Fun things to do and see in Northern Virginia near Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church. Includes parks, shopping, sightseeing, recreation and events.
West End Farmers Market is located at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive
The market is open on Sundays, May through November from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Dates and times subject to change.
Coming to the West End: Farmers\' Market
Sunday mornings, from May to November, the West End Farmers Market vendors set up their colorful displays in the south parking lot of Ben Brenman Park. This outdoor market is one of a kind in the city’s west end. Multiple vendors lay out:
colorful displays of fresh
locally grown
in-season vegetables as well as sweet juicy berries, apples, pears, and seasonal peaches.
Falls Church real estate
On Saturdays, Falls Church Farmer's Market is open to the public. It features some of the best fruits and vegetables around. You can also enjoy wines, plants, baked goods and much, much more.
The market is open year round with at least 15 vendors in the winter and 40 vendors the rest of the year. There are gardeners on-site that can answer gardening questions of all kinds.
Market hours
January 1st-March 26th - 9:00a.m. - 12:00p.m.
April 3rd-December 18th - 8:00a.m. - 12:00p.m.
Located at
Falls Church Farmer's Market
City Hall Parking Lot
300 Falls Ave.
Falls Church, VA. 22046
This is an aerial view of the Belle Haven Marina near the confluence of Cameron Run and the Potomac River. At the top of the image you can see Porto Vecchio.
1980 aerial view of Belle Haven Marina.
Belle Haven Marina Today
Docks at Belle Haven Marina on the Potomac River
Belle Haven Marina is one of several marinas along the Potomac in the Mount Vernon / Fort Hunt area
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in 22150.
Located at 6500 Springfield Mall (Way) in Springfield, Virginia, the Springfield Town Center is an enclosed shopping mall situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 644 just north of the Franconia-Springfield Metro station. Having undergone several renovations over the last five years, the Springfield Mall is anchored by three major department stores including JC Penney's, Macy's, and Target. The town center has 700,000 square feet of mixed businesses such as retail, restaurants, a fitness center and a movie theater. With over 150 stores to choose from, this mall is the perfect spot for shoppers who wish to shop until they drop, and can also be a perfect hang out for families or even people who simply want to wile their time away.
Parking. Catering to thousands of shoppers, the mall has also graciously provided for a whopping 8,000 parking spaces located in two separate covered parking garages and outdoor parking spaces surrounding the mall to ensure that their patrons never find parking a problem.
How to get there. Getting there should be quite an easy task as the mall is in close proximity to several metro stations, such as the Franconia Springfield Metro Station among others. You can also easily search online for driving directions and maps for getting to Springfield Mall. The Franconia/Springfield Metro also provides routine shuttle service to the town center.
The mall’s exact address is the following: 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA 22150.
When to go there. You can pay a visit to Springfield Mall during its regular shopping hours which is 10:00AM to 9:30PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and 11:00AM to 7:00PM on Sundays. As for holidays, keep posted for announcements as these may vary. Department store hours can also vary.
Historic Carlyle House in Old Town
Spring is at its zenith and so are the blossoms at the Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria.
Julie and I stopped in to tour the gardens and I took a number of pictures. The Carlyle House is a historic piece of Alexandria's colonial heritage and is a must see if you're in Alexandria VA. I personally think the house is a little more impressive than George Washington's Mount Vernon. The tour starts in the basement below the house and explores nearly every room in the finely-crafted and meticulously restored structure. John Carlyle was a contemporary of the likes of George Washington, Lord Fairfax, Henry "Lighthorse" Lee and General Braddock. This house is a key part of Alexandria's colonial heritage and revolutionary past.
The tour starts with a slick-production that explains who John Carlyle was and why he is a person of interest. In this video presentation, paintings, computer-generated scenery and historians provide context and background for the Carlyle House and John Carlyle. These pictures really don't do the blossoms justice but they hopefully they'll inspire you to visit the gardens before spring is gone.
bluebells at Carlyle House
tree blossoming at Carlyle House
dogwoods at the Carlyle House
Carlyle House azalea blossoms
The gazebo at Carlyle House
Carlyle House dogwoods
bloom at Carlyle House
Behind the Carlyle House
An azalea bush appears to be on fire at Carlyle House
blossoms at Carlyle House
Carlyle House is in 22314
Old Town Alexandria in bloom
Garden Centerpiece
Carlyle House flower
Carlyle House
Behind the Carlyle House is a mixture of formal and informal ornamentals, flowers, flowering trees and bushes.
This is a remarkable little enclave found right at the heart of Alexandria. It's just two blocks from the waterfront and only block from King St. and a public parking garage.
1940 ,George Washington Birthday Parade on the 1100 block of King St. Alexandria Va.
President's Day is fast approaching. The holiday of President's Day occurs on or about the birthday of George Washington, our first President, and resident of Mount Vernon VA.
There are a number of fascinating details in the picture above from 1940. The police uniforms have changed so very much since that day. Although many of the buildings survive, many of the businesses did not. For example folks don't by Stetson Hats like they used to. Here's the same location today.
A bench right across from the biking / running / walking trail
George Washington Masonic Temple
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate on the Potomac
Historical and Patriotic
The Lyceum is located at the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Built in 1839 and managed by gentlemen who formed with the Alexandria Library Company, The Lyceum remains to be historical and patriotic in its structure, with Greek style architecture on the exterior. The outside of the building is in the Greek style form of architecture which gives The Lyceum a distinct look. For tourists who plan to visit The Lyceum there are many historical memorabilia items which include the Civil War, documents, antique silver, photographs, furniture, and 19th century stoneware. The Lyceum was intended to be the cultural center of Alexandria and now it has returned to its former prominence.
The Lyceum has served many purposes for its country over the years. It was a cultural center in Alexandria before the Civil War broke out. It was then used as a hospital by the Union Army during the Civil War. It was even used as an office building, a private home and the first Bicentennial Center in the nation. It was in 1985 when The Lyceum was made as Alexandria’s Historical Museum.
The Lyceum can be rented by the community and by private parties for concerts, lectures, school programs, volunteer functions and weddings. Tourists can also enjoy viewing historical memorabilia from the Civil War, documents, antique silver, photographs, furniture and 19th century stoneware.
At 305 Hooffs Run Dr Alexandria, VA22314 there is One Life Fitness. Recently I joined a Rec sports league with DC Social Sports to play basketball through DC Social Sports in the City of Alexandria. Arriving at the gym was within walking distance to the King St. Metro (from Carlyle District) and the Eisenhower Metro. The gym interior is spacious.
Amenities at One Life Fitness include:
State-of-the-Art Onelife Cinema
Spa-Inspired Locker Rooms
Aquatics Center
Racquetball, Volleyball, and Basketball Courts
UNLIMITED Group Exercise Classes: Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Cycling, Les Mills Classes, Aerobics, Kickboxing and many more!
Women's Only Workout Area
Resistance Training
Core Training
Top-of-the-Line Cardio Equipment
Fast Fit 20 Circuit
Rock Wall
On-site Sports Medicine
Smoothie Bar
Kids Club with gymnasium, movie theater and video games (For Kids up to Age 13)
DC Social Sports offers registration for events and activities in Northern Virginia and DC including:
Basketball
Bowling
Bubble Soccer
Dodgeball
Flag Football
Inner tube water polo
Soccer
Softball
Street Hockey
Tennis
Volleyball
Inside One Life Fitness
A view of the first floor from the second floor
A player shoots a jumper during a DC Social Sports game
DC Social Sports offers registration for events and activities in Northern Virginia and DC including:
