Christine Miller Ford 2016-12-15 05:29:57
Trips for Every Traveler Strolling through Chantilly’s massive National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center puts me up close to thousands of aviation artifacts, including a piece of history that predates Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight. Not long before the Wright Flyer sailed along the Carolina dunes in 1903, Samuel Langley used a catapult to send his colossal "aerodome" into the skies above the Potomac. The idea didn’t fly, but the machine — as well as other treasures like the Space Shuttle Discovery, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the Concorde at the Udvar- Hazy Center — lets visitors to this major Smithsonian museum take in the story of flight from past to present. Paradise Springs Winery History at every turn is a given in Fairfax County, but it’s hardly the sole attraction. If I am in the mood to explore nature, I hike or head off on horseback, bike or kayak, go camping or bird-watching. When I want retail therapy, thousands of stores await my discerning eye. Other times, I set off for DC and its fleet of worldclass museums or grab a few friends for a girlfriend getaway, perhaps while the men in our lives indulge in their own Fairfax County treat — hot lather shaves at the Grooming Lounge at Tysons Galleria. KIDS AND THEIR GROWN-UPS Youngsters can pick up an adventure map and solve puzzles as they explore Mount Vernon, the colonial home of George Washington, or give 18th century agricultural life a test drive at Claude Moore Colonial Farm. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center gives kids the chance to try a flight simulator or take in the latest IMAX spectacle, while DC’s International Spy Museum is the perfect place to sneak away for Operation Secret Slumber and other adventures. Fairfax County is the ideal base camp for a visit to Washington, DC Come summer, water parks are sure to be a splash hit. Among the area's affordable options: Centreville’s Atlantis Waterpark (ancient Greece theme), Pirate’s Cove Waterpark in Lorton (dig for buried treasure or steel yourself beneath a 300-gallon dumping bucket), SplashDown Waterpark in Manassas (cannonball slides and a 770-foot lazy river), Great Waves in Alexandria (a wave pool and four-story water slides) and Reston’s Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole (home to more than an acre of slides, flumes, showers and other fun). Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center DC VISITORS Fairfax County is the ideal base camp for a visit to Washington, DC, putting the capital’s latest exhibitions, shows, famed memorials and iconic architecture right at your fingertips. Must-see museums include the American Art Museum, the Newseum or one of the city’s dozens of other museums and galleries (including 16 other Smithsonian museums), many with free admission. Take a free guided tour or see a show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the banks of the Potomac River. Pay your respects at memorials and monuments to Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, FDR, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. Visit iconic buildings such as Union Station, the National Cathedral, the White House and the U.S. Capitol. GIRLFRIENDS AND GUY FRIENDS Taking a break from everyday life with a sister or two (blood relative or not) might translate into a peaceful night under the stars and a hike at sunrise or a weekend of relaxation and luxury. Start off at a luxe hotel in Tysons Corner for an itinerary of pampering that includes hiring a personal shopper at Tysons Galleria, heading to a spa and getting whisked away to wine country in a limo. For the guys, try hitting up Alexandria’s golf entertainment center Topgolf and then moving on to explore the very short Lorton Beer Trail, featuring Forge Brew Works and Fair Winds Brewing Company. In fact, Fairfax County is chockablock with cool sports bars and brewpubs, such as Mad Fox Brewing Company, Dogfish Head Ale House, Mustang Sally Brewing Company, and Sweetwater Tavern. Other manly options include the National Rifle Association’s National Firearms Museum, also a public shooting range. Great Falls Park OUTDOORSMEN AND WOMEN Thanks to a long tradition of land preservation, Fairfax County has more than 30,000 acres of park lands to explore. Golf, boating, fishing and swimming are just the beginning of the outdoor pastimes enjoyed here. There are hundreds of miles of multi-use trails, including the 41-mile Cross County Trail (or CCT) that connects north and south Fairfax County. Great Falls Park, an entity of the National Park Service, is a must-see for its scenic views, trails and wild rapids. See bald eagles at Mason Neck State Park and Wildlife Refuge and more than 200 species of birds at Huntley Meadows Park. Get out on the Potomac River by way of Pohick Bay Regional Park. Kayaking on the Potomac River WINE CONNOISSEURS While the Northern Virginia area is known for its dozens of wineries hosting tours, tastings and wine-making classes, Fairfax County now serves as the gateway to Virginia’s wine country with two unique vineyards of its own. Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton sits on historic farmland originally deeded from Lord Fairfax in 1716 to ancestors of its current owners and took home the coveted Governor’s Cup in 2010 for its delicious chardonnay. The Winery at Bull Run, located adjacent to the Manassas Battlefield, allows visitors to walk in the Kayaking on the Potomac River footsteps of Civil War soldiers and also features a small museum on site with numerous war relics dug from its very property. Although only a few years old, it has already won a slew of awards for its varietals. Paradise Springs Winery
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