Have I ever told you that I love history? Just kidding—if you’ve been a Dogwood reader for longer than this past Tuesday, you already knew. And if you’ve been here far longer than that, you’re probably wondering why I haven’t auditioned for “Jeopardy!” yet. 

That’s why I’m really excited to bring y’all today’s lead story. It highlights a variety of historical sites in Virginia that we can still visit today. From Pocahontas Island (the oldest free Black community in the United States) to the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery, there are a variety of options for exploring and remembering those who paved the way. And I’m personally glad they did because I’m so glad you’re here.

By Dominique Diggs

After Confederate school names were restored in Shenandoah County, students and the NAACP took the fight to court. 

Now, a judge’s decision could have an impact far beyond one school district.

By Amie Knowles

Have you ever had a season where life’s just go, go, go? Rushing to get from this thing to that thing and still juggling everything? That’s typically how springtime is in our household. This past weekend was our first one without plans in I don’t know how long. So what did my husband, our son, and I do? We made plans, of course.

But fear not, our plans were chill. We drove over to Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County on Saturday afternoon, where we enjoyed a refreshing swim in the lake, an epic corn hole matchup and took full advantage of Virginia’s Free Fishing Days, where you can fish without a license. 

The last time we took Colton (now age 8) fishing was two years ago. We bought all the gear, drove an hour and a half to Occoneechee State Park in Mecklenburg County, dropped a line, and waited. Well, we waited for all of 20 seconds before Colton looked up at us and asked, “Why haven’t we caught a fish yet?” The whole adventure lasted maybe 20 minutes before he was completely done with the idea and begged us to go to the playground and splashed instead.

Given that experience, we didn’t have high hopes for this past weekend. Boy, were we ever wrong. Colton—who, like me, has ADHD and therefore the attention span of a gnat—fished for three hours straight on Saturday, despite not catching a single thing the entire time. He loved it so much that he got emotional when it was time to leave. We promised to take him to another lake the following day—but that’s a story for next week. Are you hooked? 

By Dorothy Scott

The Inn at Little Washington is Virginia’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, and such a lofty accomplishment is sure to draw celebrity eyes. Enter Martha Stewart, one of the world’s most famous foodies, who swooped onto the scene in October 2024 to see what all the buzz was about (via Northern Virginia Magazine). 

She called her experience a “splendor” in an Instagram post from the time. She also wrote, “Sunday evening and dinner at @innatlittlewash with no details spared (ever) and each dish so delicious and beautifully prepared by Chef/owner #patrickoconnell and his incredible staff!!”

Stewart is often called the “original influencer,” and she earned that title with decades of putting people on to really good dishes, decor, and more. Once again, you won’t be disappointed if you heed her advice. The Inn at Little Washington is gorgeously outfitted with gold, opulent decor, and its dishes are rich and precisely prepared, pairing flavors and textures perfectly.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect, Dominique Diggs, and Dorothy Scott. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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