|
|
Fairfax
offers an abundance of historic attractions within the city's Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1987. The Historic District includes a variety of landmarks and buildings, including the Fairfax Elementary School (c.1873) which has been converted into the Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center. The museum is located on Main Street and provides both guided tours of the city and free brochures for a self-guided tour of the most noteworthy buildings and landmarks. Some of the historic buildings include the Fairfax Court House (1800), the Ratcliffe-Allison House and Pozer Garden (1812), the William Gunnell House (c.1835), Joshua Gunnell House (c.1830), Ford House (c.1835) and the Old Town Hall. In addition, the City of Fairfax purchased historic Blenheim Estate in 1999 to preserve and develop into a Civil War Museum and open-air park. Blenheim is c.1855 and contains one of the best-preserved examples of Civil War graffiti in the nation, a virtual "diary on walls" providing insight into typical soldier life during the Civil War. Another historic home, “Grandma's Cottage,” was moved from Old Lee Highway to Blenheim Estate in 2001. Both residences belonged to the Willcoxon family, instrumental in the early-19th-century history of Fairfax.
Fairfax County offers close proximity to all the national monuments and museums of Washington D.C. Nearby attractions include Mount Vernon, George Washington's spectacular home overlooking the Potomac River and the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which exhibits over 80 aircraft and space artifacts. In Fairfax, you are just minutes away from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. You can enjoy the serene Virginia Wine Country and Virginia Horse Country, located just to the west of Fairfax, or the bustling nightlife of the nation's capital to the east. Fairfax really does present an exciting, diverse vacation experience for everyone.
Outdoor enthusiasts will also find much to do in Fairfax. With over 388 parks, picnic areas, campgrounds and hiking trails, there is something for everyone. Just a few of the fabulous outdoor attractions include Fort Hunt Park, which was originally part of George Washington's estate and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a national park that hugs the shoreline of the great Potomac River. Attractions along the Parkway include Great Falls Park, Fort Macy, Turkey Run Park and Fort Hunt Park. Green Spring Gardens is a 27-acre park that was once a plantation. The historic manor house is open for tours and the Horticulture Center on the property contains a research library, exhibits and a greenhouse. The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is the longest and narrowest park in the state of Virginia. It stretches the entire length of Fairfax County along the former roadbed of the W&OD Railroad. Along the way are parks, trails and par course fitness stations, where you can walk, jog, bike or go horseback riding. Other things to do in Fairfax include swimming, fishing and boating, camping and golf.
|
|
|
