Fun facts about Northern Virginia

The Northern Virginia region is located just west and south of Washington D.C. Often referred to as "NoVa", the area consists of several counties and cities, and it is a region rich with historic value and beautiful landscape. Northern Virginia was a key region in both the Revolutionary and Civil War eras and many prestigious Americans hailed from Northern Virginia.

In modern times, the area is booming in terms of growth and its residents reflect a diversity of different backgrounds; in 2011 the population of Northern Virginia was just over 30 percent for the entire state. Many companies have offices in the region and are contracted to help support government and military operations and initiatives. 

Northern Virginia is also home to many historic museums, plantations, grand homes, parks, landmarks, architecture and places of interest, including Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, Mount Vernon, Carlyle House, and Oatlands, to name a few.

Arlington House, once home to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, is located in Arlington Cemetery

Fun Facts about Northern Virginia

• Fairfax County has a population of over 1 million residents, and its population is bigger than a few states. It also boasts some of the top public schools in the nation.  

• Old Town Alexandria is one of America's oldest cities and many original structures remain for visitors to tour and enjoy. In the 1700s Alexandria was a part of Washington D.C., but in 1847 was returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  

• The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary in Old Town Alexandria opened in 1792 and continuously was operated by the same family until 1933 when the Depression hit and the business was forced to close its doors. Today it is a museum. Martha Washington was a customer and her order is on display.

If you visit Old Town Alexandria, I highly recommend touring the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary

• Northern Virginia is the largest sub-region within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan region.

• George Washington and Robert E. Lee were both parishioners of Christ Church in Alexandria.

Still an active parish, visitors can also tour Christ Church

• Woodlawn Plantation was originally a part of Mount Vernon, but was given to George Washington's nephew and his new bride. Today visitors can tour this historic grand home.

• George Mason, who penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights, resided in Northern Virginia on a plantation called Gunston Hall. This declaration influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (France).

• Each September Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, hosts an annual 18th-century craft fair full of crafts, living history, authentic 18th-century entertainment and a visit from President Washington himself.

• The National Air & Space Museum has a second museum located in Chantilly, Va. It houses the Shuttle Discovery. When NASA retired the Discovery, she was flown in atop of a Boeing 747.

This was an amazing sight. I got so excited I dropped my video camera the first time she flew over but managed to get this distant shot.

• The key to the Bastille hangs on a wall at Mount Vernon where Washington placed it. It was given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette.

• In Virginia, the Orange Metro line goes as far west as Vienna and the Blue train goes as far south as Springfield, Va. A new Metro line, called the Silver Line was opened in summer 2013 and runs partially through NoVa; in time this rail will be extended out to Dulles International Airport.

• As you go further west, despite the massive building going on in NoVa, there are still lots of farms to the west and south. One of my favorite times of the year is spring, which means time for the tulip festival at Burnside Farms (more photos of this event on my photography blog).

Taken during a 2013 visit to Burnside Farm

I hope you enjoyed some of these fun facts about Northern Virginia. Thank you for visiting! 

If you'd like to learn more about this historic region, upcoming events, and specific sites, you can receive new posts right to your inbox. You can sign up in the field to the right of this post (email addresses are never shared or sold).

Related article: Fun facts about Washington D.C.

Fun facts about Washington DC

Washington D.C. is a city full of history and culture, not to mention wonderful architecture. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. Each year millions of visitors travel to the District of Columbia to take in the sites and explore all this dynamic city has to offer. I moved here more than a decade ago and am still discovering new things about the region all the time.

I thought the blue skies and puffy clouds looked stunning over the Capitol when I took this photo

Some fun facts about Washington D.C.

Did you know....

• Every year the National Cherry Festival is held in Washington D.C. In 1912 a gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo was given to the city of Washington, D.C. The festival lasts for two weeks (in recent years this has varied) and celebrates the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. 

The Cherry Blossom Festival is one of my favorite times of the year in this region

• George Washington never lived in the White House. President Washington oversaw the construction of the grand house, but John Adams was the first President to actually occupy the presidential residence.

• Ford's Theatre is the location where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It is run by the National Park Service and receives nearly 1 million visitors per year. Did you know it is also a working theatre? Every year it puts on several professional productions during its season.

• The Old Post Office was almost razed, not once, but twice. The Trump Organization purchased a 60-year lease and plans to transform this building into a luxury hotel sometime before 2016.

• Georgetown is D.C.'s oldest neighborhood and was in existence before Washington D.C. was built in 1751. Georgetown became a part of the District in 1791. 

• The World War II Memorial was dedicated in May 2004. It was built on the site formerly known as the "Rainbow Pool".

• Washington D.C. is home to six professional major sports teams, Nationals (baseball), Wizards (basketball), Mystics (women's basketball), Redskins (football) and Capitols (hockey) and DC United (soccer). Note: There are many other prominent teams in D.C. and surrounding suburbs but these six are on the "major league" pro level.

