Northern Virginia is a beautiful place to stay if you want to see Washington DC but don't want to pay for the DC hotels. Alexandria has nice affordable hotels within walking distance of the Metro (which for $1.85 takes you downtown DC in a few minutes). But don't limit yourself to DC just because that's all you know, Northern Virginia has a multitude of sites to see.
Beginning with Mount Vernon. This is George Washington's home. Entrance is about $8 but you can spend the whole day seeing the grounds. The area is composed of Washington's estate, a restaurant (The Mt. Vernon Inn), a gift shop, and a post office (so take some postcards you've been meaning to mail). The entire estate has been renovated to reflect life during the 1700s and if you go in the spring (April, May, June) you'll be overwhelmed with the daffodils, tulips, and other flowers that adorn the manor. If you go in July or August, the best time is during the week in the morning because the parking lot fills up on the weekends. Another great time to go is in December when they decorate for Christmas and they conduct candlelit tours (reservations required). Well behaved dogs, on leash, are welcome on the grounds, but not in the main building.
Driving up the George Washington Parkway, you'll notice the bike trail (16 miles to Alexandria and very enjoyable) and the scenic overviews as you head north. The next place to stop is Old Towne Alexandria . Pull in anywhere you can find a parking place and walk to King street. From the parkway down to the waterfront you'll find great restaurants and taverns (last call for alcohol is 1:30 a.m.), excellent shopping, and interesting people watching.
At the other end of the Parkway is Turkey Run park with it's series of hike-able trails leading to, among other places, Great Falls Park. Great Falls is a great get away from Washington, DC. Up a twisty road it's a great place for kayaking, rock climbing, and picnics. The falls are accessible from both the Virginia and Maryland side. Look for a pole marking various flood water levels over the years.
Also try to visit Manassas with its historic Old Town area and Civil War Battlefield. You can get there by train or car. Away from the historical parts of Northern Virginia, you can also find great shopping and restaurants in Tyson's Corner, Reston and Arlington.
Near Dulles Airport is the newly opened, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This is the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum's new facility. Here they display artifacts including the Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird', Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay', an Air France Concorde and the Space Shuttle 'Enterprise'. There is an IMAX® theater as well. The museum continues to develop new exhibits to examine the impact of air and space technology on science and society. Parking is $12, however there is a free bus from the flagship building on the National Mall in DC. Admission is free.
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