Most people come to Fairfax County for our history, shopping, or proximity to Washington, DC. Among them are artists looking to be inspired and photographers hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Whether you paint or take pictures, your eye, passion, and soul will be understood and nurtured in our outdoor spaces and cultural attractions.
Local plein air artists and community groups organize outdoor painting events in places like Great Falls and Falls Church. Organizations including ArtsFairfax, Paint it, Fairfax, and the City of Fairfax, hold regular calls for artists to paint murals and provide public art. Galleries display finished works from local artists. Public art abounds throughout the county. And the Workhouse Arts Center teaches some of the area’s best visual arts classes.
Meanwhile, photographic inspiration also flourishes, with bona fide selfie spots, a trail of LOVEworks signs, and all of the great outdoors calling to you. Whether you are here on vacation, live here, or visit often, let Fairfax County be your muse.
Here are 25 inspired spots for plein air painting and photography:
🍂 Autumn Leaves. Each October you’ll find color everywhere you look. These are our favorite woodsy spots.
🏦 Architecture. Woodlawn Historic Site features two distinct historic homes—one was commissioned by George Washington, the other was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
🪖 Battlefields. Split rail fences. Cannons. The Stone Bridge. And acres of lush green fields. Take your pick at Manassas National Battlefield Park.
🐦 Birds. With over 200 species of birds and a scenic boardwalk and trails, Huntley Meadows Park provides the backdrop to many award-winning photos.
🪻 Bluebells. They are only there in April, primarily the second and third weeks. But they produce a jaw-dropping carpet of blue, whether alongside a bubbling creek at Bull Run Regional Park or the free-flowing Potomac River at Riverbend Park.
🧱 Brick Kiln. At Occoquan Regional Park, there’s an historic brick-making kiln that is made of bricks. How meta! It’s an interesting subject that you may never see again.
🦅 Eagles. Known for its eagle population, Mason Neck State Park also has a scenic boardwalk, wooded trails and stunning Potomac River views.
🦙 Exotic Animals. NOVA Wild is an ethical zoo featuring over 200 animals and a butterfly observatory. There is a drive-thru safari and also stroll-thru areas.
🐞 Exploration & Discovery. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is teeming with interesting subjects, from an historic mill and ruins to forest and water features.
🐄 Farm Animals. Frying Pan Farm Park is a demonstration farm mirroring the livestock, techniques and equipment used in the 1920s to 1950s.
🌺 Flowers. Among the demonstration gardens at Green Spring Gardens, you’ll see kitchen herbs, native plants, wildflowers and fruit in a beautiful stream valley setting.
🌳 Garden Scenes. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens covers nearly 100 acres of garden and park. Benches along the trail provide perfect vantage points and differing perspectives.
🏛️ Historic Homes. George Washington’s Mount Vernon is our country’s most visited historic home with livestock, a blacksmith shop and sweeping riverfront views.
Colvin Run Mill, courtesy IG user @sunnyspot8
🛞 Historic Mill. Colvin Run Mill is an early 19th-century waterwheel and operating gristmill that makes an interesting and nostalgic subject for painting and photography.
🚣 Lakes. Burke Lake Park has a five-mile circumferential trail around the lake offering countless perspectives of the landscape. There is also a carousel on site.
⛵ Local Landmarks. Belle Haven Marina and its surrounding park offer great views of the Potomac River, as well as of the Wilson Bridge and National Harbor’s Capital Wheel.
🥾 National Parks. Wolf Trap is the only National Park for the Performing Arts in the country. Other National Park properties include Great Falls Park and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
❓ Prehistoric Mysteries. You might not come to Fairfax County expecting to paint a full-scale replica of Stonehenge made of Styrofoam, but life is full of surprises.
🌷 Spring Flowers. River Farm boasts captivating river views, historic White House gates and the kind of gardens you’d expect from the National Horticultural Society’s HQ.
✨ Stars. Clear Friday nights at Turner Farm reveal the best stargazing in the region. An observatory is open for public viewing. Check viewing status before going.
🌅 Sunrise on the Potomac. There’s a bench on the bike path boardwalk at Dyke Marsh that is beautifully situated for sunrise. Even better, rent a kayak and go out on the water.
🌇 Sunset on the Potomac. Among the best places to watch a sunset in the region is Riverside Park, situated at a turn in the Potomac River looking toward Mount Vernon.
🌸 Washington, DC. From cherry blossoms and monuments to the White House, the sites and scenes of our nation’s capital are just a Metro ride away.
💦 Water Scenes. A hike into Scott’s Run Nature Preserve reveals ancient hemlocks, wildflowers, rocky crags, a gurgling stream and small waterfalls.
🌊 Waterfalls. A short walk from the parking lot at Great Falls Park leads to you to an impressive waterfall along the Potomac River. Part of the National Parks system.
From the ruins of Matildaville to the waters of Pohick Bay, there are no tools quite like photography and painting to help you capture the essence of a region. Explore the region and let Fairfax County inspire you to make beautiful art—and memories—while you’re in town. When your masterpiece is complete, share it with us on social at @VisitFairfax and #FXVA.
