Located in one of the country’s oldest regions, Warsaw serves as the center of the North Neck area.
This small Virginia town is the county seat of Richmond County, where you can find one of the most pristine river views and plenty of natural scenic sites.
It was initially named Richmond Courthouse but was changed to Warsaw in 1831, when stories of the Battle of Warsaw in Poland were at their height and many towns adopted the name.
Warsaw is now a thriving suburban area with hosts of exceptional downtown shops, restaurants, and top-ranking schools.
It may be a small town, but it does have a rich history and a lively community.
Explore this idyllic destination and check out the best things to do in Warsaw, Virginia!
The Richmond County Museum presents collections of the county’s history from the prehistoric era to the present.
You can find this museum in the Old Jail on Courthouse Green.
The institution was established to collect and preserve artifacts and objects that highlight the colorful history of Richmond County.
View some of the special and permanent exhibitions on Rappahannock Indians of Richmond County, the life of Moore Fauntleroy, the founder of Old Rappahannock County, and themes like February Black History Month.
Take a peek inside the Richmond County Courthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Drop by the gift shop for some books and other items about the county and Northern Neck.
You’ll learn lots of historical facts at the Richmond County Museum.
Warsaw Town Park and Dog Park is one of the town’s public parks where you can unwind.
Take a packed lunch and have a picnic at the gazebo.
You can bring your pet to this dog-friendly park and let them have loads of fun running around.
Your little ones will enjoy hours of fun at the playground, too.
You’ll also have the chance to catch community events and watch public concerts with the family.
Spend a day at Warsaw Town Park and Dog Park!
Serving great food in a gorgeous little spot, Relish Restaurant and Wine Bar should be on your list on your visit to Warsaw.
You’ll enjoy every meal with the restaurant’s pleasant service and warm, lovely atmosphere.
Wednesday is Oyster Day, so you’ll get hearty servings of deliciously roasted oysters.
Satisfy your palate with shrimps, grits, crawfish linguine, and chicken pot pie.
You won’t get enough of their southern savory meatloaf and steak with truffle fries.
Pair your meals with different jalapeño margaritas on the menu.
There’s always room for dessert, with assorted cheesecake flavors like banana pudding and caramel cappuccino.
Have sumptuous meals at Relish Restaurant and Wine Bar, located on Main Street.
Just off Route 360, Naylor’s Beach Campground is the best spot to have a great camping experience.
This family-friendly location gives you sweeping views of the Rappahannock River.
The business has been running for over 60 years, so you’ll be assured of good service.
You can spend a day at the campground, enjoy boating or go for a swim in the designated areas.
Have a relaxing riverside picnic at the covered pavilions with barbecue pits and tables.
The camp season here is open from May to October.
Tents, pop-ups, and mobile home rentals are available at the campground with access to electricity, water, a dump station, bathrooms, and shower areas.
Naylor’s Beach Campground offers you a great escape from the bustling city at affordable rates.
Pints of flavorful beer will keep you company at Old Rapp Taphouse on Main Street.
Their 2,200-square-foot area includes a taproom and an outdoor beer garden offering a wide selection of lagers and ales.
Choose handcrafted beer flavors like the Hi Wire-Hazy Juicy Hoppy Fresh, the Heavy Seas Loose Cannon-TropiCannon, and Dogfish Head Seaquench.
You can try wine selections like the Italian Zardetto Prosecco Brut, Licia Albarino White from Spain, or the French Raffault Chinon Rose.
Enjoy some crafted cocktails, including The Deadrise, Rosemary Gin Fizz, Basil Goose Gimlet, and other drinks on the menu like bourbon, whiskey, scotch, vodka, tequila, and rum.
Try the Old Rapp Wings for starters, order some Smoked Brisket Tacos, and take a bite of their Spicy Black Bean Burger served with fries.
You can satisfy your appetite with the 16oz Prime Rib orCrab Cake Dinner and end with the Dessert of the Day.
Don’t forget to purchase Old Rapp Swag merchandise like shirts and caps, so you’ll have a token of your visit to Old Rapp Taphouse.
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996 to protect over 20,000 acres of wildlife habitats along the river and main tributaries.
The refuge has several units in Essex, Caroling, King George, Westmoreland, and Richmond counties.
The public can access these units all year round and include forest swamps, fresh tidal marshes, pine forests, deciduous forests, and grassland habitats.
View the wildlife and spot endangered species like Indiana bats, Eastern Black Rails, and Spotted Salamanders.
Go birdwatching and catch sight of prothonotary warblers, ovenbirds, and wood thrush.
Take photos of scenic sites, paddle up on a boat, or throw your fishing rods in for a fresh catch.
Discover diverse species and ecosystems at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which sits 10 minutes away from the town’s central area.
Taste classic homemade sweets at Michelle’s Sweet Treats.
You’ll quickly find this bake shop at the heart of downtown Warsaw on Saint Johns Street.
What started as a commission from a neighbor to selling baked goods at Farmers Markets turned into a thriving home bakery in 2016.
It was even voted Best Bakery for seven years in a row.
You’ll have plenty of dessert choices to enjoy, like mouth-watering cheesecakes, loaf-sized pound cakes, cookies, and bread.
Suit your sweet tooth with assorted cupcakes, truffles, pies, muffins, and more.
They also offer nut-free and gluten-free baked goods.
