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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Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Fairfax County, Fairfax County
Discover the best top things to do in Fairfax County, United States including Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center, NextStop Theatre Company, Clemyjontri Park, George Washington's Mount Vernon, Birthplace National Monument, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Sully Historic Site, George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill, Great Falls Park, George Mason's Gunston Hall.
Restaurants in Fairfax County
1. Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,389 reviews
The museum is temporarily closed and will reopen on Wednesday, May 5. Free timed entry passes are required. Please see our COVID-19 message and more information for planning you visit.
Reviewed By CourtneyF538 - Chapel Hill, United States
Highlights of this visit: The observation tower!! A MUST!! Space Shuttle Discovery & a whole area dedicated to man in space FREE guided highlight tours MANY staff/volunteers happily able to share information, history, and personal experiences... Extremely organized and very well labeled exhibits Multi-level views of many aircraft thanks to 2nd & 3rd level walkways. Points to note: Museum is free, but parking is not ($15) In-house McDonald's is CLEAN and not as pricey as would be expected inside a venue...it's an option, with views of planes coming into Dulles Lots of well-placed seating for visitors with mobility limitations or rest needs Our family of 5 (kids ages 14, 11, & 8) ALL enjoyed this museum!! For the sake of comparison, we have also recently visited the Wright-Patterson USAF Museum...both are excellent!! WP has more aircraft overall and delves deeper into the history of flight. Udvar-Hazy provides a more open environment with spectacular presentations. We HIGHLY recommend this museum!
2. NextStop Theatre Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 67 reviews
A professional live theatre company less than 5 minutes from Washington's Dulles Airport where none of the 114 seats is more than 25 feet from the stage.
Reviewed By kathleenlI1853KT
I went with good friends to NextStop Theatre on the Saturday before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. What a perfect time to see The Mountaintop, brilliantly written by Katori Hall. The pacing of the show and direction by Kevin McAllister were perfect. The two exceptional actors were required to express an abundance of feelings, movements, and attitudes throughout 90 minutes, which flew by quickly. Curtis McNeil as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. portrayed doubt, fear, passion, and gratitude, while Shayla Simmons as the hotel maid brought coffee, humor, curiosity, teasing, compassion, and more. Simmons has an outstanding flair for physical comedy, from her facial expressions and body stances to excellent slapstick and oration. The script shows Dr. King as truly human – full of misgivings, yet struggling to continue to serve his cause. McNeil also had his share of physical humor when an ingenious plot twist revved up the action. As the ending neared, the actors’ feelings were palpable. A beautiful script, talented actors, great director, and effective stage crew need an appreciative audience. There are ten dates left in this series; get your tickets as fast as you can! I look forward to seeing Simons, McNeil, and McAllister in other productions in our area. Bravo to all.
3. Clemyjontri Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 124 reviews
Reviewed By SusanK347 - McLean, United States
This park is a hidden gem in McLean. There is a wide range of equipment here in the way of jungle gyms, etc., as well as walking paths. Great for families with kids.
4. George Washington's Mount Vernon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,640 reviews
Come share the fascinating moments of America’s first family with yours at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Explore the beautiful mansion and grounds and get to know the man, the ideas and the values that founded a nation. Dive into history through action-packed theaters, fascinating exhibits and meet characters from Washington’s world. Admire the view of the peaceful Potomac, or hop on board a sightseeing cruise. It’s a place where history truly comes to life.
Reviewed By breinhaugen - Fargo, United States
This was the second time we have visited Mount Vernon. While both visits were during the same time of year, both tours were completely different. A few years ago we did the Candle Light tour, but this year we decided to do a day tour which included the extra Dinner with the Washingtons tour. I would highly recommend either tour. Day or night, Mount Vernon is very worth visiting. During the Candle Light tour we were led by a tour guide, obviously by candle light around the property. Actors dressed as the Washington and servants played their parts well at each stop. During the Dinner with the Washingtons tour we were led around by a very knowledgeable tour guide who gave us an in-depth look at how the property sustained itself. Of course no matter which time you choose to go, you need to tour the house itself as well. There is a really nice, new visitor center on the property. There is a food court, shops, and various movie theaters showing short films on various topics around the Washingtons and that time period. We were able to easily get an Uber to and from Mount Vernon from Old Town Alexandria. It was quite inexpensive.
5. Birthplace National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Tours that show visitors what life was like on a working plantation in the 1700s.
Reviewed By bsandrs - Portsmouth, United Kingdom
A fairly short downhill walk from the entrance to Mount Vernon is the building which is the final resting place for George Washington, his wife Martha and about 25 family members. Not unexpectedly, it is very well maintained as a National Monument. Also check out nearby the building where he was initially laid to rest before being moved.
6. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 684 reviews
The only national park dedicated to the performing arts, with spaces for indoor and outdoor performances.
Reviewed By MaryW71
I’ve attended concerts here for 20 years. It’s always a wonderful setting with top talent. Rent the cushions and pack a picnic for lawn seats!
7. 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.
8. George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 289 reviews
After nearly a 200-year hiatus and a multi-million dollar reconstruction, George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill is back in business - producing grain products powered by a 16-foot waterwheel and the same rye whiskey that made the Founding Father the nation's most successful whiskey producer in the years after his presidency. Located at the original site, George Washington's Gristmill highlights his vision for America's future as "granary of the world;" while his Distillery is the only site in North America that demonstrates 18th-century distilling from seed to barrel.
Reviewed By jfm14
This is just up the road from Mt. Vernon. It is worth the stop to see the distillery and gristmill. They are both in working order and it's interesting to learn how they worked then and now.
9. Great Falls Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,335 reviews
An 800 acre park located just off the Potomac river.
Reviewed By workhardplayhard27 - Mantorville, United States
A visit to this wonderful park is the perfect respite from the cityscapes of Washington D.C. Just a short drive from D.C., this park features many great hiking trails, abundant wildlife, historical sites, and of course the waterfalls. The Potomac River narrows and squeezes through the Mather Gorge to create gorgeous falls. There are entrances on both the Virginia and Maryland sides. The Billy Goat Trail is known to be challenging, but provides fantastic river views. It was closed during my visit due to flooding.
10. 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.
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