From Loudoun County in Northern, Virginia, if the shopping, dining, beer trail, wine trail, hiking, biking, or sunsets aren’t enough for you, there is always a day trip. You could spend the day at George Washington’s home in Mt. Vernon, have a picnic and hike overlooking the waterfalls in Great Falls, explore Old Town Winchester in the northwest corner of NOVA, or experience two very unique day trips that provide a strong contrast to one another and are two of my personal favorites (although the Mt. Vernon trip was also special enough to beckon me back on more than one occasion). The two day trips that I am referring to are spending the day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. or spending the day in the historic village of Harper’s Ferry, WV. I know I touched on this a bit in an earlier blog, but let me take this opportunity to elaborate on each of them. These two trips could not be any further apart from one another in regard to what they have to offer. In D.C. you can walk a few miles from one end of the National Mall to the other, with the Capitol building on one end, the Lincoln Memorial on the other and the Washington Monument smack dab in the middle. While walking around the monument, you can see the White House off in the distance on a clear winter’s day. Most of the museums that are located along the National Mall offer free admission. On certain days, you will find numerous food trucks lining the street by the Washington Monument. So for very little money, you can not only take in your favorite museum or two, but can then follow that with a picnic lunch from one of the many food truck offerings, after finding a spot on the lawn nearby to enjoy the sites surrounding you. Just some of the many museums I personally experienced while in D.C. were the National Portrait Gallery (featuring portraits and paintings of past and present U.S. Presidents), the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, and the Holocaust Museum, which is a very somber, moving account of the horrifying brutality that the victims of the Holocaust had to endure. This museum, although difficult to explore due to it’s graphic and disturbing nature, is one that everyone should experience to understand this piece of world history and to honor the lives of those that fell victim to this fate. There are so many more museums in D.C. as well, that there is truly something of interest for everyone.
If you are fortunate enough to be in D.C. around March or early April, you can head over to the Tidal Basin (a short walk from the National Mall) and stroll the perimeter while taking in the views of the numerous cherry blossom trees that are in bloom. This is a unique experience that happens for a short period of time each spring, and is truly a spectacular sight to behold … whether in early bloom, peak bloom or post bloom…or as the sun sets over the water. Don’t forget your camera for these once in a lifetime, treasured photos!
D.C. also boasts a fun waterfront called The Wharf that offers a variety of restaurants, shops, an expansive pier to walk around and take in the sights, kayak rentals, etc. Another area that is equally entertaining is Georgetown, a section of DC that is notable for its cobblestone streets, shops, restaurants, riverfront and The Exorcist House (and stairs) made famous by the movie, “The Exorcist”. Georgetown has been home to notable U.S. figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Francis Scott Key, Alexandar Graham Bell, and several U.S. presidents and politicians. This is a fun place to walk around and explore while in D.C.
In stark contrast to a day trip to D.C. is a day trip to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. You can reach Harper’s Ferry by driving west from Loudoun County or by bringing a bike in tow and parking in Brunswick, Maryland to access the C & O Canal Trail from this lot. From there, bike west toward Harper’s Ferry, along the Potomac River. You can then lock up your bike on the Maryland side of the river and walk over the bridge into the quaint village of Harper’s Ferry. This village has a population of only a few hundred people….virtually a ghost town, when you subtract the number of visitors that flock here in season. In fact, due to the historical nature of this town, evening ghost tours are offered here throughout much of the year.
Some other worthwhile things to note about Harper’s Ferry…. the sparks that ignited the civil war are said to have taken place in this town, when an abolitionist named John Brown took over the U.S. arsenal there, which still stands today….Jefferson Rock is a rock formation that sits high above the village of Harper’s Ferry and overlooks the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and is where Thomas Jefferson once stood. After taking in the beauty of this area, Jefferson wrote about his thoughts and feelings of this view as being one of the most beautiful sights he has seen in nature….the mid point of the Appalachian Trail (a trail that extends from Maine to Georgia) is located right in Harper’s Ferry, so don’t be surprised if you see hikers, in the midst of their miles long journeys on that trail, hike right through the town. You can find quaint architecture, historical gift shops, a candy shop with candy that dates back to the civil war era, as well as ice cream shops, and a few restaurants to enjoy a meal and a drink. If you are interested in including a hike, in addition to more than just a lazy day to take in the sites and feel like you stepped back in time two hundred years, you could cross back over the bridge into Maryland and step onto the trail to your left, walk a short way until you see the path on the right, that leads you up the Maryland Heights Trail. I promise you, the reward at the top of this hike overlooking Harper’s Ferry below, is breathtaking and an absolute must for taking a frame-worthy photograph, making it well worth the exercise!
As you can see, Loudoun County has something for everyone. No matter what your taste or activity level, a variety of fun can be found here in Northern Virginia both locally, or within an hour in just about any direction.