Top Things to do in Fairfax County
Top Hotels in Fairfax County
- 1. The Watermark Hotel
- 2. Hyatt Regency Dulles
- 3. Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center
- 4. Embassy Suites by Hilton Springfield
- 5. DoubleTree by Hilton McLean Tysons
- 6. Hampton Inn Washington-Dulles Int'l Airport South
- 7. Best Western Springfield
- 8. Hyatt Regency Reston
- 9. Embassy Suites by Hilton Tysons Corner
- 10. Courtyard by Marriott Dunn Loring Fairfax
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The 9 Best History Museums in Fairfax County, Fairfax County
Discover the best top things to do in Fairfax County, United States including Ford Orientation Center, Lucy Burns Suffragist Museum, Sully Historic Site, George Mason's Gunston Hall, Freeman Store and Museum, Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, The National Museum of the United States Army, Reston Historic Trust & Museum, Workhouse Prison Museum at Lorton.
Restaurants in Fairfax County
1. Ford Orientation Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By SCJJR
I took it as a self-paced tour. I am one of those that likes to try to absorb all the information. There is a lot of information and visuals to absorb. The tour starts by trying to place the area in context of the period and then moves through G. Washington's life. There are a couple of short movies and other active displays.
2. Lucy Burns Suffragist Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Joanne_S1983 - Woodbridge, United States
The Lucy Burns Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, displays and information from a pivotal moment in women's history in America. It is critically important that this generation and future generations know and understand what women endured for the right to vote in America. Docents are extremely knowledgeable.
3. Sully Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
Sully Historic Site is a charming and historic place to visit. The feature attractions, of course, are the site's history and historic structures. The grounds are a lovely place for strolling. Sully reflects Fairfax County history. It was the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia's first Representative to Congress and General Robert E. Lee's uncle. Sully is on the National Register for Historic Places, is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Holiday Tour Fees for Private / Same Household Groups 12/3/20 - 01/03/21: 1 or 2 people: $25.00 3 to 9 people: $45.00 Walk-through house tours are available Thursdays through Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Forgotten Road Tours are available on demand at 2 p.m. This is a one-hour, outside walking tour of the original outbuildings and slave quarters. Meet at the Main house 15 min prior for COVID-19 screening. Masks are required.
4. George Mason's Gunston Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 139 reviews
Explore George Mason’s nation-shaping ideas at The Home of American Rights. Learn what motivated him to craft the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights and how his ideas inspired the nation. Tour the historic Mason-family home, hike scenic trails to the Potomac River, and discover George Mason's lasting legacy.
Reviewed By joshbraid
What a relief to get to a plantation that doesn't have crowd control lines and controlled access. We never heard of the place before we went and yet found it well worth the trip. George Mason was another of those founding fathers who was passionate for liberty, especially from the government. The house is unassuming from the outside (relatively) and the inside is well worth the tour. What a contrast to Monticello, as this place was far more liveable! We enjoyed the liberty of strolling the grounds, the quiet beauty of the view. Go, even just to learn about George Mason, a dedicated father, a founding father, the champion of individual liberty.
5. Freeman Store and Museum
6. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 18 reviews
Take a step back in time and discover the Fairfax Station Museum and the role it played in the history of Northern Virginia. A key element in the development of the regional economy from its completion on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad in 1854, it played a critical role in the American Civil War and was the center of local community life for almost a century until modern highways and rail transportation made local train depots a thing of the past. The Station was an important supply and medical evacuation site during the Civil War where Clara Barton, later the founder of the American Red Cross, assisted in relief and evacuation efforts in 1862 during the Second Battle of Bull Run. Museum displays, activities and events help preserve local history and promote railroading. Come explore Civil War history, railroading and the fascinating story of our local community.
7. The National Museum of the United States Army
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By karloa969
My son and I recently drove up to Fort Belvoir (Fairfax County Virginia) from the Richmond Virginia area to visit the newly inaugurated (Veteran’s Day 2020) National Museum of the United States Army. Gaining access to the museum required requesting admission tickets on-line. The process was simple via the official website and at no cost. The tickets can be printed and presented at the entrance checkpoint or they can be downloaded to your phone. The only real decision was what time (open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) to go. We elected 3:00 PM on a Saturday and left early as this was the Saturday after Thanksgiving which if you’ve ever travelled the I-95 North corridor on a holiday weekend, you already know there will be congestion and crazies on the highway. So we started our journey on I-95 North then quickly realized around Ashland our progress would by marginal due to the traffic density. So we got off of I-95 and got on North 1. North 1 parallels I-95 North on the West then around Fredericksburg moves to the East of I-95. That’s when the heavy construction along the route, significant traffic congestion, and conflicting route markers became a problem, even with GPS. Long story short we missed our admission time and arrived after 4:00 PM. Parking was easy to find and plentiful. The grounds surrounding the museum were impressive as was our first look at the imposing metallic structure. The skies were clear and the sun was already in the process of setting and the rays reflecting off of the structure accentuated the size and grandeur of the architecture. Very impressive. Once inside we presented our tickets to the admission checkpoint representative then we walked to the security checkpoint/metal detector. The security staff were attentive and friendly and gaining access to the Army and Society Gallery (the first thing you see) was effortless. Again, very impressive. As we were short on time we made it a priority to visit each gallery to gain a perspective of what the first floor entailed. Before we knew it, it was closing time. Undeterred, once at our hotel, we reserved tickets for the following day. Arriving Sunday morning, and once inside the museum we made it a point to experience each gallery (Army and Society, Founding of the Nation, Preserving the Nation, World War 1 Immersion, World War 2, Cold War and the Global War) by taking our time and taking advantage of the interactive exhibits. Very impressive. I felt dated once we were in the Cold War gallery and my son made it a point to recognize many of the historical items on display could also be found in my garage. Living fossil came to mind when he said it would be cool to bring his scout troop to the museum and I could serve as a living guide for the Cold War. The Army Theater was closed so we made our way to the Special Exhibition Gallery (The Art of Soldiering) on the second floor. Very impressive. Next we went to the third floor to see the Nisei (Japanese “second-generation” sons of Japanese immigrants who were born and educated in the United States and fought in the US Army against the Imperial Japanese Army). Sacrifice, duty, honor, country – very moving. We finally ended our third floor experience by exploration the Metal of Honor Garden. Very humbling. Our visit was not what I had expected. Point of fact it was more and truly shined a light on the tremendous sacrifices men and woman have made while serving in the Army and what our nation has done to fight for justice in the world during so many tumultuous historical times. It’s worth a visit as long as you give yourself plenty of time to absorb the displays in each gallery and the tremendous efforts put into making this important museum possible. Hoooaaah!
8. Reston Historic Trust & Museum
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
The Reston Historic Trust & Museum preserves the past, informs the present, and influences the future of Reston through our exhibits, events, and programs. Our goal is to engage the public in an exploration of community history. We annually host the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta, Reston Home Tour, and Founder's Day. We are located at Historic Lake Anne Plaza.
9. Workhouse Prison Museum at Lorton
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
