One of my favorite places for a great meal and really great English-style pub atmosphere is the Hunter’s Head Tavern in Upperville, just a few miles west of Middleburg on Route 50. You’ll spot its signature red phone booth outside (the second one on Route 50 in Loudoun – know where the other one is?). Here, in this circa 1750 home, a warm fireplace warms...
Next time you’re at Dulles Town Center in Sterling, I highly recommend you take a spin on its historic carousel. Its not hidden, right at the Food Court and visible from outside above the entrance opposite Cheesecake Factory. Built in Venice, Italy, the carousel is in the style of the carousels of the 1800s with murals hand-painted by Venetian artists. The molds of the horses and...
I love the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Its got some of the coolest planes and spacecraft on the planet (or in the galaxy). There’s the Concorde, the awesomely shiny Flying Cloud, the SR-71 Blackbird (flew from LA to DC in 1 hour and 4 minutes!), and of course, the Space Shuttle Enterprise. They even have an F-14 Tomcat (think...
Our trip down Route 50 (the John S. Mosby Highway) heading west continues into the town of Middleburg. I included the image of the entrance sign for a reason: we hear from lots of visitors that they like the ride to Middleburg as much as they like the town itself. Its a sumpremely picturesque drive, past rolling horse farms, polo fields, vineyards, and along...
In Loudoun County, Route 50 is called the John S. Mosby Highway. It’s named for the Confederate ranger who operated in the area during the Civil War. The village of Aldie, just west of the Route 50 and 15 intersection of Gilbert’s Corner (its the site of one of a series of four new round-abouts in the county), is a great place to stop...
Eastern Loudoun continues to receive some great dining options, especially in the seafood department. First, we had great dishes at Sweetwater Tavern and Clydes Willow Creek Farm. Then came The Dock at Lansdowne and then Hooked. All great additions to Loudoun’s dining scene. Now comes Ford’s Fish Shack. This newcomer, right on Farmwell Road between Ashburn Village Parkway and Loudoun County Parkway (Farmwell is...
Loudoun historian Richard Gillespie once told me: “history is around every corner in Loudoun County.” And he was right. Sometimes the heritage of a place is in such plain view that you miss it. For instance, Vestal’s Gap Road. Situated between the parking lot of Dulles Town Center (across from Longhorn Steakhouse) and Nokes Boulevard in Sterling, this short stretch of historic roadbed is...
Do you have any plans for New Year’s Eve? On Friday, December 31st, kick off the New Year right with a celebration of music and the arts in historic downtown Leesburg! First Night Leesburg is a family-focused, alcohol-free event for all ages. Its a great way to celebrate with family and friends. Entertainment scheduled for this year includes more than 100 performances at more...
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…. 12 Visit Loudoun team members 11 Historic homes and museums 10 Scenic byways 9 Destination restaurants 8 Challenging golf courses 7 Charming small towns 6 Helpful Visitor Center hosts 5 Winery clusters 4 Country fairs 3 Washington Redskins Super Bowl victories 2...
The first snow of the year is coming down as we speak. This shot was taken from the walkway at the entrance to the Loudoun Visitors Center at Market Station in historic downtown Leesburg. Market Station, which is festively decorated for the holidays, features lots of great restaurants including Tuscarora Mill, a Loudoun Destination Restaurant, along with other great eateries. They’re a great place to...
It seems as though downtown Leesburg has a new art gallery with some celebrity cache. Washington Redskins tight end and fan favorite Chris Cooley is opening an art gallery in downtown Leesburg on Friday, December 10. The Cooley Gallery, located at 12 South King Street, will regularly feature ceramics, painting, photography, and artwork in other mediums. Much of the work will be Chris’s own...
The Middleburg Christmas Parade is this Saturday, December 4th. To say this is a Loudoun signature event would be an understatement. Since the early 1900s, Loudoun has been known far and wide as horse and hunt country, and nowhere has that been the case more than in the quaint enclave of Middleburg. And each year, during the first Saturday in December, the town becomes...
View Larger Map Drive One: Snickersville Turnpike (15 miles) Follow this historic Virginia byway over rolling foothills and across Goose Creek and its tributaries from the Village of Aldie to the Village of Bluemont. This historic route, only 15 miles long, was traversed by George Washington, and was the scene of clashes during the Civil War. Lucikly, the “turnpike booth” closed in 1915, so...
As a kid, there are few holidays better than Halloween, and Loudoun has some great Halloween experiences for kids. From a parade in Leesburg, to a huge air and space museum turned spooky spaceport, Loudoun on Halloween won’t disappoint. On Saturday, October 23, head to the National Air and Space Museum Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles for Air & Scare! This kid-friendly event...
