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Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Alexandria Virgiina Plan your visit: Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Park: Hiking and History in Leesburg Virginia 11. Balls Bluff Battlefield Park, Leesburg Follow the links to learn more and find special events at each site. The emphasis is on history at the Northern Virginia hidden gems below, but many of them also allow outdoor activity. Arrive in style: Great Falls Scenic Drive on Pretty Country Roads in Northern Virginia Historic Northern Virginia Hidden Gems Near the parking area, signs explain details of a historic calvary crossing during the Civil War. In one section visitors can see a historic 1700s stone wall from George Washington’s Patowmack Canal. The riverside Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is especially interesting and scenic. Several pleasant trails criss-cross the woodlands here, leading to the Potomac River. Plan your visit: Hiking and Eagles on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Northern Virginia.Īn entryway of woven branches welcomes hikers, birders, and equestrians to the beautiful woodland and riverside trails at this Northern Virginia hidden gem. Explore more: Fall Foliage in Northern Virginia: Best Fall Colors Near DC 5. Great Marsh Trail, Mason Neck You can also extend your trip with a loop hike on the Run, Ridge and River Trails. Here are some helpful tips for hiking the CCT with links to other trail segments. In fall, foliage colors the banks and reflects in the stream, creating lovely photoshoot locations. The trail is shady and the river offers a place to cool your feet in summer. Our favorite stretch of the CCT follows Difficult Run and enters the eastern section of Great Falls Park before arriving at the Potomac. Along the way, it passes through many of Fairfax County’s best parks and stream valleys.

The trail begins at the Potomac River in the north and ends at the Occoquan River in the south. The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail extends for over 40 miles across Fairfax County. Plan your visit: Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail Hike in Northern Virginia.Ĭross County Trail by Difficult Run, Great Falls Virginia Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail, Woodbridge

Day trip/Getaway Guide: Fun Things to Do in Bluemont Virginia 2. Or check out the eastward view with a craft beer at Dirt Farm Brewing and other Bluemont breweries and wineries. Combine your visit with a stop at nearby Purcellville for tasty dining, shopping, and craft beverages. If you want a longer and more challenging hike to a view, try Raven Rocks just across Route 7. You can also reach the overlook from the day-use area of the Bear's Den hostel. The rocky outcropping offers lots of spots to sit and enjoy lunch or a great sunset view. That western view makes this one of the best places to watch the sunset in Northern VA. Here you can enjoy one of the best views in Northern Virginia, looking west to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. Plan your visit: Bears Den Overlook Hike in Bluemont Virginia: Alternate Routes and Tips.Ī half-mile uphill hike from a parking lot in Bluemont leads to rocky Bear's Den Overlook. These Northern Virginia hidden gems are worth a visit all year long. These beautiful places in Virginia are fun for active outings and include some of our favorite places to take pictures and create memories. We have bays, rivers, and wetlands rolling hills across the Virginia Piedmont and the foothills and peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains to explore. Northern Virginia is a happy place for nature lovers. Have visitors in town? Here are the Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Northern Virginia. Links offer additional information, tips, and photos to help plan your outing. However, many of these destinations include both nature and history.

Our Northern Virginia hidden gems are in two groups: natural gems and history-focused places. But we also love to follow the road less traveled and uncover new local experiences. Popular spots like Great Falls Park and Shenandoah National Park call us back regularly. Our list of great places to visit in Virginia includes fun for the whole family, adult outings, cool photoshoot locations, interesting history, and special sites for every age.Īfter 25 years in the region, we are still surprised by the diversity of places to visit and things to do in Northern Virginia. They're perfect for a local's outing or a day trip for Washington DC visitors. These Northern Virginia hidden gems offer beautiful places, fascinating history, and unique things to do at lesser-known destinations.
