My friend and I are planning on taking a trip to Northern VA for about 2 weeks. Other than all attractions in DC area, are there any places we could go for nice drives or day trips? I love museums, but I would also like to be able to get out and enjoy the nature,do some hiking, or explore some nice little towns. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Winchester is in the Shenadoah Valley and is 90 miles from DC. It has a lovely old town mall and a number of museums and gardens.

That sounds great. I think that might be a good palce to stop for one night.

One of my favorite places to take guests who visit me in Northern Virginia is Shenandoah National Park. My favorite thing is to go Big Meadow Lodge first and sit in the rocking chairs in the Great Room and enjoy the view of the valley. Then, it's lunch in the dining room--not fancy, but good food with more views of the valley through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then, after lunch it's a nice hike to walk off all the calories from lunch. There's a lot of hiking available at or near the lodge for all levels, so check their website or ask for recommendations when you get there.
If you want to go hiking and don't have a whole day to drive to Shenandoah, then drive down I-95 to Prince William Forest Park, only 35 miles from D.C. It's part of the National Park Service and you will never believe that you are so close to "civilization" because it's so quiet and peaceful there. There are picnic facilities here too so we often combine lunch with a 1-2 hour hike. This is near Quantico, so you could combine this with a visit to the new National Marine Corps museum which is excellent.

Don't forget to see Great Falls just Northwest of D.C. It is more accessabile on the Maryland side, but the VA side has its charms. Take U.S. 50 west to Middelburg and have lunch at a crossroads in town center. You know you are in the right building if you have to go down stairs. Pure colonial days to see the big harth as the center piece of this hundred years old bldg. Meander a few of side roads off of Hgw. 50 (south side of 50). Beautiful estates, with imaganitive fences, barns, and wine vingards await you. Then head north to a little heel into Maryland and drive through Purcellville, Hillsboro, Taylorstown, and Loveftsville, one of them has a nice museum and interesting shops.Just into Maryland, Harper's Ferry is worth a visit.

All these places are within an hour or two from the greater DC area, depending where you staying.


http://www.williamsburgpottery.com/

http://www.nps.gov/anti/

http://www.nps.gov/hafe/

http://www.nps.gov/gett/

do you include Geo. Washington's home in your plans? Mt Vernon is a nice place to walk around and has lots of outdoors activities.

Leesburg's downtown is a nice walk!
http://www.leesburgva.com/visitors/

I am partial to Charlottesville/Monticello area but with traffic might be a bit much on the "day trip" idea.

you folks are great!!! Thank you so much for all these suggestions, they are really helpful. I am really looking forward to this trip. We will be there the first two weeks of October, hopefully we will be able to see some colorful leaves there.

Peak color does not arrive in the DC metro area until the end of October, but 50-100 miles west, at higher elevation, there should be glorious color during your visit -- Shenandoah NP or the Harpers Ferry area especially.

You've gotten great suggestions here - I'd just add Monticello - it's in Charlottesville, and the drive there is nice, and it's beautiful there. We never take the main highways, we go the smaller highways to see more local interest. Also, not sure if you include it in DC, but Arlington Cemetary is really amazing... One thing we did in DC just this past spring was take the Trolley Car in DC (one of those jump on/jump off companies). There are a ton of them - but that really is the best way to see DC.... Also - not that long a drive from DC - the Maryland shore. You could go to Annapolis, or down to the quieter part of the shore - Solomon's Island - BEST DERN CRABS in the country.... If you go to Solomon's Island - definitely eat at Stoney's..... I live in NoVA - and there really are alot of gorgeous places to see.... Oh - one more - kind of a drive, but you might add it to some of the other things mentioned - the Natural Bridge. It's in the western part of the state - you might include it with Luray Caverns (another one of my favorite places)..... Have a great time - that's a good time to come here!!!

Thanks, Debi. Arlington Cemetary is definitely on my list. And I like your other suggestions as well, they all sound great to me. I am usre this is going to be a wonderful trip.

If you are coming in October, definitely Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway. It's gorgeous. Harpers Ferry is fun and worth the short trek to West Virginia, but I drive through all of the other towns mentioned here on a regular basis and do not agree that there is much to see or that these towns provide a reason to stop. But the side roads can be nice to drive on -- a number of which are still unpaved. The only exceptions are Leesburg and Middleburg, which both have some shops in the old town section. Route 50 from Aldie to 340 is a pretty drive. Near Dulles Airport is the fairly new airplane museum. There are also houses (Morven Park, Oatlands Plantation, Sully Plantation). In the other direction, Williamsburg could be an overnight option. Lots to see in that area -- Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Jamestown River plantations. As mentioned, Monticello is also a nice day trip. I'm not a fan of Winchester, and never felt the urge to stop while driving through.

Fredericksburg is a magical colonial town south of D.C. steeped in tradition.

How about a hot air balloon over the Shenandoah Valley? It leaves from Woodstock, VA exit 283 on I-81.

Contact Valley Ballooning 540-975-0192.