always relaxing to walk through the gardens! summer 2026…read moreexhibit earth and sky sculptures by marguerite elliot

Best ever ! Art , Music, hiking and more !…read more Well kept trails filled with plants , sculptures and views. MSV at Night shows are awesome not to mention the many beautiful acres to explore. It's always a pleasure to visit and see what is new. Become a member and support the Museum- it has many perks and is well worth it.

The Haymarket Museum is housed in a small, historic building that I believe was originally built…read moreback in the 1880s. Originally, back in the day, it was used as a schoolhouse. In the modern era, as a Museum, it is used to chronicle the history of the Town of Haymarket - from as far back as 1760 or so. It's also used as a public space from time-to-time for electoral and civic purposes. For example - a couple of years ago - it was open for folks to cast absentee votes in a Presidential election - for folks that would not be in town during the election. I ended up standing in line here to cast my absentee vote. The Museum is currently closed but will reopen in the Spring of 2011. Gorgeous little building right off Route 55 - worth stopping in for a visit!

Heads up: Graffiti House is only open from noon to 4p on Saturdays. Sign on the front says those…read morehours will be in place through Dec 2026

It's only open every other Saturday seasonally, but it was a really unique and interesting Civil…read moreWar site - featuring graffiti. It delivers what it promises. This seemed pretty common for troops to occupy houses on their travels and doodle on the walls, but this was a lucky example to preserve it behind paint which was discovered in time for it to avoid demolishion. Some graffiti is better preserved/readable than others, but it is a recent site to be opened to the public, so it's a work in progress. It's interesting to think of the young men who strolled through here 150 years ago. There was a knowledgeable guide who walked us through a few rooms pointing to some of the writing, a small exhibit, and a small gift shop. It's free, but since it's all volunteers, we gave a donation. It won't take very long to go through, but it's a cool historical site to visit in the area.

Oatlands is a beautiful house that merges the history of the 18th-century Carter owners and the…read more20th-century Eustises, who donated the house to the public. The house was beautifully decorated at the holidays. The tour guide seemed not to like or want to focus on the history of the house or the objects inside unless asked. It felt like she was bringing a lot of personal biases to her perspective, which made the experience a lot less enjoyable than it could have been otherwise. She took us through the first-floor rooms and then announced the top floor is self-guided only. At the admission price, that detracted from it being a better experience. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is the new manager of the site, and they bring a historical interpretation to the site that some visitors may not find as valuable as the tours given by the previous volunteer staff. There is a garden, a greenhouse, and a nice-sized gift shop. It's a beautiful house, and I did like getting some information on the inhabitants and the long history of the property. The presentation itself needed improvement, but the site was worth preserving.

I wasn't going to rate the Oatlands because we attended the Stage Coach Theater at the Oatlands but…read moreI believe it also deserved to be rated! The road down to the main building was not paved, very long and bumpy. Once you arrive to where you're ready to park there really aren't any signs directing you of where to go so we went up to someone at the big building and asked if we were at the right place to which they confirmed we were. I would suggest a larger sign on the main road stating that the entrance is coming up rather than right at the entrance. There was a very cute store inside which would have been very nice to shop at but there was only one person working the pay line which was also full of people buying drinks and cocktails. I highly suggest at least 2 people working that area in the beginning when people are arriving and definitely at intermission. We would have purchased more if we were able to get in line, purchase our items, and be back in time but we didn't think we would make it back in time. Also, when leaving any event, PLEASE be very careful. There weren't any lights leading away from the building to the parking lot which was pretty scary given that it also was not paved or a sidewalk. It was rocks/dirt and we all had to use our phones to leave. This could be dangerous for others that may have more of a difficult time seeing at night.

