Leesburg, Virginia, one of the many towns that make up Loudoun County, is a beautiful and historical town in Northern Virginia that has so much to offer. Whether you are interested in a long weekend getaway to enjoy some great wine while listening to some acoustic live music or you are looking to burn some calories hiking the Appalachian Trail or biking the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, Loudoun County is the place to be. Perhaps you would rather take a stroll down a historical downtown popping in and out of some unique shops, grabbing a bite to eat in one of the many great restaurants in the area, and washing down that meal with a drink in an adjacent bar or brewery afterward…again, Loudoun County is the place to be. Or just maybe you are looking for a place to enjoy a gorgeous sunset against the mountains … yup, you guessed it…Loudoun County is the place to be. I thoroughly enjoyed my 8 month stay in this gorgeous part of the country. Never have I been anywhere in which modern conveniences and a whole array of entertainment possibilities abound, amidst so much beauty and tranquility of the rolling hills of Northern Virginia. This is an area where you can have a weekend of action or a weekend in which you take life a little slower and appreciate the relaxation and beauty of your surroundings. Your pick! Let me give you an idea of what that looks like.
If shopping and dining is what you are after, Leesburg, Virginia offers three notable areas to focus your attention – downtown on King Street and the surrounding area, the Village at Leesburg, and the Leesburg Premium Outlets. On King Street, you will find a number of unique gift shops, coffee shops, Mocatinas for some fresh and festive Macarons, a number of bars, breweries, and several restaurants. Two standout restaurants are the King Street Oyster Bar and Shoe’s Cup and Cork (highly recommend taking a walk upstairs and looking around at the memorabilia adorning the walls, as well as the back patio for drinks and dining referred to as “Shoe’s Secret Garden”, reachable by a long outside alleyway). You could spend hours on King Street alone.
The Village at Leesburg is a modern dining and shopping venue that offers not only some shops, but also an upscale italian restaurant known as Travinia Italian Kitchen, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Rita’s Italian Ice, a food and brew hall, bowling, movie theater, as well as outdoor live music on the plaza in the summer (outside Rita’s) on Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to all of that, you can purchase a drink to go at one of the participating restaurants surrounding the plaza, allowing you to sip and stroll or to just enjoy while relaxing with friends at the Fire & Water Fountain. This is a fun and festive place to be on a Friday or Saturday evening.
Leesburg Premium Outlets is a shopping destination just a few miles away from downtown. All the big name outlet stores can be found in this one location and if you play your cards right, you may walk away with some deals.
Additionally, in nearby Ashburn, Virginia is a place known as One Loudoun. One Loudoun is a shopping and dining district that extends several city blocks. This area has several shops, restaurants, a park with outside seating, as well as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. If you have never been to an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, you are in for a real treat. Not only do you get to watch a blockbuster movie, but a waiter delivers you your food and drink order that you either placed through the website or by filling out a sheet in front of you at your seat. This is not just your run of the mill popcorn, soda and candy movie experience. Although you can get that, you are able to order a delicious meal and cocktail, as an alternative to the usual. I had a thick and juicy Black & Blue gourmet burger and fries, with a boozy milkshake (bourbon banana split). What a cool opportunity to take in a movie and dine out simultaneously.
Alternatively, for the laid back relaxing weekend in Loudoun County….how about a morning stroll on the W&OD Trail, which is 45 miles long extending from the Shirlington Park trailhead in Arlington (just over the river from DC) all the way through Loudoun County and ending in Purcellville, Virginia. Pick a point and walk a few miles. In the last 10 – 15 miles toward Purcellville, you will occasionally notice horseback riders. This trail has not only the paved path for walkers and bikers, but a sand and gravel path alongside it for horses. There are a few notable businesses that are worth a visit at the Purcellville end of the W&OD Trail. If you walk or bike ride into Purcellville from this trail, you will see directly across from you a very cool bakery called Sweet Rose Bakeshop – this place is worth a visit for a cup of coffee, but even moreso, for their delicious array of baked goods. Just a block away is Monk’s BBQ (awesome!) and Tipped Cow Creamery for some incredible ice cream (entrance to this is located just before and above Monk’s). So depending on what time of day you are going through this area, any one of these places would offer a delicious treat! Nearby Adroit Theory brewery is a great stop if you want to try one of their unique beer offerings. Even a non beer lover would love some of these brews…fruited Gose’s and sour smoothies, in particular. Take in some afternoon live music, beer, wine, slushies and food at Harvest Gap Brewery in Hillsboro. If you time it late enough in the day, this place has incredible sunsets! Or if you want to branch out and do your own thing – Loudoun County has an abundance of wineries and breweries – pick one or two and relax the afternoon away on a gorgeous day, among the scenery of the surrounding area. If you happen to select the ones that also offer live music – that’s a win-win, if you ask me.
In my next blog post about Loudoun County, I will outline the contrast between two very special day trips from this area…stay tuned!