Amazing! Incredible! These just scratch the surface of what you can experience at this museum…read more Having been to the National Air & Space Museum in the past, I remember when this extension opened near IAD. The big draw at the time, the Space Shuttle Columbia and a Skunkworks SR-71. Both highly impressive, more on that later. We arrived on a Monday just after it opened at 10am. It was like Romper Room with all the unruly kids blocking the entrance and cause a disturbance. Sadly the chaperones didn't seem to care. No entry fee to visit the center, there's even a free bus of you have an extended layover in IAD, but parking is $15. Still well worth the cost without the crowds in DC visiting the other museums. There are some great exhibitions! Lots of aircraft from a SPAD to a JSF. It was neat to see some private aviation aircraft along with lighter than air and aerobatics. The commercial side of aviation was a bit lacking. Yes, the Concorde is very impressive but neurons that and a Dash-80, annotation seemed to end about 1995. The space exhibitions were excellent. The Columbia was highly impressive to walk around and take in this has been to spaces numerous times and the first shuttle in space. Satellites, modern mission equipment, like Mars explorers AB's various heavy boosters. Was neat to see equipment from the early years of NASA, Mercury, Gemini and the legends who made history. The Vietnam and Korean displays were some of the best from MiGs to F-14s to the JSF. Really awesome to get up close and personal with these aircraft AB's pilots who flew them. The SR-71 is attire the display in the middle of the center with lots of information on its, little more than hour flight time from LAX to IAD. Just so much to see. But something you can do in a few hours, or all day off you want to read AB's experience all there is. Not as overwhelming as the Air & Space Museum but still highly impressive from young kids to aviation enthusiasts and everyone in between. Highly recommend this stop!

The museum itself is wonderful - as you would expect from the Smithsonian. It's jam-packed with…read moreexhibits - from the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle. We only had a couple of hours - got a great overview. Would love to return to see the IMAX and the simulators. We had a most exceptional tour guide - Larry M ! I wish i had his last name. Very friendly and knowledgeable - very engaged with his tour group.

From here so biased. Miss residing here but am glad to visit. Is there traffic? Yes. Is housing…read moreexpensive? Yep. Yet this is the norm in the DC area. I will happily argue, that the city of Fairfax is one of the best places to live. The amount of services and parks, there's no community close by that can compete. Go to the Blenheim House, City Museum, or countless miles of hiking and biking trails. Also unlike the surrounding county, there are trees here! There are plenty of delicious restaurants here. I love its diversity, educated population, and overall small town feel compared to surrounding areas. The police and fire departments are number one. You'll enjoy a vibrant arts or recreation experience. This weekend will be the Asian festival. That is a lot of fun, along with the one for chocolate, fall festival, and the best 4th of July parade and fireworks. Absolutely love it!

