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Northern Virginia

TRAVEL GUIDE

Northern Virginia

TRAVEL GUIDE

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern Virginia. This border region—which originally contributed some of the land to create D.C.—is chockablock with historical references and diverse cultural experiences. Some of the greatest presidents used D.C.'s southern neighbor for their own plantation homes. (George Washington’s grand home Mount Vernon is a star attraction.) An influx of immigration has also brought an exciting variety of cuisines and a growing population of young professionals has housing complexes and food and drink options on the rise.

Traffic between the District and Northern Virginia goes both ways (each way slowly). Nearby areas have grown significantly in the r... Read More

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern Virginia. This border region—which originally contributed some of the land to create D.C.—is chockablock with historical references and diverse cultural experiences. Some of the greatest presidents used D.C.'s southern neighbor for their own plantation homes. (George Washington’s grand home Mount Vernon is a star attraction.) An influx of immigration has also brought an exciting variety of cuisines and a growing population of young professionals has housing complexes and food and drink options on the rise.

Traffic between the District and Northern Virginia goes both ways (each way slowly). Nearby areas have grown significantly in the recent past and have modern housing, government, and office buildings. Expansion west toward Dulles International Airport has been particularly massive, especially along the toll road to the airport and the in-progress Silver Line of the Metro. Because of their proximity to D.C., many residents consider themselves Washingtonians, though some Washingtonians think otherwise.

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Language

English

Nearby Airports

MNZ

Electrical Outlets

120 V/60Hz; Type A plugs have two flat prongs. Type B plugs have the same two flat prongs with a third round prong; together the three form a triangular shape.

Currency

US Dollar

Language

English

Electrical Outlets

120 V/60Hz; Type A plugs have two flat prongs. Type B plugs have the same two flat prongs with a third round prong; together the three form a triangular shape.

Currency

US Dollar

Nearby Airports

MNZ

Expect muggy weather if visiting in the summer months. Winter can be mild; it can also get extremely cold and beautifully snowy. Still, spring...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Northern Virginia with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

Expect muggy weather if visiting in the summer months. Winter can be mild; it can also get extremely cold and beautifully snowy. Still, spring...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Northern Virginia with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

Expect muggy weather if visiting in the summer months. Winter can be mild; it can also get extremely cold and beautifully snowy. Still, spring...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Northern Virginia with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

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Fodor's Washington, D.C.: with Mount Vernon and Alexandria
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