Whether you’re a visitor looking for an enjoyment-added spot to dive into some literature or a local looking for a new favorite place to get lost in words, Fairfax County can read you like a book.
To be fair, pretty much every park, library, coffee shop and bench in the county would be a great place to read. But the spots below are some of our favorites, whether you’re reading, writing, or just wandering off into other realms in your mind. So grab a comfy spot and begin the first chapter of your new journey!
Best Parks for Your Prose
There are dozens of parks spread throughout the county, all of which offer quiet respite in nature. From the thundering waters of neighboring Great Falls Park and Riverbend Park to the awesome vistas of Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge and Mason Neck State Park, some of our most popular parks offer the best views. But, they are truly our most popular parks. If you want to find an outdoor spot relatively free of distractions, there are a few parks with either less foot traffic or many interesting nooks to read in.
- Parks Along the GW Parkway. As its name might suggest, the Parkway is dotted with parks. The three with the best potential to get away from it all are Collingwood, Fort Hunt Park and Riverside Park. At Collingwood, the likelihood of you being totally alone is high. The park has picnic tables and a great view of the Potomac. Fort Hunt Park has no water views, but it’s large and offers many interesting spots to read, from picnic tables and pavilions to large patches of grass and the ruins of a WWII POW camp. At Riverside Park, you’ll see some picnic tables and people but look for the footpath marked by large rocks to your left. It will lead you to solitude.
- Bull Run Regional Park. In every month but April, you’re likely to find relative seclusion and a park bench overlooking Bull Run along the Bluebell Trail. No peace in April, however, as the trail is filled with people like me marveling at bluebells as far as the eye can see. There are multiple other trails in the park to explore, too.
- Burke Lake Park. Burke Lake is surrounded by a five-mile trail with park benches and many places to stop and take in the view. Because it is so large, you’re likely to find a relatively peaceful spot here to read and reflect. There are many other trails to try, too. Of course, weekdays will be the least busy.
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Perhaps a surprising suggestion because Wolf Trap is known as one of the premier concert venues in the region. But it is also a National Park with trails and points of interest along the way where you can unfurl a blanket, take a seat and lose yourself in verdant, solo bliss. The park is open sunrise to sunset most days and there is no fee to enter. But you are expected to leave the park two hours before Filene Center performances, which primarily happen in summer.
To add to this list, while not parks, per se, the following sites offer fields of green upon which to read. The extensive grounds of Woodlawn & the Pope-Leighey House are free to explore Thursdays through Mondays, 10am to 4pm. House tours will require a ticket. Purchase a memento from their gift shop to help support the site.
Another great, less-traveled site is the 25-acre American Horticultural Society’s River Farm, open Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm. As its name suggests, the site is not only filled with gardens maintained by the people who know gardens best, but it also has sweeping views of the Potomac River.
Those sites are free, but for $5 you could read in the shadow of a founding father’s riverside home at George Mason’s Gunston Hall.
Best Benches for Your Biographies
One of the painted benches commissioned for the "Take a Seat" program sits outside Bard's Alley Bookshop in the Town of Vienna.
Pretty much every park in Fairfax County has benches to read on or to just sit and enjoy the view. But here are a few of my favorites.
- Dyke Marsh. There is a boardwalk traversing Dyke Marsh along the GW Parkway. And at Tulane Drive and the GW Parkway there are a small handful of parking spots to access it. Park there, walk toward the boardwalk and you’ll see it—one bright, shining park bench that puts your back to the joggers along the trail and puts your eyes on the wetlands. Sometimes it feels like this bench is protected by a cone of silence and it’s usually free for the taking.
