One region, three price points: Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Williamsburg

BUDGET

Getting there

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Rick McKay / Cox

Chatham Manor was Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s headquarters during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington also visited the house. Two trees on the left can be seen in photographs taken in the 1860s.

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Rick McKay / Cox

Archie Smith III of Meredyth Vineyards sits among barrels of aging wine at his winery near Middleburg Va Meredyth Vineyards located in the northern part of the state was a Virginia wine pioneer in the 1970s.

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Monticello

Monticello is the 5,000-acre home and plantation of Thomas Jefferson. Tours are available daily.

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Fredericksburg is 50 miles south of Washington. One-way rates to either of the two Washington airports are typically $144 with a 21-day notice and $64 during frequent sales with AirTran, Delta and United.

Stay

Fine budget brands stack up along Fredericksburg’s I-95 corridor. A top choice is the Hampton Inn & Suites Fredericksburg South with double rates from $79. 4800 Market St., 540-898-5000, www.hamptoninn.com. Roomsaver.com also features an additional two dozen budget choices in the region from $36 a night with printable online coupons.

Eat

Go to Goolrick’s in downtown Fredericksburg. Inside the 130-year-old pharmacy is the nation’s oldest continuously operating soda fountain. Visit for the fresh lemonade, milkshakes, breakfast (from 80 cents) or lunch ($2.70 chicken salad). 901 Caroline St., 540-373-9878, www.goolricks.com.

Experience

Fredericksburg, established in 1728, boasts a 40-block historic district with more than 300 structures built before 1870. George Washington grew up here. Walk or take a 75-minute guided tour. 706 Caroline St., $17 adults; $6 ages 6-16, www.fredericksburgtrolley.com. The area also was the scene of four major Civil War battles. Download maps of the battlefields at www.civilwartraveler.com or civilwartrails.org.

MODERATE

Getting there

Charlottesville is 70 miles northwest of Richmond. One-way rates to Richmond are usually $129 with a 21-day notice and $49 during sale periods.

Stay

The Foxfield Inn, in Charlottesville’s countryside, recently ranked among the nation’s top 10 inns and B&Bs on tripadvisor.com. The Wine Country package includes a two-night stay with canopy bed accommodations, country breakfast, two selections of local wine, and dinner for two at L’etoile in town, $590-$660 for two, varies by season. 2280 Garth Road, 434-923-8892, www.foxfield-inn.com.

Eat

Hamilton’s, a cozy spot for contemporary dining, also features live jazz every Saturday night and entrees to $32 (also a daily vegetarian blue-plate special). 101 W. Main St., 434-295-6649, www.hamiltonsrestaurant.com.

Experience

Nearly two dozen family-owned wineries line the Monticello appellation. Hit one or all four of the Wine Trails, each linking a group of wineries; monticellowinetrail.com. Don’t forget to visit Monticello, the 5,000-acre home and plantation of the Thomas Jefferson family. Adult tickets $20 March-October; $8 children 6-11. 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, 434-984-9822, www.monticello.org.

SPLURGE

Getting there

Newport News Airport is a 20-minute drive from downtown Williamsburg. AirTran and Delta/ASA offer business class, walk-up rates from $335 each way.

Stay

One of the world’s great hotels, the impeccable yet charming Williamsburg Inn is also home to an on-site spa considered one of the nation’s best. Junior Suites feature a parlor, marble bath, guest robes and slippers, from $479. 136 E. Francis St., 757-220-7978, www.colonialwilliamsburgresort.com

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Eat

Reserve an evening at A Chef’s Kitchen, a theater-style setting for fewer than 30 guests. Watch as your five-course meal is prepared with skill and inspiration (about three hours). Fixed price, including hors d’oeuvres, champagne, three glasses of paired wines and recipes, is $74.50. 501 Prince George St. No. 102, 757-564-8500, www.achefskitchen.biz.

Experience

Admission to Colonial Williamsburg is included for on-site hotel guests through March 31. The nation’s largest living-history museum re-creates for visitors how colonists lived. A two-day pass for nonhotel guests includes admission to the Historic Area sites, Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and Governor’s Palace (excludes walking tours), $29.95 adults, $14.95 youth; www.history.org.

Maerz is a retired travel consultant. Look for her daily deals on ajc.com/travel.

Have a city you want to read about? E-mail svanatten@ajc.com, and put “weekend in” in the subject line.