All desserts from Michelle’s Sweet Treats are made from scratch, so you know they’re made fresh every time.
Part of the Northern Neck Loop, Totuskey Creek Boat Ramp features diverse, picturesque waterfront and forested sites.
Maps, guides, and information on all the Northern Neck Water Trails are available on the website.
You can access the boat landing right off SR 3, with a small parking area available.
Launch your canoes and kayaks and catch fantastic water views.
You’ll also spot amazing birds like bald eagles, ospreys, and various types of herons in the area.
Have a great paddling experience at Totuskey Creek Boat Ramp.
For more than 60 years, Garner’s Produce has been growing and providing fresh and quality fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for the community.
The hundred-acre farm is located on Kings Highway, midway between Warsaw and Montross.
Its operation over the years has become a Garner family tradition ensuring the delivery of its high-quality crops.
You’ll find spring crops like arugulas, asparagus, kohlrabi, summer squash, and various bean varieties, including green, Italian roma, and yellow wax.
Grab some blackberries, cherry tomatoes, and pepper varieties during the summer.
You can also buy fall-season crops, including daikons, assorted fall squash, pumpkins, and radishes.
Shoppers will have many fresh options at Garners Produce.
Colonial Collectibles is a locally-owned gift shop you can visit in downtown Warsaw.
The shop has been selling local quality merchandise and giving excellent customer service since 1991 in the North Neck area.
Choose from an extensive line of lovely gift items at the Ladies Boutique, including clothing, accessories, beauty and bath products, and jewelry.
You’ll find men’s clothing, gifts, personal care products, and clothing lines for babies and kids.
You can also shop for home furnishings like décors, linens, and kitchen items.
Their locally made seasonings and sauces are perfect for gifting or bringing back home.
Enjoy shopping at Colonial Collectibles.
Have a taste of Oriental cuisine at China Inn Warsaw on Richmond Road.
The restaurant has been around for more than 20 years and has earned a reputation for being the best Chinese restaurant in the North Neck region.
Enjoy authentic, delicious Chinese cuisine at affordable prices.
Have lunch or dinner with the family in the elegant dining room with cozy seats and tables decorated with charming Chinese decor and soothing music.
You can also choose their quick and convenient takeout meals.
Savor some of their lunch menu selections like Chicken Chow Mein, Roast Pork Egg Foo Young, and Hunan Chicken.
Have a delightful dinner with flavorful soups, fried rice, Lo Mein, Egg Foo Young, Chow Mein, Chop Suey, and an array of pork, poultry, seafood, and beef specialty choices.
China Inn Warsaw is your place for good food with great value for your money.
Also known as Francis Lightfoot Lee House, Menokin was a plantation built for Lee near Mount Airy.
Lee was among the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.
View the historic landmark and travel back to the past during the era of slave labor.
Explore Menokin and the surrounding areas on guided tours, and drop by the Visitor Center, Remembrance Structure, and the Tenant House.
Learn about the Menokin people, their daily life, work, and structures still standing today.
Menokin was included as a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
You can find this landmark on Menokin Road.
Built in 1765, Mount Airyis the Tayloe family’s private ancestral home at the North Neck overlooking the Rappahannock River.
It was constructed for Colonel John Tayloe II, a wealthy Virginia planter during his time.
The area was originally a horse stud farm and headquarters for forced labor plantations.
Francis Lightfoot Lee and his wife Rebecca, the daughter of Tayloe, are also buried in the estate.
Though the home remains private property, they offer daily tours with reservations.
You can also rent the manor house and estate for weddings and formal gala events.
You’ll get to view the grand mid-Georgian residence that once hosted General and Mrs. George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and other dignitaries from around the world; go around one of the earliest orangeries in the country.
The area is also suitable for hunting waterfowl, spring turkeys, and upland birds.
Mount Airy is listed as a significant landmark on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
Locatedin Richmond County near Warsaw, Sabine Hall is a famous historic house built around 1730.
It was constructed by well-known burgess and patriot Landon Carter.
Marvel at one of Virginia’s finest brick manor residences with detailed Georgian designs.
The grand old house served many family lines from the Virginia General Assembly.
Sabine Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Founded in 1996, the Essex County Museum features interesting exhibits about Essex County from the prehistoric era to its modern times.
It’s located in Tappahannock, 10 minutes away from Warsaw.
Don’t miss the chance to see the Zeuglodon, a 60-feet long, 50-million-year-old whale that once lived in the area’s shallow ocean.
There’s also a scale model of the USS Tappahannock, a 520-foot oiler fleet launched during World War II.
Learn about the life of the Rappahannock Tribe, known as the “People of the Tidal Water,” who inhabited the woodlands before the English settlers arrived.
You’ll also learn about the rise of the English colony, the role of Essex statesmen during the Civil War, and the booming economy in the 20th century.
The Essex County Museum also houses displays on the slaves of the African American Pathways.
Visit the research room and small library and drop by the gift shop for some handcrafted jewelry, art pieces, books, home decor, toys, and games.
Warsaw is a wonderful small town full of historical, local, and natural sites to enjoy with the family.
With unique shops and restaurants that feature the different facets of the town, you’ll discover something new each time.
Its location at the center of the North Neck area offers great adventures with river attractions and wildlife refuge areas to enjoy.
You’re in for a good time while ticking everything off this list of the best things to do in Warsaw, Virginia.
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