Did you know it's the largest fair in the country? Did you know there are 250 types of fried food…read moreon offer? Did you know.. oh wait. That's the wrong review. Those are "Fair Facts", not "Fairfax." The predominant memory of Fairfax is the beautiful smell of trees around the George Mason campus. The new memory is that it is the only location of Sharetea on East Coast USA. This international chain rocks my bubble tea world... who am I kidding, Bubble Tea is my whole world. You must try the Whole Lemon Black Tea the Okinawa Milk Tea. I visit Fairfax more than once a year, every year. My Uncle lives in the next town over (Man Asses), and I also happened to go to University here in Fairfax for several years of my life. I did rather well, but for a lot of the time I didn't have a working car, so instead of parading around DC like a true scallywag, I was restricted to running around Fairfax, biking around Fairfax, and bussing around Fairfax, and all of the above were not so much fun. It's a posh, rich, stuffy town with way too much traffic at the best of times. The cops are brutal and are constantly pulling students over trying to get DUI busts to make $$$ for what is already one of the richest counties in America. Despite all that, I had some good times in Fairfax and met some good people, and a part of my heart will always belong to it. It's an eerie feeling going back now, which I often do. I don't really recommend any of the food places in Fairfax, but nearby Vienna has the awesome Pasty Shop, the even better Gyros of Plaka Grill (and maybe Amphora, which is 24 hrs), and best of all the amazing homemade custard at Nielsen's - which is currently heartbreakingly closed down. There's a brand new shiny H-Mart in town with good Korean. In nearby Manassas, El Rulas makes the best tortas. Even closer, in Centerville, Burger Stop makes the very best burgers in the region - by far. And inside the Fair Oaks Mall (way too busy and popular), Monster Roll makes good deep freeze rolled ice cream. DC food in general - Falafel Inc in Georgetown. In MD burbs, Sardi's (Peruvian Chicken), Max's (best Shawarma/Falafel pita anywhere, get it spicy), Silk Road Choyhona (chicken kebab), hot pretzel and banana shake at Sadieanne's inside Dutch Village Farmer's Market in Upper Marlboro. Gyros at Yia Yia and Plaka. Late night, these 3: Kabob Palace, Amsterdam Falafel, Hard Times (Alexandria - Terlingua Red). La Casita for Salvadoran. Mazadar for Afghan. Java Loco for Okinawa Milk Bubble Tea. Dessert at SnoCream in Annandale. Also District Doughnuts in Georgetown, York Castle - crazy tropical flavors. Fairfax is mostly chains and brand names, but it's far from the worst place in the world to live or visit, and it's very safe, now that the sniper is not at large. The worst thing about Fairfax absolutely horrendous traffic. The best thing is excellent ethnic diversity and some really cool places to eat including nearby Centerville and Manassas and Falls Church. Also, as I said, Fairfax has the only Sharetea location on the entire East Coast. And that is a huge highlight for me personally. But it's just too clean and stuffy and rich for me and the traffic is some of the worst I've ever been stuck in. Hence the low rating. Especially when you factor in the daylight robbers keeping our pockets empty... I mean police keeping our streets, ahem, safe. (1) Rich town is putting it mildly. (2) Awful traffic. (3) Mild winters, muggy summers, lovely smell of trees. (4) The only Sharetea location on the East Coast. There you go: Four Facts on Fairfax.

This was one of my favorite spots on our Virginia wine tour - huge, beautiful property with lots of…read morehistory and sprawling fields. The ones were delicious, particularly the Chardonnay and the sangria I would recommend if you're doing wines by the glass! It was very busy with several events going on the Saturday we went, but the vast amount of indoor and outdoor seating did not make it feel that way. I thought it was so cool that they had an adults only section of seating outside, with a different section for families with kids. Just subtracting one star because they didn't allow our dog to sit with us outside on the picnic tables

This was my 3rd stop on my wine tour for the day and I muse say they did NOT disappoint!!! The…read moreyoung lady was very knowledgeable about the wines that we tasted. When you walk up they have a family section and an adults only section. When you walked up to the entrance of the wine tasting it was a little confusing but we were able to get the tasting quickly. There was a live band going on and another outside section where you can purchase other drinks.

Established over a century ago, this monumental and historical edifice in the heart of Fairfax city…read moreis a prominent setting for matrimonial, diners or business events. Presented as a wedding gift from Mr. Wilson Farr to his wife, from a visit to this place I witnessed this colonial style house features, library, a grand dining hall, handicapped facilities, gourmet kitchen, lavishing gardens and ample space for driveway and parking. Here are some of its photos.

My wife and I went to Italy recently to celebrate both of us turning 50 and our 25th wedding…read moreanniversary. In planning the trip, which began about a year prior, we were recommended through a friend to use Asimina Tours; we were put in contact with Dimitri. Right away, Dimitri worked very closely with us to find out what we were interested in seeing, how long we were looking to stay in Italy, and what our budget was. From there, Dimitri, along with his partner Christina, put together an amazing package that allowed us to see all the sights. We went to Venice, Como, Milan, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento. Along the way, we had many day trips, the majority of which were fantastic. From Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terre (a favorite), the Vatican, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri, it was a once in a lifetime experience and we had the most amazing time. Other highlights of the trip were the wine tasting in Tuscany and the private cooking class in Sorrento. They were also very accommodating with some last minute trip ideas. About 2 months prior to leaving, I had learned that one of my favorite bands, Queens of the Stone Age, were going to be performing in Italy while we were there. We contacted Dimitri and he was able to rearrange our hotel and travel accommodations, including a last minute domestic flight, without any issues. Dimitri and Christina made the entire process run smoothly. All of our travel tickets and hotel reservations were all available through the app. Our hotels were centrally located and were within walking distance from the major attractions. We really appreciated the private transportation arrangements to take us from the hotels to the train stations/airports, as well as the private tours. If you are planning on going to the Mediterranean area of Europe, I would highly recommend using Asimina Tours, they were awesome.

