Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2023 June)
If you don’t want to brave crowded airports or sit in highway traffic, consider an alternative – a staycation! A staycation is a vacation spent at home or near home, doing fun activities and visiting local attractions. Fortunately, Fairfax County has plenty of great places to visit and things to do. The nonprofit, Visit Fairfax, suggests several ways to have fun this summer without venturing too far from home.
Adventures on the Water
Strap on a life preserver, grab a paddle, and get out on the water! Enjoy the view while spotting birds and other wildlife on shore. Many sites in Fairfax County offer canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and other boats you can rent. Rental rates vary by type and location. Call or visit the location’s website for more information.
- Belle Haven Marina – George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Alexandria
Visit SailDC.com or call 703-768-0018. - Burke Lake Park – 7315 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station
Visit FairfaxCounty.gov/Parks/Burke-Lake or call 703-323-1641. - Fountainhead Regional Park – 10878 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station
Visit NovaParks.com/Parks/Fountainhead-Regional-Park or call 703-250-9124. - Mason Neck State Park – 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton
Visit dcr.Virginia.gov/state-parks/mason-neck or call 703-339-2385. - Occoquan Regional Park – 9751 Ox Road, Lorton
Visit NovaParks.com/Parks/Occoquan-Regional-Park or call 703-690-2121. - Pohick Bay Regional Park – 6501 Pohick Bay Dr., Lorton
Visit NovaParks.com/Parks/Pohick-Bay-Regional-Park or call 703-339-6104. - Riverbend Park – 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls
Visit FairfaxCounty.gov/Parks/Riverbend or call 703-759-9018.
Stroll Through a Garden
See what’s blooming while you take in the sights, scents, and sounds of these gardens.
- Gardens at River Farm – 7931 E Boulevard Dr., Alexandria
River Farm is a historic 25-acre site that was once part of George Washington’s original five farms and has been the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society since 1973. River Farm is known for beautiful views stretching down to the Potomac River, as well as its children’s gardens, four-acre meadow, and colorful flower displays. Summer hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is free (except for special events), but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit AHSGardening.org or call 703-768-5700. - Green Spring Gardens and Horticultural Center – 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria
Green Spring offers a wooded stream valley with ponds, a naturalistic native plant garden, more than 20 thematic demonstration gardens, a greenhouse, a plant shop, and more. Grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk, but the gate is locked after 5 p.m. There is no entry fee for individuals or families. For more information, visit FairfaxCounty.gov/Parks/Green-Spring or call 703-642-5173, TTY 711. - Meadowlark Botanical Gardens – 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna
Meadowlark features large ornamental and native plant collections. Their Korean Bell Garden, a traditional bell garden pavilion, is the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Hours are 10 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. April through October. Admission fee is $6 for adults 18-54 and $3 for adults 55 and older. For more information, visit NovaParks.com/Parks/Meadowlark-Botanical-Gardens or call 703-255-3631.
Discover Local History
Learn about historical events and people, including suffragists, soldiers, and visionaries.
- Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center – 3610 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax
Built in 1859 by Albert and Mary Willcoxon, this Greek-Revival-style brick house is famous for its soldier signatures, pictographs, and thoughts preserved on the attic and house walls between 1862-1863. The words and pictures have provided insight into the lives of soldiers as well as the effect of the war on residents. The Interpretive Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and a guided tour of Historic Blenheim house takes place at 1 p.m. For tours for groups of four or more, call 703-591-0560 in advance. Admission is free. For more information, visit FairfaxVa.gov/Government/Historic-Resources/Historic-Blenheim or call 703-591-6728. - Lucy Burns Museum – The Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
The Lucy Burns Museum examines the 91-year history of the former Lorton Prison Complex, including the events of 1917 which changed the course of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. Hours are Friday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free for gallery tours and a guided cellblock tour is $5/person. For more information, visit WorkhouseArts.org/lucy-burns-museum or call 703-584-2972. - The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial – 9751 Ox Road, Lorton
Located within Occoquan Regional Park, the memorial commemorates the millions of women who engaged in the suffragist movement primarily from 1848 through passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The memorial is free, self-guided and open year-round during the park’s normal operating hours. For more information, visit NovaParks.com/Parks/Turning-Point-Suffragist-Memorial or call 703-690-2121. - Woodlawn Plantation and Pope Leighey House – 9000 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria
Home to two iconic properties and a working farm. The mansion, built in 1805, was given to Nelly Custis and Lawrence Lewis by George Washington. The site was operated as a plantation where the couple enslaved over 90 people. In 1846, the site was sold to Quaker families from the north, who sold off parcels of Woodlawn’s land to free Black and immigrant farmers who worked collaboratively to farm and set up homesteads on the land and care for the property. Also on site is the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Pope-Leighey House, where visitors can explore and learn about Usonian architecture. Open Friday-Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets to tour either house are $15/adults and $12/adults 62+. Tickets to tour both homes are $25/adults and $22/adults 62+. Tickets can be purchased online or onsite. For more information, including tour times and availability, visit WoodlawnPopeLeighey.org or call 703-780-4000.
Other Fun Activities
Flex your creative muscles, indulge your taste buds, or create a custom candle just for you.
- Workhouse Arts Center – 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
Sign up for a class or workshop. Drawing, painting, glass, ceramics, and a variety of other mediums are offered. Learn more at WorkhouseArts.org or call 703-584-2900. - River Sea Chocolate Factory & Café – 4520 Daly Dr., Suite 100, Chantilly
Visit Fairfax County’s only chocolate factory for chocolate tastings, tours, or a chocolate bomb making workshop. Fees range from $25-$49 based on the activity. For more information, visit RiverSeaChocolates.com or call 703-539-2697. - Paddywax Candle Bar – 1816 Library St., Reston
Create your own custom candle by selecting a vessel and fragrance. You’ll be guided through the candle-making process by experienced staff. Fees start at $40. For more information, visit TheCandleBar.co/products/candle-pouring-reston.
For additional staycation ideas, visit fxva.com/Trip-Ideas/Staycation.
Looking for recommendations on accessible places to visit? Visit Fairfax has created accessibility guides to aid your planning. The guides are available at fxva.com/Plan-Your-Trip/Accessibility.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).