Lovely and interesting house of Lee Fendall - boutique gem right in Alexandria. They offer tours on…read morethe hour. Ours was excellent and walked us through the history of the Lee family in Virginia and subsequent owners. Rooms are appointed with time appropriate pieces. Much of the furniture is gifted from the Lee family. A fascinating way to learn a bit about a family of Henry Lighthorse Lee, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. That family was instrumental in changing the course of history in the United States. George Washington apparently dined here often and they set up a long table in what is now the entryway. Woodrow Wilson also ate here during his presidency. Tours are quite chatty and interesting with lots of opportunities for questions. Cost of entry is seven dollars. Highly recommended for those who want to see something off the beaten track but truly interesting.

What a cool colonial home! We took the tour which covered all the major parts of the house…read more Absolutely beautiful and furnished with pierces from across the time the house was occupied. Many of them have a history of their very own. What really made this tour great though was the docent/ guide we had for our tour. She was incredibly knowledgeable on every aspect of the home from the furnishings to the architecture to the family histories of the owners and building restoration. Very rarely have I had such a knowledgeable guide. She was really impressive. All that to say, if you have a couple hours and you're looking for something to do this is a great little side trip. Well worth the time.

Nothing extravagant. Yet this waterway in between businesses, is at least a reprieve. Occasionally…read moreI'll hike or jog here. Despite the suburban area, the canopy of trees is therapeutic. It feels good to escape even for a few moments. There's a lot of greenery. The paved path is pleasant. Also it's well maintained. There is some wildlife to see, although not too high on the excitement o' meter. I have seen small fish in the artificial pond. Am not certain what species they are. Considering the area, and its proximity to the beltway, glad to be on foot sometimes.

6/11/20 & 6/12/20 Today I start on my path to the Road To…read moreWellville. No, this is not Dr. Kellogg's Wellness Resort. There will eating fifteen gallons of yoghurt (The British spelling of yoghurt. Not the American way of yogurt) either. I don't  need to tell you what Dr. Kellogg's response to Mr. Lightbody was. Anyhow, the first run was hard and painful, but still enjoyable. I could feel my heartbeat thumbing and light sweat breaking out by the time I finished.  I had set some goals, but that didn't work out to well in some areas. I did; however,  make it two times running around the pond without stopping and two times walking.  I will do another run on Sunday. I have figured out yet, on working out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday yet, but I will think of something. Just need to get into a routine. 6/12/20 Today I will try four sets of twenty push ups, squats, crunches and more stretching.  This will be  lighter workout, but something worthy nonetheless.  I am also thinking about lunges too. Maybe over time develope a better stomach and ass than I have now.  Well time is a wasting and I have work to do. Update: Change of plans. I ended up doing an hours worth of Zumba with my wife. I might not have sweated as much as her, but I can feel the workout I was doing. I still having some trouble with Michelle Vo's squats/stomach crunches. I feel I am not doing them right at the speed she is doing them. Nevertheless, I will do it slower so I know I am getting them right. I did 40 pushes with 40 more to go before bed time. I am sore, but feel better.

Pretty little park! Nice to walk and see the well kept grounds and dedication the staff has put…read moreforward to keeping it so beautiful. Photographs also posted on Instagram @3spade7star_photography and Facebook ThreeSpade SevenStar

Green Springs Gardens is one of the most beautiful parks in Fairfax County and North Virginia that…read moreI have ever visited and definitely a hidden gem among all the parks here. The colorful flowers and unique park areas like the glass greenhouse, the secret garden, and the children's library were some of the spectacular highlights in Green Springs Gardens. Admission to this park is free as well. I was impressed by the manicured lawns for picnics, meditation, and community outdoor activities. We walked all of the trails there. I noticed the happy and musical chirping of many birds there. All the flowers were beautiful . I loved the delicate orchids the most in the glass greenhouse. Many nice sitting areas all over the garden to take small breaks from walking. This is one of the finest and a definite go see garden in the DMV area. I will visit this garden again & again.

Located inside the McLean Community Center, this nonprofit arts center has been around for a while…read more All of the works shown here are visual arts (paintings, drawings, and sculpture). This arts center has been functioning since 1962. Most of the artists that participate in the "project" are local or up and coming folks from DC/MD or Virginia. They also offer arts classes for all ages. I went to a arts and crafts fair here a few months ago that was, unfortunately, lame. The artist on display was pretty good though.

