Heather Boynton 2016-12-30 00:20:48
Historic, natural, artistic, inventive and — shopping! Don’t miss these popular Fairfax County gems. 1 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON: This Neoclassical Georgian-style estate was the home of George Washington, our nation’s first president. Historical significance times two: It was also one of the first National Landmarks ever designated. 2 NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER: Opened in 2003, this Smithsonian museum houses more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft on display, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and the SR-71 Blackbird. 3 GREAT FALLS PARK: The Potomac River is anything but placid in this 800-acre park owned by the National Park Service. Named for its pounding waterfalls, Great Falls is situated along one of the river’s most dramatic stretches. 4 TYSONS CORNER SHOPPING: Some of the best shopping on the East Coast is located here, from the massive number of stores in Tysons Corner Center to the upscale Tysons Galleria and The Shops at Fairfax Square. 5 VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR TRAILS: The nation’s capital was surrounded by enemy territory in 1861 when Virginia seceded, and the footprints of the Blue and Gray are remembered throughout Fairfax County. The trails run through hotly contested territory, including the site of the first large battle of the war at Manassas/Bull Run, where a second battle was fought on almost the same ground a year later. Nearby, see the site where the battle at Ox Hill/Chantilly was fought. 6 WOLF TRAP: The country’s only National Park for the performing arts includes casual and pavilion outdoor performance space. Highlights include the majestic Filene Center, the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, Wolf Trap Opera Company and The Barns at Wolf Trap. 7 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS: This venue hosts world-class performances from distinguished artists and performers as part of the university’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. 8 WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER AT LORTON: The Workhouse is a thriving world-class center for the arts that provides an interactive cultural arts experience while preserving the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the former Occoquan Workhouse Prison. Guests can visit more than 65 local and international artists in their studios and view their work, participate in art classes, attend festivals and musical/theater performances, tour the grounds, learn the history of the Workhouse, and purchase one-of-a-kind gifts. 9 CLAUDE MOORE COLONIAL FARM: This 18th-century farm offers a hands-on, living-history look into life on a working-class farm before the American Revolution. b An 18th-century, Georgian-style mansion, Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, the author of Virginia’s Declaration of Rights. 10 GEORGE MASON’S GUNSTON HALL: An 18th-century, Georgian-style mansion, Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, the author of Virginia’s Declaration of Rights. FOR MORE INFORMATION on these and other great area attractions, visit www.fxva.com/things-to-do.
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