Scenic hikes, quiet trails, historic sites: You don’t have to leave NoVA to find these picture-perfect spots, hiding in plain sight.
By Jill Devine, Erin Gifford, and Renee Sklarew
Northern Virginia is packed with history — but here are a handful of sites you might not have discovered yet. For a relaxing weekend activity, visit these historic spots to see beautiful estates and breathtaking nature.
Ash Grove Historic Site
Ash Grove, one of the oldest houses in Virginia, can be found on a crowded cul-de-sac near Tysons’ Spring Hill Metro station. The 1790 estate stands behind the former Sheraton Tysons Hotel, flanked by brick townhouses and condominiums on one side and a 12-acre forested floodplain on the other. Once part of 6th Lord Thomas Fairfax’s 5-million-acre Northern Neck Proprietary, Fairfax County Park Authority now cares for the site under its Resident Curator Program. There’s public parking near the Walmart Supercenter. 8881 Ashgrove House Ln., Vienna
Colvin Run Mill
Not just ornamental, the worn burr stones lining the path to Colvin Run Mill are educational reminders of how hard early settlers had to work to produce their food. Such high-quality stones, imported from France, were a major investment for millers and often outlasted the mill itself. Built circa 1811, this still-operational gristmill features a 20-foot wheel powered by water from Colvin Run, and you can buy grain that was ground on site at the general store. 10017 Colvin Run Rd., Great Falls
Pope-Leighey House
The Pope-Leighey House is the only Frank Lloyd Wright structure you can tour in the DMV. This beautifully preserved Usonian-style home was relocated from downtown Falls Church when construction of Interstate 66 threatened its demolition. The house was moved to the grounds of Woodlawn, an antebellum plantation owned by George Washington, and then purchased by anti-slavery Quakers in 1846 to provide work for emancipated people. The National Trust for Historic Preservation maintains both properties. 9000 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
In Leesburg, savor a mostly shaded 1.2-mile loop hike along the perimeter of this 67-acre park. This hike provides a great break in the day and gives you far-reaching views across the Potomac River from a perfectly placed bench at Red Rock Overlook. It’s the ideal spot when you want to be one with your thoughts. Before you head out, read up on the park’s historic buildings from the 1880s, including an icehouse and a carriage house. 43098 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg
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Feature image of Pope-Leighey House courtesy Lincoln Barbour for Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
This story originally ran in our August issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
