These are interesting times. Typically, Visit Fairfax would be giving you all the reasons to visit Fairfax County this spring—tours of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport, Cherry Blossom and Memorial Day events, fabulous shops and restaurants, concerts at Wolf Trap, sunny days at Great Falls Park, and the excitement of all the attractions in our nation’s capital. 

But travel is not advisable right now and each of us wants to do our part. Along those lines, many Fairfax County attractions have already taken precautions to ensure your safety by temporarily closing their doors, which means events are cancelled and many indoor sites are closed.  

However, one thing is certain. Fairfax County’s tourism community will be ready to greet visitors enthusiastically when the world is ready to travel again.  In the meantime, since hospitality is our business, we’ve compiled a list of things for you to do, whether you’re right around the corner or you’re “touring” from half a world away. Self-quarantine doesn’t mean you can’t escape. Let us take you on a virtual vacation worthy of a national capital!

Virtual Vacations

Vacation

Photo courtesy of @lenflight on Instagram

You don’t have to be here in the flesh to enjoy a Fairfax County vacation!

  • Tour the region from home! Delve into Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region and explore the many historic sites and attractions here.
  • Learn something new.  What a perfect time to learn something that you didn’t know about the area or our history.  Hear our stories straight from locals and be inspired to create your own when you visit.
  • See the cherry blossoms. Get a live, 24-hour view of the cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial Tidal Basin on BloomCam!  
  • Tour Mount Vernon. America’s most popular historic home is available for online tours. Explore their site for live streams, videos, and other digital experiences. 

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon courtesy of @virginiaflair on Instagram

National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy CenterThe Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive courtesy of @kitruddphoto on Instagram

  • Attend an opera at Wolf Trap. See what our nation’s only National Park for the Performing Arts has on tap for virtual viewing.
  • Enjoy an incredible meal at home. Our local chefs have served up some of their favorite secret recipes for you to enjoy at home.  

Bonus Points

The Winery at Bull Run

Photo courtesy of The Winery at Bull Run

  • Plan a future vacation. Use the extra time you have now to really explore our site and scope out neat things to do when you do visit. It will give your family something fun to look forward to!
  • Buy gift cards. There are restaurants we KNOW you’ll want to visit here. We encourage you to buy gift cards now to support restaurants at this difficult time. 

As you can see, there are many ways to get to know Fairfax County without leaving the comfort of your own home. Where will you venture to first?