Go Nats! (I'm a baseball fan)

• In 2017, 693,972 people called Washington D.C. home.

• Washington D.C. houses much of the Smithsonian Institute, a network comprised of 19 museums including the National Zoo (some of the museums are located in New York City).

• Speaking of the National Zoo, a baby giant panda was born in Washington in 2013. Her name is Bao Bao.

• The National Museum of National History houses a cool Butterfly Pavilion (free on Tuesdays while tickets last!)

You can get "up close and personal" with the butterflies

• The area around the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin used to be a beach from 1917 to 1925.

These are only a few fun facts about Washington D.C. There is truly a lot to experience in this wonderful city.

Thanks for reading! If you'd like to learn more about this historic region and/or upcoming events, I invite you to sign up in the field to the right of this post to have new posts delivered right to your inbox (email addresses are never shared or sold). 

6Several areas of DC are said to be haunted, including the White House.

Happy New Year from the Washington DC Metro Area

Happy New Year!

Thank you for visiting my blog throughout the year. This was my first time dipping back into the blogging pools since late 2009, maybe early 2010. In 2014, I decided to come back with this new blog. It has been a fun adventure and a real (re)learning curve for me. 

I have appreciated every visit I've received. Thank you, and I am looking forward to sharing more photos and information about this wonderful region next year (I personally am excited about making my annual journey to see the cherry blossoms downtown!)

Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy New Year! 

Reasons to visit Winchester, Virginia

Winchester is a city I've driven through a few times, but it was usually en route to another place. Earlier in the month, we decided to make a trip to explore Winchester specifically. Turns out there is quite a bit to see. Unfortunately, it down-poured the day of our visit so we didn’t get to see everything we would have liked to but still saw a few places. It was enough to whet my appetite to want to see more. Would definitely love to make another visit, probably in the warmer months. 

In the meantime, here are some reasons we found to visit Winchester:

Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

I loved this museum! If you enjoy history, architecture, and learning about the Civil War, this museum has it all. A 19th-century courthouse that was active well into the 20th century, it served not only as a legal hub but also as a Civil War hospital. Due to Winchester's proximity in the northern region of Virginia, the building (and city) changed hands numerous times during the war. 

On the first floor is the old court itself. Parts of the structure are original, the rest reconstructed (wood was burned during the war) to look the way it would have. What was interesting to note was the way the court was structured, the positioning of those involved in trials was very different than what you'd see today.

The platform here is actually raised off the main floor. During the 19th century, the witness sat in the solo chair, the jury faced the witness and the plaintiff/defense sat behind the witness, possibly even sharing a table. The judge sat in front of that large window behind the jury's bench.

The second floor contains a lot of graffiti from Civil War soldiers. There is also an extensive collection of war memorabilia and relics on display. Kids will probably love the fact they can pull the rope and ring the court's bell.

Civil War era graffiti

Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum

This museum was intriguing. It is a house Stonewall Jackson used as his office during the Civil War. I love old houses, so right there is a plus for me, but if you love history, particularly the Civil War era, this is a good place to see. You'll probably learn some not-so-known information during your tour. I visited during December during the seasonal and festive open house candlelight tours and it was a bit busy. This is one museum I'd like to go back to and take the regular tour.

The exterior of Jackson's headquarters in Winchester. He used the left front room as his office.

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

A true gem with a lot to see. You can easily spend a few hours in this museum alone. There are plenty of art and history exhibits, even miniature (elaborate) homes. Additionally, there are some special exhibits. On my visit, there was an exhibit called, "Second Time Around: Hubcaps as Art" and another exhibit showcasing food safes made in the Shenandoah Valley.

Exhibit at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

George Washington's Office Museum

A small museum, but right in the center of town and easily accessible. This museum highlights where George Washington spent time during the Revolutionary War, it was close to a nearby fort in Winchester and the perfect location. The structure is interesting.

The historic district in the city looked like it had a number of interesting historical sites, architecture, and shopping, I look forward to my return trip (hopefully on a sunny day!)

5 great day trips from Washington DC

There are so many interesting things to see and do in Washington DC and the surrounding suburbs, however do you ever just want to put some miles between you and the city (or the traffic!) and take a great day trip?  One nice thing about living in the DC Metro area is the easy access to other great landmarks and attractions. Many of these are only an hour or two away and make great day or overnight trips.

Here are some of my top picks:

1. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

If you love history, outdoor recreation and nature, this is the perfect spot as it has it all. The National Park Service (NPS) runs the park itself, and there is plenty to do within the park's borders. Not to mention all of the activities in the area surrounding the park (we love to go tubing in the summer!).

Once in the park, you'll hop on a bus (or you can walk if you're up for the adventure - it's a little over 1.5 miles, but one section is pretty steep) to the bottom of the hill where lower town is. 

