Organized Tours in Fredericksburg

Walking Tour -- On Saturday during summer you can stroll around 8 blocks of the Historic District and learn about the area's history and architecture with the informative Hallowed Ground Tours (tel. 540/809-3918; www.hallowedgroundtours.com). Held in conjunction with the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, the 1-hour tours leave the visitor center at 10am and cost $3 for adults and $1 for children. The company will tailor other tours to your desires; call or check the website for details.

An evening option is to stroll around the historic haunts with Ghosts of Fredericksburg Tours, 623 Caroline St. (tel. 540/654-5414; www.ghostsoffredericksburg.com). The 90-minute walks depart the visitor center parking lot at 8pm Thursday to Monday in July, Friday through Sunday in August, and Friday and Saturday September through December. They cost $10 per person (children under 7 go free). Reservations are required.

Trolley or Horse-Drawn Carriage -- You can sit and explore the Historic District via motorized trolley or horse-drawn carriage, both of which leave from the visitor center. Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg (tel. 540/898-0737; www.fredericksburgtrolley.com) pass 35 historic sights. The 1 1/4-hour narrated tours usually leave at 10:30am, noon, 1:30, and 3:30pm from June through October. They depart at 10:30am and 1:30pm the rest of the year. Fares are $17 for adults, $6 for children 17 and younger.

An alternative is to clip-clop your way around with the Old Towne Carriage Company (tel. 540/371-0094), whose 45-minute narrated rides cost $17 for adults, $10 for children younger than 10. They operate from April through December daily from 10:30am to 3:30pm.

The visitor center sells tickets for all tours.