There’s not another place on the planet with the unique spirit of Northern Virginia. It’s a blend of artistic independence and appreciation for the journey that gives the Cultural Region its special sauce.
Feel that American pride. Whether you’re standing at a memorial or witnessing a heroic run, Virginia’s Cultural Region is full of heart-swelling moments.
- Understand the challenges and experience of valor on a fully immersive visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Prince William County. Sight, sound, touch and movement reveal the story of the U.S. Marines like never before.
- Cheer on the participants (or become one) in Arlington as the Marine Corps Marathon takes place each fall. Known as “The People’s Marathon,” it’s one of the largest in the world.
- Take a leisurely horseback ride where courage was tested: Manassas National Battlefield Park, where the first two battles of the American Civil War were fought.
There’s only one. You won’t want to miss the Cultural Region’s singular distinctions.
- Take in a show under the stars at the only National Park dedicated to the performing arts, Wolf Trap.
- Take a free tour of Arlington National Cemetery, a national shrine to the thousands of men and women who have died defending the United States and freedom around the world. Memorials include the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial, and the gravesites of John F. and Robert Kennedy.
- Visit the only public Korean Bell Garden in the entire Western Hemisphere at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
- There will only ever be one first president of the United States – find out how he lived on a tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Visit Mount Vernon by bike or boat for a unique approach to Washington’s Potomac River estate.
- There’s only one place in the universe to see NASA’s workhorse, the iconic Space Shuttle Discovery. Get up close and personal with it at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
It’s not what you think. From repurposed arts venues to speakeasy hideouts, Virginia’s Cultural Region is full of surprises.
- Tap into the Cultural Region’s arts scene with unexpected visual arts centers, including a former torpedo factory in Alexandria and even a former prison in Fairfax County.
- Up for Beer Yoga, Pedals and Pints or Joggers and Lagers? The Best Small Brewery in the U.S. puts the fun in fitness: Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Co.
- Sneak into Captain Gregory’s, a cocktail lounge/speakeasy hidden inside Sugar Shack donut shop in Alexandria.
- View Washington, D.C. monuments from a unique vantage point: onboard a Potomac Riverboat Co. narrated boat cruise.
Have some wine with that view. Unique ways to experience the Cultural Region’s stellar wine and craft brew offerings make for unforgettable journeys.
- Take a guided kayak tour down the scenic Potomac River to Tarara Winery in Loudoun County, where you can enjoy live music in their outdoor pavilion, delicious food and fine Virginia wine. The four-and-a-half to seven-mile tour is offered throughout the summer.
- Beer and wine lovers unite! In Loudoun, winery and brewery sit side-by-side, sharing sweeping views of the countryside. Travel 951 feet up the mountain to enjoy Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing to try the peach wine or the pumpkin ale, featuring ingredients taken right from the neighboring Great Country Farms.
- Get a view of the DC region unlike any other high above the clouds at The Observation Deck at CEB Tower. Climb to the 32nd story to toast the skyline at The View champagne lounge or experience a virtual flyover at Hover DC.