Once the sun sets, and the warm sunny days give way to the chill and darkness of evening in Autumn, the picturesque setting that is Loudoun succumbs to a whole different experience. The rolling landscape, dotted with stately oaks and elegant manors, become seemingly more remote, stark, and lonely. Charming small towns, alive with people moving here and there in the hours before dusk,...
I love Fall. With its warm sunny days and cool crisp nights, it’s a great time to experience all that Loudoun has to offer. The seeds of our agricultural heritage have provided a bounty of experiences that really make a visit to Loudoun memorable. First stop: the pumpkin patch. And I’m not just talking about a field of pumpkins. I’m talking about a place...
Are you an avid runner? Do you love beautiful scenery? Do you enjoy great wine? Then mark your calendar for June 4, 2011. We’re excited to announce that Loudoun has been chosen as the host site for the new Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon! The Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon course begins at Breaux Vineyards in Hillsboro and is set on Virginia scenic byways,...
Fall is the perfect time for a culinary escape to DC’s Wine Country. Explore Loudoun, Virginia: DC’s Wine Country® with visits to three of our 27 wineries, dine at some of our farm-to-table restaurants, stroll through a few of our historic small towns, and experience the beauty of the county along our scenic byways. Day 1: Begin your adventure in historic Leesburg at South...
Fall is my favorite season in Loudoun. The days are pleasantly warm, the nights crisp and cool. The countryside transitions into a warm palette of autumn colors as the leaves change to various shades of gold and crimson and fall produce including pumpkins, apples, and gourds fill the market stands. The fall festivals and farm attractions begin celebrating the harvest, grateful for the season’s...
Loudoun’s event scene always has something great happening. We’re well known for our great steeplechase races, wine festivals, and several long-standing live music concert series. But we have some events that showcase Loudoun’s sense of place – our country fairs. And this month and next, we have two fairs that have offered authentic cultural experiences for nearly eight decades combined. The 38th Annual Lucketts...
We experienced an atypical winter buried under snow and an unusually short spring, and are now in the middle of a sweltering summer. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being housebound, and am eager to get outside in spite of the temperatures. Fortunately, Loudoun has long been considered a summer escape for urban residents due to its shaded countryside and cooler...
Looking for places to grab a quick bite to eat or maybe dinner after a day with the Washington Redskins? Look no further. We have a list of great restaurants (all kid friendly) that are sure to satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst after a day in the sun. Enjoy! Ashburn Pub 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147 703-724-0755 Founded in...
Could the high heat we’ve been having actually be good for our wine producing grapes? I asked Tarara Winery winemaker Jordan Harris about how the recent heat wave will affect the vineyards and ultimately, the wine. His reply: Right now the vines are close to shut down just preserving energy for the health of the vine. If this weather maintains then we may have...
Loudoun has some of the best summer music series and festivals around. And the fun has already begun! We have music festivals all over the county, from Leesburg to Middleburg, and from Brambleton to Lansdowne, and more, cause, you know, live music is best enjoyed outdoors, right? We’ve compiled a comprehensive list for you below, along with the dates and featured artists. Love the...
There’s no better place to explore authentic American places than Loudoun, Virginia. And there’s no better time to do so than over Fourth of July weekend, America’s Independence Day! We’ve compiled all the events happening around the county here, and even included a handy “Fireworks Finder” with maps at the end for easy reference. Who doesn’t love fireworks? Have a happy and safe holiday!...
It’s the time of year when we seek out outdoor dining. Get out in the fresh air, enjoy some great cuisine, and sit back and relax while listening to live music. Or just simply unwind after your travels and soak up the local atmosphere. From seafood-serving joints that you’d expect to find on the beach, to the casual elegance of some of our destination...
If you find yourself meandering through Loudoun’s scenic countryside visiting some of our wineries, be sure to pick up a copy of our Touring Guide to Loudoun, Virginia: DC’s Wine Country! In it, you’ll find our “Loudoun Wineries Passport.” When you visit one of our 22 participating wineries, ask a staff member of stamp their box on your passport. After receiving five stamps from...
19th Century Homes, Secret Gardens, Horses, Hounds, and Stables! This weekend and next, the last two weekends in May, you have permission to peek. Heck, you have permission to explore at length and at your leisure. Because for these weekends, you have the opportunity to go behind the scenes, into private places, for a glimpse into spaces not opened to the public except...