Virginia Shopping Tips by b1bob Top 5 Page for this destination

Potomac Mills Mall: Potomac Mills Mall

Potomac Mills is a giant outlet mall conveniently located along Interstate 95 in Woodbridge, Virginia (about 30 minutes south of Washington, DC). The most prominent stores here include Ikea, Books-a-Million, Marshall's, Off 5th (Sak's 5th Avenue Outlet), Burlington Coat Factory, T.J. Maxx, L.L. Bean, and Nordstrom Rack. There are also such entertainment venues as the AMC Potomac Mills (an 18 screen movie house) and Van's Skate Park. There is an ample food court in the middle of the mall nearest the Burlington Coat Factory.

en español, en français, em português

What to buy: With this kind of store lineup what is not to buy?

UPDATE: I will no longer buy anything at this mall or any other by the same management (Simon Group) because they evicted a tenant based on the content of his store and applied this standard only to this vendor. If you're interested, write me an e-mail for more details.

What to pay: Well, you will probably leave here with either more money in your wallet or more in your shopping basket than at the Pentagon City Mall just up the road in Arlington, but a $1000 suit at Sak's still costs $500 at Off 5th.

Address: 2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Directions: Potomac Mills is located along Interstate 95 at exit 156 in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.potomacmills.com

Stars and Stripes Forever: Americana

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, Stars and Stripes Forever has what you are looking for. All manner of patriotic and political gifts plus military items. The one pictured was at Patriot Plaza in Williamsburg, but that location closed in 2007. The only one left that I know of is in Yorktown.

What to buy: Those of y'all who know me best which side of the political fence I'm on. I bought a shirt and several buttons along those lines.

Address: 323 Water Street, Yorktown, VA 23690

Directions: From Richmond: Take I-64 East to 242B. Continue on Rte 199 E, turn right onto the Colonial Pkwy to Yorktown. Proceed about 10 mi. (16 km) through to the Battlefield. Turn left on Ballard St. and follow to the waterfront. Shopping centre on left.

Phone: (757) 898-0288

Theme: Gifts

Carrot Cottage: They celebrate everything

Lee, Christian, and I walked in here more as a curiosity than anything else. I wondered if they actually sold carrots or even carrot cake. If we had not lingered so long here, we might have made Stratford Hall in time.

en español, em português, en français

What to buy: Carrot Cottage sells nautical and seasonal gifts, pastel portraits, evergreen garden flags, among other things. Christian bought a couple postcards while Lee and I just looked around. It was a nice little store which I hope stays in business.

Address: 15804 Kings Hwy. (Rt. 3), Montross, VA 22520

Phone: (804) 493-1320

Theme: Gifts

Many Moons Ago: Like Christmas in early September

It is well-known that gipper84 is keen on antiques. Since he guided Christian and me through the whole of the Northern Neck, we stopped here. Although I am normally not big on shopping, I am glad we did.

en español, em português, en français

What to buy: The shop is in an old residence with many rooms, upstairs and down, crammed to the rafters with all manner of gifts and antiques. It was like Christmas in early September!

Address: 466 Rappahannock Highway, White Stone, VA 22578

Phone: (804) 436-0000

Theme: Antiques

The Cheese Shop: cheese, anyone?

The Cheese Shop is another Mennonite-run shop in the Shenandoah Valley. Because the Mennonites' religious beliefs frown upon preservatives, everything sold here is homemade and fresh.

What to buy: A large assortment of cheeses as well as homemade breads, herbs, spices, jams and jellies, fresh eggs, and other condiments are sold here.

Address: 2366 Tinkling Spring Road, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477

Phone: (540) 337-4224

Theme: Food and Drink

Dulles Town Center: Your style, your time, your life

Opened in 1999, Dulles Town Center is one of the latest big malls in Northern Virginia. It has 130 stores (nothing terribly different from the usual big mall lineup) and restaurants including a large and varied food court. Because it was within walking distance from my hotel, I stopped there for supper after having my fill of several days of pizza and fast food hamburgers. There is also a miniature Dulles Airport play area sponsored by Jet Blue airlines and there is a roundabout near the food court.

What to buy: Almost anything can be found with this lineup.

Address: 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, VA 20166

Directions: Detailed directions from all points

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.shopdullestowncenter.com

Dayton Farmer's Market: The good old days are still here for you

The Dayton Farmers Market is reminiscent of the old fashioned roadside stands selling local agricultural products and foods, but in the sheltered and air-conditioned (or heated) comfort of an enclosed building.

What to buy: Just about anything you can imagine is available at the 23 kiosks that set up shop here.

Address: 3105 John Wayland Hwy., Dayton, VA 22821

Directions: Hours & Detailed Directions

Phone: (540) 879-3801

Theme: Local Craft

Website: http://www.daytonfarmersmarket.com

Green Valley Bookfair: Books, anyone?

The Green Valley Bookfair takes place several times a year in a farm house in rural Mount Crawford, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley.

What to buy: All manner of books, including overruns and discontinued books on all subjects from childrens, cookery, crafts, woodworking, history, or travel. These books are sold at serious discout. Books that one would pay $35 in a Books-a-Million would only go for $10 here.

Address: 2192 Green Valley Ln., Mt. Crawford, VA 22841

Directions: From Richmond: Take I-64 west to I-81 north to Exit 240. Turn east on Rd. 682; go 1.5 miles and turn left on Rd. 681 at the Green Valley sign. Approximately 2 hours from the intersection of I-64 and I-295.

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.gvbookfair.com

University Sportswear: University Sportswear

University Sportwear is a small but growing chain of sportwear stores in university towns that sport that university's logo. Sayre Industries, based in Buena Vista (in the Shenandoah Valley), makes all manner of promotional products. It opened its first store in Lexington, Virginia home of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. A new one selling a line of sportswear with the Virginia Tech (the other VT) logo in Blacksburg. I suspect many university towns, first in Virginia, will have a Sayre store either on campus or in the surrounding town.

What to buy: I found a t-shirt with a small Confederate flag emblem and Confederate Clothing Co. Since 1861 on the front. On the back it says Southern Heroes and Flags. There are likenesses of President Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, The Lee Monument on Richmond's Monument Avenue, J.E.B. Stuart, John B. Hood, P.G.T. Beaureagard, Nathan Forrest, and General Robert E. Lee and all Confederate battle and national flags. This is what I bought. There is all manner of memorabilia like t-shirts, sweat shirts, polos, keychains, and other things with the university's logo in the brick and mortar store. You can order online for logos of other listed universities.

Theme: Other

Website: http://universitysportwear.com

Plan 9 Music: A music store that supports local artists

Plan 9 stores carry a deep rock catalog, but they carry all kinds from bluegrass to rap. Unlike most state and national chains of music stores, Plan 9 supports local artists and their shows. Many titles are sold on consignment directly from area bands, and you might happen on in-store performances which the company actively encourages. Besides Richmond, they have locations in the university towns of Williamsburg (William & Mary), Charlottesville (UVA), and Harrisonburg (James Madison University).

Theme: Music