On Sunday, July 26th, more than a hundred women business owners filled Revatone Farm for Power Players: The Rise, an evening glowing in the colors of a golden sunrise. From the very first note of live harp music, the room came alive with connection, celebration, and the shared belief that women in business are better together.

Here's what made the night unforgettable:

More than an event, The Rise was a celebration of how far this community of women has come, and a glimpse of how much further they'll go together.

Want to be part of it? Discover the incredible women behind Power Players in our digital magazine and Women-Owned Business Directory. Meet the Power Players here. 💛

Neighbors, blink and you might miss it. We have about two weekends left to squeeze the last drops out of summer before most local kids head back to school. If a big trip is not in the cards, do not worry. You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to feel like you got away. Just a full tank of gas and a free afternoon, because we are surrounded by staycation gems that feel like another corner of the map. Here are six that will make you whisper, "Wait, we have this here?"

Historic Downtown Fredericksburg: Feels Like a European Old Town. Slow down on Caroline Street and you could almost convince yourself you wandered into a village across the Atlantic. Brick sidewalks, 18th-century storefronts, and lantern-lit corners give downtown that timeworn, cobblestoned charm. Grab a coffee, browse the boutiques, and let the afternoon unspool at European pace.

Government Island, Stafford: Feels Like an Ancient Quarry of Egypt or Rome. Here is a fact that still gives me chills: the very stone that faces the White House and the U.S. Capitol was cut right here in Stafford. A boardwalk winds out to sandstone cliffs where you can still see tool marks from quarry workers more than 200 years ago. The 17-acre park sits just off I-95 near Aquia Harbor, and the trail is an easy, family-friendly walk.

Alum Spring Park, Fredericksburg: Feels Like a Hidden Canyon Out West. Tucked off Greenbriar Drive, this quiet 34-acre park hides a sandstone cliff nearly 400 feet long and 40 feet high, formed around 100 million years ago. Add a spring-fed creek and shaded trails and you get a pocket of desert-canyon drama minutes from downtown. Pack a picnic, and the kids will love the playground.

Widewater State Park, Stafford: Feels Like a New England Coastal Escape. On a peninsula where the Potomac River and Aquia Creek meet, Widewater serves up two miles of shoreline, breezy beaches, and tidal wetlands far more coastal than they have any right to be this far inland. As one of Virginia's newest state parks, it has fresh trails and paddle launches on both sides.

Gari Melchers Home & Studio at Belmont, Falmouth: Feels Like an Artist's Villa in the French Countryside. Perched above the Rappahannock, this was the estate of celebrated American Impressionist Gari Melchers. Stroll the formal gardens and wander the light-filled studio in a setting so serene you half expect to find an easel waiting under the trees.

Motts Run Reservoir, Spotsylvania: Feels Like a Quiet Lake in the North Woods. When you want the calm of a remote northern lake without the long drive, this is your spot. Tree-ringed and undeveloped, it offers still water for paddling and the kind of hush that resets your whole nervous system. Seasonal hours apply, so check ahead.

There's a word in the Doric dialect of northeast Scotland that doesn't quite translate to English: a "fly cup" is a quick, friendly cup of tea or coffee, usually with a sweet treat alongside. But it means more than that. It's about pausing, connecting, and feeling at home. When Louise Jolley moved from Aberdeen, Scotland to Fredericksburg, she brought that tradition with her, and it became the heartbeat of her downtown boutique, FLYKUP.

Here's what makes it special:

Shopping here isn't meant to feel transactional or rushed. It's meant to feel like sitting down with a friend. For neighbors who love discovering unique, locally owned shops with real personality behind them, FLYKUP is worth seeking out.

Stop in, settle in, and let Louise pour you a fly cup. Visit FLYKUP in downtown Fredericksburg or explore the online shop, and bring a little bit of Scotland home with you.

810 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA | flykup.com