DC

Occoquan is an especially fine place to go on a sunny day in winter, as it is uncrowded and features many cozy places to enjoy a warm fire and a cup of tea.

Best time to go: 12/01 - 07/01  

The Udvar-Hazy Center, the part of Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport, features a number of important flight artifacts, most notably the Enola Gay, the Concorde, and the Space Shuttle, but we were most interested in the gliders and single pilot designs, from which James is drawing inspiration for his project.

Best time to go: 09/01 - 05/31  

In pleasant weather, the Smithsonian museums along the national mall are an ideal place to stroll our monuments or take in the view along the duck pond. And when the weather doesn’t cooperate, there are over a dozen major museums to go inside. Below are a few of our favorites.

Best time to go: 05/01 - 10/01  

In the depths of the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps had a different name for the DMV. They called it Mawavi, a backronym combining Maryland, Washington and Virginia and a nod, I suppose, to the region’s Native American heritage. The name remains on roads and camps throughout Prince William Forest National Park [1]. If …

Wander Mawavi (Prince William Forest Park), the largest National Park in the DMV Read More »

Best time to go: 05/01 - 09/30  

The Franciscans have been stewards of the Holy Land for the past 800 years, and they are famous for their tours that happen throughout the year. If you’re short the $2,500 + airfare for their standard excursion, you can visit all the key highlights at the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland, which is effectively the Epcot …

Visit the Holy Land, in Brookland Read More »

Best time to go: 04/01 - 10/31  

You really can get lost in this 95 acre Eden in the heart of Vienna, VA. My son’s favorite part was the “Experimental Meadow,” which is a giant maze of overgrown grass. But that’s just the beginning. [1] The Korean Bell Garden is the visual highlight of Meadowlark, with a gigantic two-toned bell set in …

Get lost in Meadowlark Gardens Read More »

Best time to go: 08/31 - 09/29  

Pick apples, sample apple-themed treats, enjoy great music, and kick-off the fall season at Great Country Farms.

Best time to go: 08/23 - 10/22  

This is an opportunity, it seems, to walk through the pages of a Hilary Mantel creation (if that’s the closest we can get to the 16th century here in the 21st), brought to life by flamboyant characters in gorgeously imagined costumes.