Here in Loudoun County you can get active — without succumbing to a sunburn — at some seriously amazing Northern Virginia recreation centers. From an indoor basketball complex and Olympic-size swimming pools, lazy rivers and water playgrounds to rock climbing walls, skateboarding parks and a 79,000-square-foot sportsplex, there’s all kind of indoor fun to be had. If the kids need to burn off a...
Looking for something to do on these warm summer nights? Loudoun has numerous restaurants, bars, wineries, and breweries offering meals and in some places, live entertainment. The area has experienced some growth in nightlife recently, offering more options for a cool respite during these dog days of summer. Any of the following venues offer an opportunity to bring more culture into your life, spend...
Some of my favorite childhood memories are those of summer’s country fairs. They were the highlight of the summer. The lights and sounds coming from the midway, the rides and games, demolition derbies and rodeos, and the food – cotton candy, caramel apples, funnel cake (I was a kid – of course all the food I remember was sweet!) Well that magical, memory-making season...
Summer means so many things – fresh produce and grilled foods, country fairs and carnivals, fireworks and outdoor concerts. Here in the summertime of Virginia though, there’s one feature of summer that can never be left out – finding ways to keep cool! The kiddie pool, sprinklers, and slip-n-slides can only provide so much relief and entertainment for the kids. What the family needs...
Curious about Epicurience? For those who haven’t heard the news, Loudoun is hosting an epic wine and food event in DC’s Wine Country – the first annual Epicurience Virginia in partnership with Saveur Magazine. Over Labor Day weekend (August 30th-September 1st) you’re invited to experience the best of Virginia food and wine from the region’s top tastemakers. The highlight of the weekend is the Epic...
Crickets chirping, the song of the ice cream truck, kids splashing in the pool – these are all sounds of summer. But there’s another sound that signifies summer for me – the sound of live music drifting through the evening air. The sun begins to set and the air starts to cool. Crowds of people wander out from the air conditioned indoors carrying blankets,...
July 4th is just over a week away! It’s a time to celebrate our great country with some of our favorite traditions – barbecues, parades, picnics, and, of course, fireworks. For me, the best July 4th celebrations are in America’s small towns. Watching a community gather on a summer day to share food, listen to music out on the lawn, and “ooh” and “ah”...
How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time. That advice came from my husband, probably said as I was gasping for breath on some steep climb up said mountain. I love to hike. There’s something about getting outside and being in nature with nothing but what you can carry on your back. Hiking doesn’t have to mean slogging up a mountain,...
There have been lots of changes in DC’s Wine Country over the past several months. New wineries have opened, a couple have closed, and existing wineries are growing and making changes. We’re up to 36 wineries in Loudoun and there are more on the way! We’ll start the updates this week with three new wineries to check out on your next tour of DC’s...
Here in DC’s Wine Country, food and wine festivals are one of our favorite reasons to visit Loudoun in the summer time. Loudoun’s farms, vineyards, and towns and villages make the most of the summer season’s bounty of good weather and good produce, and invite you to celebrate that bounty with us. Here’s a list of upcoming festivals and what to expect at each:...
Loudoun has some pretty special places to eat – restaurants housed in historic mills or in an atrium overlooking the Potomac River. Restaurants that have been frequented by the likes of Jackie Onassis. Farm-to-table restaurants that are literally located on working farms and vineyards. When our friends and family are in town or we meet visitors to Loudoun asking, “Where should I eat?” Visit...
This June marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War cavalry engagements in southern Loudoun County known as the Cavalry Battles of Upperville, Middleburg, and Aldie, events that led ultimately to the battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania just over two weeks later. This event will be commemorated by a weekend-long series of events on June 14-16 throughout the Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville areas. To help...
Spring is creeping in like a lamb this year instead of rushing straight to summer like a lion. The weather has been mild and the landscape is lush and green. It’s the perfect time to get out to the countryside and take in the sites and tastes of the season. The ultimate celebration of the spring season in Loudoun is the Loudoun County Spring...
Launched in 1969, Virginia is for Lovers is one of the oldest and most recognized travel slogans and the Virginia Tourism Corporation wants to remind travelers of this message in a BIG new way. Over the past year giant LOVE artworks have been popping up around the commonwealth, reminding visitors that love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Loudoun is proud to...
