be quite a spiritual experience.

[Donw]

And sitting quietly in “Bloody Lane” knowing where you sit was covered several bodies high with men and boys just following orders.

[CaptainMike]

One of Burnside's notable failures. The other being Chickamauga. Those might have been the inspiration of the infamous saying "Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory"

[DaveD]

You'll be in the middle of some of the state's wine areas, a fair number of wineries nearby. It's not a long trip into DC from there either, so there is a vast amount of things to do and see...

[DTro]

Monks BBQ in Purcellville Va. is a good stop for lunch or dinner. Probably not Texas quality, but good and it is close to Waterford. As Donw mentioned, DO NOT miss Antietam Battlefield and Harpers Ferry WV. I don't know what the weather will hold or if you hike, but one of the prettiest views of a small mountain town you can see is from Maryland Heights, looking down at Harpers Ferry. In Gettysburg, there are lots of good eateries in town. Just check Trip Adviser for the latest reviews. Same with H.Ferry

If you want the real deal 'Baltimore pit beef' hit up Pioneer Pit Beef (N Rolling Rd &, Johnnycake Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228) It is not far from BWI. Can't help with seafood near Waterford, but if you coming close to the shores of Chesapeake or if you are going to cross the bridge (totally worth it) let me know!

Oh, and be careful where you park your car in Antietam, spirits have been known to move them.

[Donw]

We use to live just off Windsor Mill Rd in Woodlawn and Pioneer is a wonderful place to get your Pit Beef. I triple endorse this post.😋

[58limited]

Harpers Ferry is definitely on the list as is Harpers Ferry Brewing. Since Harpers Ferry Brewing is actually in Purcellville I'm sure we will check out Monks BBQ. I'll talk to my BIL about Antietam. He and my sister moved to Waterford a year ago so hopefully they will know some good tourist places as well. BIL works in DC so we will most likely go for a day. One week sounds like a long visit but there is so much history to explore in the region that I feel that I'll barely scratch the surface.

[CaptainMike]

Take good notes, David, I'm hoping to see some of these sights next spring.

[DTro]

Bring it on over CaptainMike- plenty to see and do around these parts. Hit us easterners up for the low down before you come!

[Sdell]

Here is the Washington Post's latest best bbq list. Several are not too far from Waterford.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/02/03/best-barbecue-dc-maryland-virginia-2022

Loudon County also has many good craft brewers/farm breweries:

https://www.visitloudoun.org/drink/loco-ale-trail/

DTro is spot on that Pioneer pit beef is the best for Baltimore pit beef. It is easy to do Harper's and Antietam in the same day as they are only 30 minutes apart by car. Best seafood is Baltimore or Annapolis or on the Eastern Shore. However, the King Street Oyster Bar in Leesburg is a pretty good option close to you.

[58limited]

Y'all have convinced me to go to Pioneer Pit Beef. They will be closed when I arrive in Baltimore on the 22nd but I fly out of Baltimore Monday 11/28 and we should be able to have lunch there.

[58limited]

Just read the Washington Post BBQ list, looks like some really good places in the area. I don't think I'll be disappointed.

[FarmCook54]

I've eaten at HammerDown on Hwy 50 (John Mosby Hwy). It is probably as good as any other. Have you considered getting a grill for your BIL(Christmas gift), some ribs and chicken from the store, rubs and sauces easily sourced at Ace Hardware or there is Dizzy Pig in Manassas. Just a thought, though I understand being on vacation too.

[58limited]

He has a grill or two already, I'm trying to talk him into a KBQ.

[58limited]

So, day two here in Waterford. Been to some good breweries. King Street Oyster Bar was great. I’ve only had oysters either fried or in turkey stuffing and they were unpleasantly strong. I got the charbroiled oysters with garlic herb butter and Parmesan. Delicious! I wonder if the difference is the preparation or Gulf versus EastCoast oysters.

Probably will not do the battlefields due to bad weather that is coming, the tour guide at Gettysburg recommends doing an in depth tour in the summer versus this time of year. We have two 20 lb turkeys brining for tomorrow: one to fry and one to smoke.

Also, went to the Wegmans in Leesburg. Very much like a big HEB here in the larger cities in Texas. I was impressed.

Lots of deer in the yard here, might take one with the crossbow tomorrow or Friday.

[HawkerXP]

Welcome to the "Cloud!"

Among the many fine things mentioned above, Loudoun County is the home of many, if not too many, data centers.

So, drop on by and take a look at where all of your cloud storage data resides.

But really, would be nice if any of us local amazingwibs folks could meat up with you if you / we have time.

[58limited]

I would have loved to meet some local members but time constraints (family scheduling) basically threw our plans out the window. We basically made our plans an hour before leaving based on what was going on at the house. Lots of things/ sights were not done but it was a really fun trip anyway.

[Sdell]

Glad you liked King Street. Next time try oysters straight on the half shell. Just add a drop of lemon, a drop of tabasco and maybe a drop or two of mignotte and slurp away.

[Donw]

Sdell has it right. My neighbors and I bought a 100# sack of Tangier Island oysters to split for the holiday weekend. Kathy and my Thanksgiving meal tonight totally consist of oysters on the half shell followed by homemade pizza. Just like the Pilgrims.🙂

[DTro]

Win!

[Allon]

Turkey pizza...

[Panhead John]

If I’m not mistaken Don, I believe the Pilgrims actually ordered from Papa John’s. There was a severe wheat shortage that year, making them unable to make their own dough.

[58limited]

We cooked two turkeys today, one fried and the other smoked on the Weber.

[58limited]

Today was brewery and food truck day. Ate at two food trucks, had some of the best Thai basil stir fry ever. The other day after Kings Oyster Bar we had a Korean pork belly taco that has probably changed my life. Sorry, no pics but here is the scene outside of Hillsborough brewery: