As published in The Florida Villager.
Just Follow the Signs
I was traveling to Washington, DC the other day from Virginia and passed a sign that said Occoquan Historic District. I had never heard of the town and had some time to spare so I took the next exit and found myself in a gem of a spot.
It literally is one street lined with adorable mom and pop shops, historical markers explaining certain sites and River Mill Park at the end. According to one of the markers, Occoquan was formally established in 1804 on the Occoquan river and was the home to grist mills and tobacco warehouses. Today it is a quaint town that offers visitors a quiet get away.
I stopped in at The Secret Garden Café for a refreshing iced tea and a chance to acquaint myself with the local map. My first stop was the Mill House Museum, a very, very small museum but packed with history and well worth the stop. Coming out of the museum, I lingered a bit to watch a long line of geese meander down the river in single file next to a fisherman. I later learned that you can kayak and paddle board down the river, which is something I wish I had had time to do.
At the end of town is River Mill Park which hosts summer concerts, trivia nights and a big arts and crafts show in September. There are multiple little restaurants and I reluctantly passed several chocolate shops. I love local galleries, so I popped into a few that offered pottery, woodworking and paintings. Detouring down a side street, I made a mental note of a couple of spas I would love to experience, Dansk Day Spa, Forever Young and Healing Light Skin Care and Reiki. There is always time for a bit of pampering!
We all live in this fast paced world where we focus on getting from Point A to Point B in record time and in doing so, we can miss out on a special experience. I’m glad I veered off the expressway to find myself in an oasis called Occoquan. It is a place to take a deep breath, find peace, and spend some time away from the stresses of your world. Our body, mind and soul needs that respite and Occoquan is where you will find it. So, the next time you are traveling and you see something that intrigues you, just follow the signs.