Winter is here (maybe…this weather is weird). And while it may be warm enough to hang outside, the gray and rain may make you want to stay inside. You may want to stay inside, but that doesn’t mean you need to stay at home. Here are three great indoor activities near Reston that you and (in two cases) the family can enjoy all winter.
Visit the Smithsonian
You don’t have to travel into DC to enjoy the Smithsonian museums—the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located just down Route 28 in Chantilly, only about 10 minutes from Reston. This is where all the big, cool aerospace things are, like the Space ShuttleDiscovery, the Concord and SR-71 Blackbird. You can also watch planes take off and land from Dulles International Airport from the comfort of the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower. And if that isn’t enough, check out their events calendar for more fun.
Visit Local Historical Sites
Mount Vernon gets most of the glory when it comes to historical homes in Northern Virginia, but it’s not the only one. Founding Father George Mason's home is also in Fairfax County. Gunston Hall is just down the road in Lorton. It’s a great place to learn about the man who's writings inspired America's Bill of Rights. Closer to home, we have Sully Historic Site in Chantilly (just a few minutes away from the Udvar-Hazy Center) and Colvin Run Mill just down the street, off Route 7 (which has a great little general store).
Sample a Local Brew
Craft breweries are in, and we’ve got several good ones in Fairfax County — Forge Brew Works and Fair Winds Brewing Co. in Lorton, Caboose Brewing Company in Vienna, and Aslin Beer Company in Herndon. And soon, we’ll have one even closer to home in Reston! We can’t wait for the Lake Anne Brew House to open. Perhaps this isn’t for the whole family, but you deserve to have some adult fun! Find yourself a designated driver and enjoy a day of beer tasting.
For more fun, indoor ideas for the winter (and whenever, really), check out this guide from Fairfax County.