- Huntley Meadows Park. Huntley Meadows is a gem of a park, located far enough from major roadways that you can often hear a pin drop. But, during certain timeframes, be on the lookout for wildlife photographers that pack the boardwalk like paparazzi at a Tom and Zendaya sighting. So, just before you reach the boardwalk, turn left and follow the wooded trail. There are a number of park benches along that trail that will immerse you in your prose. There are also many trails that veer off the main path and, if you like, an elevated overlook further down on the boardwalk path that can be surprisingly quiet. When people go up there, they usually just look and leave. A box in the parking lot at the trailhead accepts cash donations for your visit.
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. This 100-acre park is the jewel of the region with beautifully crafted gardens, a pond and the only public Korean Bell Garden in the Western Hemisphere. There are plenty of places to sit among nature here. A real treat. There is an admission fee from $4-$8, depending on your age.
- The Boro Tysons. While not exactly a bench, per se, the little library and Adirondack chair set up at the nook near the Boro (pictured in header) is a colorful place to stop. Turn up Westpark Drive and you'll see it to your right before the geometric mural.
Best Coffee Shops for Your Crime Novels
The best coffee shops are the ones where you can buy a cup and linger over your book or Kindle. While they might have more ambient noise and foot traffic than other sites we’ve mentioned, some people thrive in that environment. Here are some choice spots to linger over a latte and literature.
- Grounded Coffee Shop. Full disclosure, I’m not a coffee person. But I have enjoyed many an Americano while sitting on Grounded’s sofas and working on my laptop. This local spot is worth seeking out for the atmosphere alone, but when you add their baked goods and sandwiches, it’s a must-read if you are in the Alexandria area.
- Fairfax Coffee. Comfy sofas, cushy lounge chairs and locally roasted beans are just a few of the things that put Fairfax Coffee on the bestseller list. And how unique is this? They are located in Fairfax Church, bringing divine vibes and a sense of welcome you can’t find anywhere else.
- Bakery Museum & Co. If “cozy” and “spacious” doesn’t make you want to visit, how about a bite of a Dubai Chocolate Croissant? This popular Fairfax coffeeshop is a masterwork of beans, bakery and bookishness.
- Compass Coffee. This local DC chain has two locations in Fairfax County—Fairfax and Falls Church. Owned by two former Marines who literally traveled the world looking for a good cup of coffee, Compass’ beans are ethically sourced, roasted at their peak and made in America. The cafes are comfy and cozy so you can grab a cup and curl up with your book.
For even more coffee shop suggestions, check out these 26 spots for your cup o’ joe.
Best Libraries for Your Literature
Library of Congress in nearby Washington, DC.
Where better to read a book than at the library? The Fairfax County Public Library system contains more than 20 libraries, many of which boast pleasing architecture, beautiful landscaping and points of interest within. In each library you’ll find quiet study rooms with minimal distractions, comfy chairs and quiet, cozy nooks. A few, however, stand out for their siting and views.
- Dolley Madison Library. Once inside the rather pedestrian façade of the building, you’ll encounter sweeping woodland views through floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap the back of the building. It’s like cozying up in the midst of a temperature-controlled forest.
- Burke Center Library. With an industrial chic exterior and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking local wildlife and woods, reading at Burke Center is like relaxing in a light-filled lodge. It’s the only library in the system with drive through service, but the real star is the view.
- Oakton Library. This LEED Silver certified building is not just built with the environment in mind, it’s also certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Habitat. Sit inside and watch the local wildlife out the window or take advantage of outdoor seating on beautiful days.
If the reading you’re doing is research, there are three local libraries you should know about. The first is the mother of all libraries, The Library of Congress, just a short Metro ride from Fairfax County. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon is open by appointment for anyone interested in George Washington, colonial America and the Revolutionary eras. And the Virginia Room at the City of Fairfax Regional Library is rich in regional history, as well as having a database to research genealogy from all 50 states.
Visiting the Washington, DC area doesn’t have to be about traversing from site to site. Sometimes it’s about doing everyday stuff in a new location. So make your next book an adventure by discovering a new spot to enjoy your favorite hobby! We promise we won’t spoil the ending!