This is a free exhibit with many things to do on the inside. Some cost aliitle money and some are…read morefree. The imax theater had show ever hour regarding various topics dealing with space and travel. Also. There were simulators to make you think you were out of space. Big planes, small planes, helicopters , missle and rockets. They were upright. In the air and full of wonder. The institute was very handicapped accessible with elevators to boot. We checked all 3 floors. We did not do the Imax since wifey said no. I wanted to do the simulator to feel like an astronaut but did not. Both were affordably priced under $20. There is a small cafeteria to get something to munch on. On our way out, The smell of popcorn burned the roof of our nose. I was all in for popcorn. There is a observatory deck. We saw planes going into Dullies airport. It was a sight for soar eyes. Admission was free but you can donate to the institute to help maintain it and preserve items in it. We had a spectacular good time!

Can't believe no one's rated this yet. AMAZING place if you're an aircraft aficionado. It's got…read moresome legendary aircraft's like the Discovery shuttle, the SR-71 Blackbird, the STOVL model of the X-35B (which is now the F-35 Lightning) including the engines on display, F-14 Tomcat, the Concorde and HUNDREDS of more civilian and military aircrafts & artifacts. Parking is $15 standard and Entry is "FREE" which means you get here at 10 and can spend until 5:30pm any day of the week! There's restaurants, an Airbus IMAX experience and a souvenir shop. Guided tours provided as well which are EXTREMELY informative. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7AJTEZ5TxQeY1q1k8?g_st=ic

Glenstone has been on my shortlist of cultural places to visit for a while! Everything is so…read morebeautiful and engaging to the senses. From the moment you arrive to the walking path, outdoor installations, and the patios and galleries - it is quite the site to see. The team is gracious and helpful if you have questions or would like to learn more about the art. I went on a weekday midday, and I need to go back to take it all in. It got a little hot in the direct sunlight, though each building had umbrellas, which was super helpful. There was plenty of outdoor seating and spaces to reflect and contemplate and just take it all in. I can't wait to go back with my friends and family. I'd love to make it a regular spot - you can accomplish a lot! Reflection, legit exercise :-) art, appreciation, and a yummy meal all at once. Loved it!

This museum is absolutely worth a visit with both friends and family…read more I booked a 1:30 p.m. Sunday entry and arrived about 20 minutes late without any issues. Crowd levels were manageable when I arrived, with only a brief wait to check in, but it was noticeably busier when I left around 3:00 p.m., with about 10 people waiting in line. The experience includes both indoor and outdoor art, so be prepared for a fair amount of walking, including some uphill sections. Plan on spending 2-3 hours if you want to see everything. I also recommend booking tickets at least a couple of weeks in advance. When I visited, all remaining time slots for the day were sold out. Because of the extreme heat, part of the grounds was closed during my visit. The museum provided white umbrellas for sun protection, which I highly recommend, even if you have a hat and sunglasses and the stamina of a horse. Just note that umbrellas are not permitted inside the pavilions or gallery buildings. One thing that could be improved: I found only one water station, and it dispensed warm water. There are benches throughout the property, but much of the outdoor area is unshaded so on hot days you're unlikely to sit for long. The map provided at check-in was very helpful for navigating the grounds. AC is ample in all the buildings including the food venues. My favorite installations were Alex De Corte's exploration of humor, satire, violence, and tenderness through neon installations in The Pavilions and Faith Ringgold's "Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima?" You'll have to check them out for yourself to see why!

Great small museum, rich in local history! I visited the…read moreManassas Museum in downtown Manassas and thought it was a fantastic, bite-sized immersion into the area's past. The museum reopened in 2023 after major renovations, and it feels both fresh and inviting while still honoring its roots. Highlights: Free admission makes it an excellent stop for visitors or locals alike. The museum is compact a few rooms covering settlement, Native American history, railroad development, and the Civil War so you can fully explore in about 30 minutes.

I attended National Night Out!…read more What a great family event! So glad I was about to attend.

I lovely place to visit is you are in this area. The grounds are extensive. You can drive around…read morethe perimeter and stop in designated parking areas, which makes it more manageable to explore all the different parts of the Arboretum in one visit. There is a lively garden near the main building, which was so peaceful to walk through. Wonderful groves of all different kinds of David trees and the bamboo forest should not be missed! It was magical to walk through the tall bamboo.

I was late to enjoying the ginkgo garden but it's still beautiful. The facility was clean and…read moreorganize.