The MPA is a great resource for anyone interested in learning how to make art. Teachers are…read moreexcellent and students eager to learn and very commuted to doing so. I feel lucky to live nearby. Devra C Marcus

If you're at all interested in DC history this museum is a must. You will need a reservation as all…read moretours are guided by informed, knowledgeable, professional staff and include a tour of the Catholic Church that's next door.

The museum is inside Casa Italiana Language Center. There are exhibits on several floors. It is…read moreuseful to have a guide. The history is interesting. The exhibits and photos are great. The pottery and statues are beautiful.

This is a fascinating little railroad museum in a lovely tree covered setting at Fairfax Station…read more Originally the 1903 local train station, the building was moved to this site and restored in 1980. Today, the museum is opened on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00, but offers special tours for groups and scouts. Admission is modest ($5) to tour the building. The railroad had historic importance for commerce across North Virginia in the 1850's. During the Civil War, the line was used to bring wounded troops to this location, where they were nursed by Clara Barton. The line also carried supplies. Outside is a 20th century caboose that visitors can look inside. There is also a train car for the 1950s. The parking lot holds about a dozen cars including several handicapped spaces. There are a few picnic tables under the trees to have a snack. The grounds are immaculate and beautiful. This is a great place to bring the kids or you favorite history buff for the afternoon.

Cool free museum from the outside…read more Inside pay a nominal donation for an indoor exhibit. Location: Hidden in Fairfax County VA off Ox Road. Built in 1852; was a depot built by Irish immigrants--Fairfax Station!! Typically, open on the weekends. Mainly Sundays. Check the schedule on the website. For kids -- toy trains to play with inside. Build a toy train track, plenty of toy trains. Parking -- free. With overflow parking across the street.

In addition to the museum at Fort Ward there is also the park. And it is a nifty little park. There…read moreare rifle trenches and bombproofs and historical stuff like that going on. Then there are practical things too, like a 0.6 mile loop paved looped that goes around the park that sees a decent amount of foot traffic - walkers and runners getting some exercise in. They also have pavilions for picnics and an amphitheater. They often have free events at the amphitheater (like a Jazz show over Memorial Day). The park section also has a dog park. According to websites online, the dog park is the grassy area to the east side of the entrance. It is large and semi-fenced. But don't bother to look for signs that specifically designate the dog park area when you are there. I lived close by and was there almost every day and never found any signs that designated the dog park. Regardless, it is a good place to take your dog to play fetch and allow for a nice space to run. Of course you have to trust your dog off leash because it isn't totally fenced and it is right along Braddock Road. There are typically people coming in and out with dogs. Not normally many, but during nice weather, particularly on weekends, the whole outdoor park can get a bit busy with people. There is also free and easy parking access. I recommend the park at Fort Ward as a nice place for a stroll (with our without your dog), a picnic, some relaxing, & enjoying good weather.

I was not too keen at first to be taking a group of 50 odd 8th graders to see a fort. And neither…read morewere they. I was presently surprised! While there isn't much left of the fort walls themselves, they have a good stock of military instruments and displays that are interesting reminders of the struggles our country has faced. And the kids ended up pretending that they were back in the Civil War fighting! =P Its worth the trip out as a nice outing for kids.

This is one of the best kept secrets in Loudoun County. This is a phenomenal place all the way at…read morethe end of Loudoun County Parkway and has numerous walking trails and activities for kids and adults. We hosted an annual picnic here and had a great time. This is highly recommended for morning nature walks and evening relaxation.

It would be a nice place to visit if there was more to see, that admission is not so ridiculously…read morehigh, and the grounds were better kept. We really felt that we're offsetting owners' costs by helping them get a tax break in addition to the shamefully expensive entry fee for tickets for an art festival that was, sadly, not really a festival. Probably less than 10 vendors and only 2 food trucks. No music. No party- or festival-like atmosphere. It just felt like we were walking the grounds of some wealthy people who charged us a ridiculous amount to be there for an hour or two. Bathrooms are in portable trailer, so if you're not a fan of portables, you'll want to hold your bladder. Their 250-year old house of which there was much pride sounded more interesting than the gardens, and a tour of that would have made the visit slightly more of a value. But like others have said, if this was run as a non-profit organization, it may have made the high entrance fees slightly more easy to swallow. I can't see their current business model being a successful one unless only very wealthy people take an interest in visiting, financing, and renting their facilities. They have taken landfill & turned it into a pretty place, but for the average family, it's too expensive and not sufficiently entertaining or educational to make a trek out to visit really worthwhile. BLUF: Skip it unless they put some amazing work into the property, reduce entrance fees significantly, and let the public visit more often.