Looking to escape the city or the suburbs for a day? The Northern Virginia region is full of natural beauty and vibrant districts, and many of which can be found within a 2-hours drive from Washington DC. Here are some of my favorite day trips in the DC area, full of nature, shopping, and all around good times.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is one of Virginia’s most popular attractions for the young, old, and everyone in between. Visitors can enjoy guided tours through ancient caves, antique museums, a garden maze, and ropes course.
Find the caverns at this address, and see their website for more:
101 Cave Hill Rd.
Luray, VA 22835
Skyline Drive
For the people who want to get away but would like to see the sights from the comfort of their car, be sure to visit Skyline Drive. This long, winding highway will take you through the Blue Ridge
Mountains, all the way down to North Carolina (if you choose to go that far!). There are places to stop for panoramic views, hiking trails, camp sites, and lodges if you’d like to extend your stay.
You can enter Skyline Drive at four different locations. Visit here to find the location that’s best for you.
Great Falls Park
A wonderful place to spend time outdoors is Great Falls Park. It’s a national park along the Potomac River with breathtaking views of waterfalls. Whether you’re just looking for an easy stroll along the riverbanks, kayaking with friends, or finding solitude amongst the trees, you’ll have plenty of enjoyment here.
Learn more about the park, and bring your hiking gear to this location:
9200 Old Dominion Dr.
McLean, VA 22102
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, WV is the perfect respite away from the bustling city streets of DC. Here you can amble along quiet streets, do some hiking on a variety of trails, and grab a bite at a local pub or restaurant. Harpers Ferry is close to both the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, and the Appalachian Trail, making it a go-to spot for nature lovers.
Type this into your GPS, and learn more about this idyllic town:
Harpers Ferry
West Virginia 25425
PS: Curious what else you can do while visiting? Don’t miss our Harpers Ferry community page.
Mount Vernon
For the history lovers there is Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate. Here you can take tours of more than a dozen historic buildings, including Washington’s mansion. You can also enjoythe expansive gardens, and learn about colonial life through a series of galleries and video displays.
Learn more about Mount Vernon, and visit here:
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy
Mt Vernon, VA 22121
Tysons Corner
Looking to do some shopping? Tysons Corner is home to several massive shopping malls, including Tysons Corner, Tysons 2, and Tysons Galleria. Here you can find anything you’d want, and then some. On top of that, there are many amazing restaurants to try. Tysons is a short drive, or ride on the silver line from DC.
Find Tysons Corner here:
Tysons Corner
Virginia 22102
Charles Town
West Virginia always lives up to their ‘wild and wonderful’ slogan, and Charles Town is a lovely place to stop by for a taste of WV culture. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the mountain scenery, try your luck at the Hollywood Casino, or sample some flavors of local breweries and vineyards, Charles Town has something for all.
Charles Town can be found by putting this into your GPS:
Charles Town
West Virginia 25414
C&O Canal National Historic Park
Want to be on the water? Lucky for us, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is 185 miles long, with dozens of places to visit. You can stay as close as Georgetown, or venture over into Maryland for access points. Take a bike, or your best shoes, and get some exercise along one of the DMV’s most beautiful attractions.
You can access the park from several locations, so see their website to learn more.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum
The power of flight continues to be one of mankind’s greatest achievements. This museum located in Chantilly, VA, is home to dozens of aircrafts, ranging from the
primitive flight crafts of ourforefathers, to military jets, and is even home to the Discovery space shuttle. Technology and history lovers unite here in this truly remarkable place.
Visit this address, and learn more:
14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy
Chantilly, VA 20151
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
If you love botanical gardens, you’ve surely been to the United States Botanic Garden in DC, but have you seen the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens? Just a short drive away from the city center in Vienna, VA, you can come to this park to enjoy exotic plants and a peaceful walk on the grounds.
Enjoy Meadowlark here:
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct.
Vienna, VA 22182
What fun trips have you taken from DC? Tell me about your favorite in the comments!
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