Top Things to do in Northern Virginia
Top Hotels in Northern Virginia
- 1. Hyatt Regency Dulles
- 2. Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Belvoir Alexandria South
- 3. Hyatt Centric Arlington
- 4. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC - Crystal City
- 5. Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington Rosslyn Key Bridge
- 6. Hampton Inn Alexandria/Pentagon South
- 7. Hampton Inn Dulles-Cascades
- 8. Residence Inn Arlington Capital View
- 9. Hilton Garden Inn Reagan National Airport
- 10. Hampton Inn & Suites Arlington Crystal City DCA
Countries
Top 9 Visitor Centers in Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia
Discover the best top things to do in Northern Virginia, United States including Gulf Branch Nature Center, Walney Visitor Center, Fairfax County Visitor Information Center, DEA Museum & Visitors Center, Alexandria Visitors Center, Manassas Visitor Center, Prince William County Visitor Information Center, Visit Loudoun, Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area North.
Restaurants in Northern Virginia
1. Gulf Branch Nature Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By SherlockHolmesRun - Falls Church, United States
I haven't been inside the nature center itself (closed due to the pandemic), but had a truly fantastic time outdoors. I live nearby but had never heard of this place until I saw a photo on instagram. Turns out there's a wonderful little hike with amazing views-- and hardly anyone on the trail! The nature center itself is lovely and picturesque with plenty of places to sit and well-tended garden beds. You'll find a pond teeming with life-- at my visit in late February, I saw and heard more frogs in one place than I'd ever witnessed before and must have spent at least 20 minutes watching them. There's also a historic log cabin, a blacksmith shop, a place for outdoor fire pits, and a caged barred owl that can no longer fly. Oh, and the namesake stream, Gulf Branch, flowing through the grounds. There are a few little walking trail loops that lead into neighboring parks and neighborhoods. These are nice for walking a dog or small child, or for entering the park another way if the small parking lot is full, but this is not the reason to visit. The main trail is actually starts across the street, which may be why it was so empty on a beautiful day. It's about a 2 mile loop, so a very manageable length for a hike, but there's some climbing and rock-hopping involved that will require agility! Cross Military Road on foot from the parking lot and you'll see a butterfly garden. There are two paths on either side of the stream-- take either one, as it's a loop trail, and you can come back the opposite way. This peaceful wooded walk follows the stream as it gets increasingly wider and higher. In the winter, you'll be able to see backyards of neighboring houses, but the rugged trail does feel rather wild. There are several little foot bridges to cross, but you'll also have to cross the stream at times, hopping over rocks to get to the other side as part of the trail vanishes, which is a lot of fun. Pay attention and you may see hawks or other birds of prey roosting in the trees! The end of the trail (or, rather, the middle, since as I said, it's a loop) is where things get exciting. Cross underneath the George Washington Parkway and you'll reach cascading waterfalls and a stunning view of the Potomac River! There are two small overlooks (no railings here, so be very careful, especially if you have kids-- it's quite high up) where you can sit on a rock and watch the peaceful view and birds, or glimpse DC across the river. You can also climb down the waterfall if you're careful-- railings are built into the rocks, but no footholds, and one of the railings is a bit loose-- and enjoy part of the Potomac Heritage Trail along the 'beach.' It almost reminded me of a suburban version of a Shenandoah National Park hike. In the winter, there are no leaves to obstruct the view of the water, though it also means the other side of the river looks a bit grim. I'm excited to come back and see it in the other seasons, when the view is less clear but perhaps a bit more colorful! We only ran into 3 other families on the trail and nobody at the overlooks. Although it wasn't a long hike, we spent almost 3 hours there due to enjoying the scenery and the animals at the nature center. I highly recommend this hidden gem in Arlington!
2. Walney Visitor Center
3. Fairfax County Visitor Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
4. DEA Museum & Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 84 reviews
An educational and historical trip through the lifecycles and effects of illegal drugs in America.
5. Alexandria Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 124 reviews
Go-to for sightseeing brochures, attraction tickets, maps & gifts. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Open year-round.
Reviewed By jrcapps - Arlington, United States
This well managed visitors center is located in a historic building in the heart of Old Town, In addition to resources about the area, there are public restrooms. It's across the street from a city maintained parking garage.
6. Manassas Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By TrainManDan10 - Keene, United States
My wife and I used to live in Manassas for 12 years (2005 - 2017) within walking of the station. I was heavily involved in promoting Amtrak and VRE commuter rail. The staff then and on my day of return was always helpful. They often spent half their time helping people taking the train. They were and are an important source of train information for new riders and helped to turn "first timers" into "experienced riders". Tip: Folks from out-of-state can, with the proper paperwork, park at the City Garage (2nd Floor) for free, jump on a train, and head for DC or New York. Just call ahead for details.
7. Prince William County Visitor Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
The Prince William County Tourist Information Center is located in the heart of Historic Occoquan, Virginia - located nearby I-95 and VA-123. At this Visitor Center, visitors are able to receive brochures, local information, recommendations of where to stay and play, and lodging assistance. The Center is open 7 days a week, 9am - 5pm and has restrooms available.
8. Visit Loudoun
9. Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area North
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 2 reviews
