CONNECT WITH BEYOND FAIRFAX (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. Association’s National Firearms Museum, also a public shooting range. 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 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 Great Falls Park 38 www.fxva.com
Fairfax County Official Visitors Guide 2017: Page 38
