Fairfax County is a large county – it spans over 407 square miles with a population of 1.4 million people.
In such a populous and dynamic destination, with hugely urban downtown areas like Tysons, you may not expect to find a handful of small towns that are so charming and walkable you’ll forget you’re in one of the biggest metropolitan areas of the country.
These quaint small towns are one of the best-kept secrets in the region, hearkening back to simpler times. Make time in your vacation plans to be charmed by one of the towns below.
📍Town of Vienna
Take a stroll down historic Church Street
The history of Vienna, VA dates back to the mid-1700s. It was named Ayr Hill until the mid-1800s when the town got its current name, Vienna. It was a pretty sleepy town until 1861 when one of the Civil War’s first armed battles, The Battle of Vienna, took place there.
While many historic properties remain, one of the key attractions is the Freeman Store & Museum on Church Street. Constructed in 1859 as a general store, it was used in 1861 as a polling place for the secession vote and used by both sides as a makeshift hospital during the war. Today it is a museum and gift shop. Just across the street, you’ll find the Red Caboose, a favorite with kids. It commemorates the importance of the railroad to Vienna’s growth from the 1850s on. The historic Vienna Depot sits behind it.
As you continue down Church Street, you can stop at Caffe Amouri, an award-winning coffee roaster, before hitting the shops and restaurants just ahead. About a block away, you’ll hit the iconic Clock Shop of Vienna, a family-owned shop since 1975. This is one of those landmarks everyone knows, so you should duck your head in before starting to explore all the little nooks and crannies at the heart of Church Street.
Among the don’t miss shops to explore is the beloved Bard’s Alley Bookshop, a local favorite in the same strip as The Wine Outlet and Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. The alley between that and Terra Christa, a shop with crystals and incense, will be important when you get hungry. Just beyond that, you’ll find Trace, The Zero Waste Store and Yas Bakery & Supermarket. If you’re a beader, you’ll find Star’s Beads around back at the corner of Church and Lawyers. It’s fabulous, but open by appointment only.
Now, we eat. All along your walk you’ve passed restaurants like Roberto’s Ristorante Italiano, The Sandwich Shop, and Great Harvest Bread Company. But let’s get back to that alley by Terra Christa. That’s where you’ll find The Pure Pasty, an internationally awarded British handheld savory pie company. And just beyond that is Royal Nepal Bistro. They have this tiny shot of lentil soup that is one of the best things I’ve eaten in Northern Virginia.
There is so much more of Vienna to discover—Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant, Jammin Java with its live indie bands, Caboose Tavern and their micro brews, the First Baptist Church of Vienna founded by African Americans in 1867, and Clarity, one of the top restaurants in the region.
There is also the SPECTACULAR Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with the only Korean Bell Garden in the Western Hemisphere. And up the road a bit further is America’s only National Park dedicated to the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap. Note: both of these sites will require a vehicle from the main stretch of Church Street.
📍Town of Clifton
Take a trip back in time along Main Street
At the end of a long, curvy road lined with trees and expansive estates, you’ll stumble upon the Town of Clifton. Frequently referred to as the “Brigadoon of Virginia,” a visit here is like going back in time – or jumping into a Norman Rockwell painting. Not much has changed in this town since Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan visited here (not all at the same time!) for fresh air and a local escape to the country.
The tiny downtown that stretches along Main Street is a mere 2-3 blocks long, depending on how you count. There isn’t even a stoplight. But its charm is a mile wide.
Founded as Devereux Station, the town is a product of the Civil War with the railroad tracks dividing the town. On one side of the tracks, you’ll find Trummer’s Restaurant, a critically acclaimed destination restaurant. Across from that is La Bella Luce, an antiques store.
On the other side of the tracks, you’ll be in the middle of the town, marked by the antique red caboose in the parking lot of The Wine Attic of Clifton, where you’ll also find Trattoria Villagio Italian restaurant. Across from that is the Clifton (General) Store – and take note, nestled in the back of the shop is the Main Street Pub, which serves a wicked good burger.
Next door is the Clifton Café, a local favorite that specializes in crepes. And just a few yards away, Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot that serves up some of the best homemade treats in all the land.
With the exception of Virginia Mercantile, a quaint shop just a short walk down Chapel Road, that’s Clifton. What it lacks in sprawl, it makes up for in white picket fences, winding roads, historic structures, and scenic beauty. You’ll likely see motorcycles lining the streets when you visit. It’s a favorite daytrip for bikers in the area.
At the end of your walk about, hop back in your car and head to Paradise Springs Winery, the first of the county’s two wineries. Just a bit further down that road, you’ll find Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.
📍Town of Herndon
Take an adventure along Elden, Lynn and Spring Streets
It began with a mill in a hollow by a stream in the early 1800s. By the mid-1800s, the railroad brought life to Herndon, leaving multiple historic homes in its wake.
Today, Herndon is an incorporated town, but its historic downtown remains charming and walkable. There are shops and restaurants throughout the historic district, but most of the notable spots are along Elden, Spring and Lynn Streets.
Let’s start on Lynn Street, just past Spring Street. That’s where you’ll find the red caboose that marks all the walkable towns in Fairfax County. A short walk down Spring Street leads you, first, to the Herndon Depot Museum, once the site of a Civil War skirmish. Next to that is the Herndon Old Town Hall, a 20th century structure located on the Town Green.
Take a right on Elden Street for a fun dose of nightlife. Right on the corner is the legendary Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern. This Buffalo Bills sports bar is known far and wide and features live music, food, trivia and, of course, sports. Further down that block you’ll find Aslin Beer Company, a local brewery with a cult following. If you get hungry, Izzi is the brewery’s scratch kitchen, adjacent to the main taproom. (They serve up house roasted coffee drinks in the AM!) And across the way is Sully’s Pour House restaurant and bar.
As you adventure through the house tour linked above, you’ll find more shops and restaurants in this quaint town. A couple notable spots are Green Lizard Cycling gear shop and café on Lynn Street near the Depot Museum, Herndon Farmers Market on Thursdays near the caboose, Roaches in the Attic Antiques on Spring Street, and Right On Records vinyl shop on Elden just past Spring Street.
Worth hopping in your car: Frying Pan Farm Park, recreating rural America from the 1920s to 1940s. And one of the biggest attractions in the entire DC area both in size and appeal, the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, right next door to Dulles International Airport. If you’ve ever wanted to see Space Shuttle Discovery up close and personal, this is your chance.
Besides being uber charming and walkable, all of Fairfax County’s cute small towns were built for the railroad and all have a little red caboose near the tracks. But each has its own different vibe. Me personally, I like Vienna for shopping and dining, Herndon for its quirky vibe and larger surrounds, and Clifton helps me feel like I’m a million miles away.
See which quaint town you like best on your next visit to Fairfax County! Share your favorite spots with us on social media using @VisitFairfax and #FXVA.