2019-12-06 14:03:27
Into great wine and craft beer? Planning a weekend with the guys or girls? Or maybe Fairfax County is your convenient home base for a tour of our nation’s capital – Washington, DC – as it should be! These suggested itineraries will get you out and about to explore the area. FAMILY FUN TOUR After you’ve introduced your children to the history of Mount Vernon and the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, cut loose at these attractions that ramp up the fun factor. Here’s where you and the little ones can have a ball around Fairfax County: For the young and young-at-heart, enjoy a high-ropes course or zip-line adventure at GO APE! ZIP LINE & TREETOP ADVENTURE or for groups, a rope-climbing challenge at ADVENTURE LINKS. Each spring, meet other “young families” of goats, pigs and monkeys at FRYING PAN FARM PARK or ROER’S ZOOFARI. Make a splash at one of Fairfax County’s popular outdoor waterparks: WATER MINE FAMILY SWIMMIN’ HOLE in Reston, PIRATE’S COVE WATERPARK in Lorton or ATLANTIS WATER PARK AT BULL RUN in Centreville. Don’t forget the area’s many bowling alleys and entertainment centers, including SHADOWLAND LASER ADVENTURES and its new THE DARK TOWER mini-golf course. Or for something very different, let the kids play a round of FOOTGOLF AT PINECREST GOLF COURSE. It involves kicking a soccer ball around a golf course. And it’s a blast! COMMEMORATIVE HISTORY TOUR The year 2020 is a big one for history in both Fairfax County and America. Whether you’re intrigued by the suffrage movement and the fight for women’s voting equality, or want to dig a bit deeper into the area’s military history, here are two ways to explore those roots: WOMEN’S HISTORY Learn the full story of the women’s suffrage movement at the new, nationally significant TURNING POINT SUFFRAGIST MEMORIAL (opening late summer 2020) at Occoquan Regional Park. Put yourself in the shoes of the “Silent Sentinels” who picketed at the White House in 1917 and were imprisoned at the reformatory that is now the Workhouse Arts Center. Visit the site’s LUCY BURNS MUSEUM (opening 2020) to hear their stories. See the original U.S. Constitution and 19th Amendment at the NATIONAL ARCHIVES. While there, don’t miss special exhibits and events highlighting the suffragists. Retrace the stories of many women who fought for the right to vote for nearly seven decades at a special exhibit at the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Several other sites in nearby Washington, DC have special exhibits and events highlighting this key centennial year, including the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, DAR CONSTITUTION HALL and the BELMONT-PAUL WOMEN’S EQUALITY MONUMENT. MILITARY HISTORY Dive into the U.S. Army’s comprehensive history at the new NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY (opening summer 2020). This is the Army’s first official museum in its nearly 245-year existence. Explore Northern Virginia’s deep ties to the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR at various battlefields, museums and memorials in the region. Learn about George Washington as Major General of the Continental Army at his beloved estate, MOUNT VERNON. Step into his shoes by making your own decisions about battle tactics in the “Be Washington” experience. Hot tip: Purple Heart recipients always receive free daytime admission. Stand amid some of the most famous and heroic pieces of wartime aviation in history at the SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER. Pay tribute to the sacrifices of those who fought for this country at some of Virginia and Washington, DC’s most significant MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS. WASHINGTON, DC TOUR The monuments and memorials that attract millions to our nation’s capital each year are just minutes away from Fairfax County. Anchor your stay here, but venture into Washington, DC for these monumental experiences: Home to the legislative branch of the American government, the U.S. CAPITOL’s dome rises up over the city as a symbol of freedom. Tours to this inspiring architectural example are available free on a first-come, first-serve basis. An experience not to be missed, you can also contact your local member of Congress in advance to arrange a tour of THE WHITE HOUSE. Don’t miss the majestic white marble memorials that pay tribute to the American heroes who shaped our history. Standing on the steps of the LINCOLN MEMORIAL, at the exact spot where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, you’ll feel the impact that these leaders had on our nation’s story. The world-famous group of SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS preserve our heritage while helping visitors discover new knowledge about our past. From art and history to architecture and the American experience, some of the Smithsonian’s 18 museums and galleries should be must-sees on your list. Washington, DC pays tribute to our nation’s history like no other place, and most attractions are absolutely free. But from the WWII MEMORIAL honoring the 16 million Americans who served to the haunting VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL listing the names of the 58,000+ Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice, moving military memorials are a lasting reminder that “freedom is not free.” Lovers of art can choose from some of the world’s most-famous collections and galleries, including the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART and the HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN. Or if theater, music, opera or ballet is more your scene, take in an unforgettable performance at the KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. WINERY & BREWERY TOUR Sip and savor your way through Virginia wine country – and some of the area’s top breweries, too – on this tasty tasting tour: Fairfax County is the gateway to Northern Virginia’s nationally regarded wine country, which offers more than 80 nearby wineries – some of which are also historic landmarks located in pastoral surroundings. Make your first stop at Fairfax County’s first winery: PARADISE SPRINGS WINERY in Clifton. The property was originally part of a land grant from Lord Fairfax in 1716 and features an 1800s log cabin on its grounds. In nearby Centreville, THE WINERY AT BULL RUN sits on 225 scenic acres next to Manassas National Battlefield Park and an equestrian farm. The largest working farm in Fairfax County features buildings representing the two types of historic barns in Northern Virginia, along with indoor and outdoor tasting areas. Area breweries are also tapping into the craft beer market with locally made brews that are racking up rave reviews. In Reston, nano-brewery LAKE ANNE BREW HOUSE serves a selection of hand-crafted beers overlooking its gorgeous namesake lake. Belly up to the bar at FAIR WINDS BREWING CO.’s taproom to taste a pint or two from Washington City Paper’s “Best Local Brewery” two years running. ONO BREWING COMPANY features an expansive tasting room in Chantilly, but it’s the self-serve beer wall – and Odd BBQ served onsite – that guests toast even more. ASLIN BEER COMPANY is a startup in Herndon offering pick-ups of their famous cans, while CABOOSE BREWING CO. in Vienna has opened a second location serving great food, beer and coffee in the Mosaic District. BIKE LANE BREWING is part brewery, part café and part bike shop, and is situated adjacent to the W&OD Bike Trail in Reston, while Chantilly’s MUSTANG SALLY BREWING COMPANY crafts beer inspired by Old World traditions. The newest brewery in Merrifield is SETTLE DOWN EASY BREWING CO., offering music, a taco bar and handcrafted beers. Create your own “Tour de Pour” using the FAIRFAX COUNTY BREWERIES FIELD GUIDE. Pick up yours at any of the county’s breweries. SMALL-TOWN Charm Fairfax County is also home to a variety of charming small towns and neighborhoods, each offering their own vibe and unique experiences. From local boutiques and independent cafés to period architecture and a thriving arts scene, be sure to explore the neighborhoods of Fairfax County at FXVA.com/neighborhoods! Find more suggested Fairfax County itineraries at FXVA.com/plan-your-trip
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