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Photo: Visit Loudoun
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Small Town Virginia: Beautiful and Historic
Leesburg
O
by Whitney Kiatsuranon
ne thing I love about Richmond is that it sits in the center of so much of the state’s beauty and history. I can go two hours or so in any direction and be in some place that is completely different. That’s exactly what I did recently when I escaped the city. Once outside the concrete jungle we all know and love, I found myself out in the country, traveling north on U.S. Route 15. My destination: historic Leesburg in Loudoun County. U.S. 15 is very much the same route that settlers and visitors have traveled for thousands of years. The Colonists called it the “Carolina Road,” as its terminus was an Indian trading post along the VirginiaNorth Carolina border. Numerous springs along the route and relatively safe fords across major rivers and streams made it a favorite with both the early settlers as well as the Native Americans, who had lived, hunted and traded there long before the Europeans arrived. Some archaeologists point to evidence of prehistoric Native American sites in this area that date back several thousand years. 52 Chesterfield Living
RichmondNavigator.com
Not totally unlike those who had traveled the route centuries before me, I wanted to explore the many treasures that Leesburg has to offer. I had heard that its downtown shopping district was filled with unique wonders offered by local retailers and restaurateurs. I began my day, perhaps as would many a true “Loudouner,” by having breakfast at the Georgetown Café (21 South King St). Leesburg had originally been named George Town in honor of England’s King George, II. In 1858, when the town was selected as the county seat for the newly formed Loudoun County, the name was changed to Leesburg. Despite my intentions of ordering a hearthealthy meal, such as an egg white omelet with twelve-grain toast, I was seduced by the Farmer’s Omelet featuring cheddar cheese, bacon and mashed potatoes. My taste buds reached a pivotal climax at first bite. I also decided to try one of their “Eye Openers” off the menu, which, in this case, was a Bloody Mary made with the restaurant’s own mix. Both the cocktail and the omelet were delish.