25 Northern Virginia Tourist Attractions and Places for Newcomers

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Don't forget to visit the surrounding area! Maybe you just moved to Northern Virginia and have no idea where to go during your free time. Underestimate the appeal of Northern Virginia and you're missing out on a variety of parks and restaurants. Here, in alphabetical order, are 25 places you may want to check out before you dismiss NOVA (but, remember, this is only the beginning. For more fun places, go to http://www.virginia.org/):

Arlington Arts Center: Manned by Arlington County Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources, this gallery offers a wide range of opportunities for Mid-Atlantic artists, including the chance to apply for low-cost live-in studios. For more information, check out their website: www.arlingtonartscenter.org 3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201. (703) 248-6800.

Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse: $1 movies on Mondays! View their schedule of events at: www.arlingtondrafthouse.com. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204. (703) 486-2345.

Bailey's Crossroads: A large shopping center with many options---both franchises and Mom and Pop, with mainly low to moderately-priced merchandise. Everything from Best Buy to Trader Joe's to Marshall's to Halal markets and more. 5871 Crossroads Center Way, Baileys Crossroads, VA 22041.

Carlyle House: A 1753 house, beautiful garden, museum, and gift shop all in one. Learn more about it by visiting: http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/carlylehouse/index.php. 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. (703) 549-2997.

Chart House: Classy with wonderful food and an enviable view of the Potomac River. View their website at: www.chart-house.com/ One Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 684-5080.

Eden Center: A gateway to Vietnamese culture, featuring authentic Asian restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment. 6799 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044.

Ellipse Arts Center: Run by Arlington County Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources but affiliated with the Corcoran in Washington, D.C.; specializes in modern art. 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. (703) 228-7710.

Fish Market: Affordable seafood in a charmingly casual environment right along Old Town Alexandria's historic King Street. For more information, see their website: http://www.fishmarketoldtown.com. 105 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 836-5676.

Fort Ethan Allen: A Civil War earthwork fortification built by the Union. 3829 North Stafford Street Arlington, VA 22207. (703) 228-4747.

Fort Ward: A Civil War fort built by the Union to protect Washington, D.C. from the Confederates. Includes a museum and several festivals a year. Learn more at: http://oha.alexandriava.gov/fortward/. 4301 West Braddock Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22304. (703) 838-4848.

Full Kee: A delicious and affordable authentic Chinese restaurant. 5830 Columbia Pike Falls Church, VA 22041. (703) 575-8232.

Great Falls National Park: Astounding waterfalls, hiking trails, a visitors' center, and picnic tables. Learn more at: http://www.nps.gov/grfa/. 9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA 22102. (703) 285-2965.

Gulf Branch Nature Center: Right along the water with a house full of live, local species and information about past Indian tribes; walking paths and nearby tennis courts and playground make it charming place to picnic. 3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington, VA 22207. (703) 228-3403.

Kabob Palace: Great Middle Eastern food, good prices, and always open 24 hours. http://www.kabobpalace.net/. 2333 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202-2531. (703) 979-3000.

Lucky Three: Excellent Chinese food in a large, elegant restaurant that's often used for weddings and other fancy events. 5900 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. (703) 998-8888.

Mt. Vernon: George Washington's estate, overlooking the scenic Potomac River. Includes a museum and large gift shop with several dining options. Read more at: http://www.mountvernon.org/. George Washington Parkway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. (703) 780-2000.

Peking Gourmet Inn: Specializes in superb duck that they carve up right in front of you. Celebrities and politicians alike dine here so keep your eyes open! See their menu and more at: http://www.pekinggourmet.com/. 6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. (703) 671-8088.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park: Get a nice view of the Potomac River from the Virginia side. They host festivals every year and also have a community garden and nature center. 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, Virginia 22207. (703) 528-5406.

Potomac Mills: HUGE shopping mall with 225 "value oriented" stores just about everybody likes, including an Ikea. Learn more at: www.potomacmills.com/. 2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge, VA 22192. (703) 496-9355.

Robert E. Lee's House and Arlington Cemetery: See the famous Civil War general's estate, including slave quarters, and one of two national cemeteries run by the Army. Not just for military families. Learn more at: www.arlingtoncemetery.org/. Fort Myer, VA 22211. (703) 607-8000.

Stray Cat: See their website at: www.thestraycatcafe.com. 5866 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205. (703) 237-7775.

Torpedo Factory: A former torpedo factory turned into artists' studios. To learn more, go to: http://www.torpedofactory.org/. 105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 838-4565.

Tyson's Corner Center: A world-class mall with two parts just across the street from each other. For a store directory and more, go to: http://www.shoptysons.com/.
1961 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA 22102. (703) 847-7300.

Unique: Northern Virginia's biggest thrift shop! 2950 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA - (703) 992-6560.

Wolf Trap: World-class concerts and other performances, including Broadway plays. For more information, go to http://www.wolftrap.org/. 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182.