Lots to see and do in Lower Town, including ranger tours

Regardless of how you get to the bottom of the hill, there is a lot to explore in both lower and upper town. It's about 90 minutes from DC. From Fairfax it takes me about an hour.

[ Related reading: Great day trips from DC: Harpers Ferry, W.V. ]

I was standing near the rail towards the rivers/Maryland border and looked back on lower town

 

2. Fredericksburg, Va.

Located about an hour south of the District, Fredericksburg is a great city to poke around. Not to mention, a very walk-able city. There is plenty of history, architecture and shopping, to name a few things to do. Great eateries too. We've taken a few day trips there (once spending a weekend) and really enjoy exploring the city and visiting many of the attractions. If you visit at night, check out the local ghost tour schedule, if it coincides with the season, it's a fabulous tour. We've also visited Chatham Manor, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, Mary Washington House, Kenmore. James Madison Law Museum and the Rising Sun Tavern, to name a few. On the overnight, we stayed at the historic Richard Johnston Inn and had a lovely stay. 

Lovely interior in Kenmore, the home of George Washington's sister. At the time of my visit the paintings and furniture were removed during renovations and photos were allowed to be taken inside. That is not the case now.

 

3. Caverns

These are a little further out from Washington DC proper, but easily accessible off the Interstates. Out to the west are a number of different caverns. I know of at least four - Skyline, Luray, Shenandoah and Endless (and more the further south you go on I-81), of these four the only one we've yet to see is Endless, but it's on our list. Cavern tours are generally about an hour long. Each cavern has something distinct of its own to share and most of them have other attractions on the property or other nearby attractions to make it a fun-filled day. These are all about 90 minutes to 2 hours away from the District, depending on where your starting point is. 

Taken during a day trip to Luray Caverns in 2009

(Related: My post about visiting Skyline Caverns)

4. Monticello, Michie Tavern and Highland

This might make a better overnight trip, but it can be done in a day if you're up for the 2 hour+ trip each way. However long you decide to stay, it's worth a visit. Monticello is the home of Thomas Jefferson and there is plenty to see on including the home, expansive property and museum. I've been there twice and spent several hours there. You can easily spend the whole day.

 

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (side view)

Highland is the home of James Monroe and is located very close in proximity to Monticello (formerly "Ash-Lawn Highland" previously named after two owners is now simply "Highland" after Monroe's name for the property). If you travel all this way, it's worth it to see both. Touring Highland doesn't need much time, even an hour to 90 minutes is enough to see most everything. Also, the historic Michie Tavern is nearby - you can tour the old tavern and have lunch at the restaurant. They only are open limited hours for lunch, currently 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We stopped in during our last visit to the presidential homes and found the food to be excellent. (Note: We've eaten there several times since this post was first written and always a good experience).

(Related: My post about Highland)

 

5. Antietam National Battlefield

This trip takes you to Sharpsburg, Maryland. It's about a 90-minute trip from DC/Northern Virginia. This is the site where one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place. You can tour the battlefield by car or on foot (we usually do a combination of both). It is a full day trip. There are some nice restaurants to eat in town.

Taken during a day trip to Antietam in July 2014

There are truly many more great day trips aside from these five. I'll be writing about more of them in the upcoming months. As an aside, there are also many other places on my "to go" list which include exploring other areas of Maryland including Baltimore, Frederick, Annapolis and the shore points.

Related reading: Fun day trips from DC: Terrapin Nature Center, Md.  

What are your favorite day trips from the D.C. region?

Still time to check out 2014 season Bull Run Festival of Lights

Instead of my usual Photos on Friday, since the year is almost done, I decided to do a post on one of the events we went to this year, but didn't have time to write about earlier. 

Now that the holidays have arrived, the kids are off school and many of you are probably taking a few days off. If you're looking for something to do, the Bull Run Festival of Lights is still running through January 4.

We decided to do this last weekend and had a great time. The cost is $20 for weekends though, so it is a bit less if you want to get a discount and go Monday through Thursday (there is advertised coupon (pdf) off the weekday admission). 

The trip takes about 30 minutes from beginning of the festival to the end where you'll find the carnival entrance. Here are some highlights from our ride this year through the park -

"Winter Wonderland" was my favorite segment - my photo honestly doesn't do justice how beautiful the "falling snow" looked.

There is also a carnival too. We only stayed a few minutes there, but the kids had fun coloring holiday sheets and roasting a couple of marshmallows over the fire. There are also regular carnival rides, a photo-op with Santa tent and camel rides, we only took a peek at these.

The week of Christmas is busy time though. Last year we tried on Christmas night and the line was backed up at least 3 miles so we drove around some local neighborhoods instead. This year we decided to go early, at about 5 p.m. (gates open around 5:30 p.m.), and had just a short wait.  

Carnival entrance

 For more information and directions to Bull Run Park see the official website.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Northern Virginia!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy Holiday season!

All the best,
Leigh

A few scenes spotted in Fairfax County over the years -