Spring is busting open here in Loudoun. Flowers are popping up and the landscape is changing from a wintry brown to a soft, misty green. It’s a beautiful time of year and Loudoun welcomes the season with two annual garden events. This weekend, historic downtown Leesburg becomes a gardener’s paradise during the Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival. Now in its 23rd year, the...
It seems to me that by the time March or April rolls around, most of us are so over winter that we’re as busy as the bees, buzzing around ready to make the most of the warmer seasons while they last. There’s spring cleaning, gardening, catching up with friends and family, and suddenly every weekend is filling up, rushing us through one season into...
How well do you know DC’s Wine Country? If you’re the winner of the Loudoun Wine & Dine Giveaway, prepare to become an expert on Loudoun’s culinary scene. For the month of March Southwest Airlines has been giving away a trip for two to wine and dine throughout Loudoun County. The winner of the giveaway will receive two tickets on Southwest Airlines to fly...
Spring is coming. Really, it’s just days away! I’ve seen the proof too – daffodils blooming on the side of the road, red buds popping out on the trees. I’ve even heard the loud chorus of peepers at night. Best of all, Daylight Savings Time has struck again and we’ve sprung forward on the clock, giving us those extra hours of daylight to enjoy in the evenings. I can feel myself waking...
So we’ve found a cozy seat next to the fireplace to warm up with a glass of Loudoun wine on these cold winter weekends. But that’s not the only way the wineries are inviting you in and keeping you warm this season. Several Loudoun wineries offer special food and wine pairings on the weekends, ranging from a hearty bowl of soup to a full...
When winter first takes hold, some deep instinct to retreat to a near state of hibernation rouses itself within me. With the cold temperatures creeping further down, it’s easy to want to stay indoors, buried under blankets on the couch, watching television. But here in Virginia, the winters are relatively brief and mild. We celebrate all of our seasons and in spite of its...
The holidays have passed, the New Year has arrived, and if you haven’t already begun your resolutions, here’s an easy one for you. Visit a new winery and brewery! It’s a great way to get out and try something new in the New Year. And Loudoun’s winery count is projected to reach 40 by the end of 2013. Every time I check Twitter, there’s...
The passing of another year is something to be celebrated. Getting together with family and friends, enjoying a good meal, raising a glass of festive sparkling wine, dancing the night away. These festivities can be simple or extravagant, cozy or all inclusive. However you choose to celebrate, we hope your hearts are warm with memories of the year past and bright with hope for...
Decorations, gifts, holiday meals. These are just some of the things many of us have been running around, checking off our lists over the past several weeks. With the holidays upon us, it’s time to finish up that list and focus on the spirit of the holiday season. Whatever your state of holiday readiness, these upcoming events can help fill the stockings and spread...
Holiday celebrations continue throughout Loudoun this weekend as three of the county’s towns are hosting their annual celebrations. The Town of Hillsboro kicks off their holiday celebration with a breakfast with Santa at the historic Old Stone School. The breakfast features appearances from Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph plus a variety of holiday activates for the kids. The day continues with the town’s Historic Homes...
Thanksgiving has passed, marking the official start of the holiday season. Let’s not let the holidays flash by in a whirl of frenzied shopping and events. Celebrate the season at a slower pace with us here in Loudoun. Our quaint towns and villages along with many historic sites host seasonal celebrations that will take you back in time, allowing you to revel in the...
If you haven’t been to The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm lately now is an especially great time to visit. Chef Chris Edwards’ has revamped the restaurant’s seasonal menus to offer mulitiple dining options to suit most any appetite. Recalling the restaurant’s early years, Chef Edwards’ Origins menu lets you create your own experience either through a three course prix fixe for $65.00 or a la...
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’m hungry already! The tough part for me is all the choices that come with planning a holiday meal. You can make a reservation and let someone else do all the work and worrying for you. You could order a holiday meal thoughtfully prepared and ready for you to reheat and transfer to your own serving dishes....
The following information is provided by Visit Loudoun to assist travelers and displaced residents following Superstorm Sandy. Please scroll down for information on road closures, airport and flight status, and hotel availability and rates. For additional traveler assistance, please call the Visit Loudoun Visitor Center cell phone at 703.431.2203. ROAD CLOSURES There are currently over 60 roads closed in Loudoun. Please check the Virginia...