Flawless from start to finish. Stella was absolutely wonderful and created a magical 3 week second…read morehoneymoon for us in Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, and both Elounda and Chania Crete). The hotels, unique adventures, and travel arrangements all exceeded our highest expectations, on every level. At the start Stella spoke with us at length to understand all of our needs, preferences, budget, style, priorities... and then - quite uncharacteristically - I left everything completely in her hands. She made all of the right choices and created a trip of a lifetime that we will always remember. And she made it all SO easy and stress free, and even during the trip was available 24/7 with updates and to answer any questions we had, wherever we were. We are so grateful to Stella and can't recommend her highly enough.

Last Saturday, we visited the largest, permanent, model railroad display in the mid-Atlantic, owned…read moreby the Baltimore Society for Model Engineers. The Society was founded in March 1932 and is the oldest exclusively model railroad club in the United States. They maintain 2,500 square feet of model railroad displays of steam and diesel freight and passenger trains and trolleys, plus so much more. It was fun to see all the parts of the display - it really gives you a glimpse into the history of railroading. It is not easy to find, as the doorway is tucked into the left front center of the building and the society is located on the third floor with no elevator. The display is normally open on the second Sunday of each month, except May.

These gentlemen have been around 81 amazing years. Great family environment with extremely…read moreknowledgable guys working. Displays are very detailed and even showcase popular Baltimore landmarks.

It's bigger than you think. 18 miles for the car tour and a ton more hiking paths. It was also…read morehillier than I thought. Once you're there you'll understand how prominent Henry and Matthews's hills are. Well worth the visit.

The walk and drive through history is easy at this national park and it's well worth a visit. If…read moreyou go in the warmer months use insect repellent. I picked up a tick during my mid March visit when I walked all the unfinished rail line. This is a no-fee park so if you're looking for something interesting and free, this is it.

Located in Old Town Fairfax (hence the name), this is the site of summer concerts, events, and a…read morelarge splash pad. There are tables around the splash pad but also grass and a stone wall. Bathrooms are located in the parking area next door, which has free parking. We stayed for about two hours and my toddler loved it. Don't forget to stop by Woody's for ice cream after!

It's a relaxing area, although rush hour traffic is fun to watch. Here there's a nice water…read morefountain for kids to run through. Also it's next to Kitty Pozer Garden, and the historic old town hall. A spot to kick back a bit, although I wish there was an ice skating rink or something. Space is limited, but not as well done as the old town Manassas one is. On a plus note Woodys Ice Cream is across the street. The tables are fairly comfortable. This is a delightful venue for "Rock the Block," and other events. Also the streets in old town are quite pedestrian friendly. Do be wary, but by all means enjoy the best part of Fairfax City. Get that ice cream or other foods from so many close by restaurants. The fountains add a look of intrigue.

This is a nice little historic site from Richard Bland Lee. There is a small gift shop/visitor's…read morecenter, a couple of outer buildings, then the main house. Our tour guide was great at explaining the history of the house and all the people who lived here. She explained the uses of each room and what was authentic. There was a small, old-fashioned classroom (since they educated local children) and an upper floor with a bunch of spinning equipment they show off more on field trips. Our tour group had about 6 people, so it was quiet and easy to ask questions if we had them. It was a nice little site and window into life in the 19th century.

If you are visiting the Air and Space Museum by Dulles Airport and find yourself with a little time…read moreto kill then this is a nice park to visit. It is a historical site that was the plantation home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia's first Representative to Congress, and his wife Elizabeth Collins Lee. It was built in 1794. It is a huge complex, covering 65 acres. It is an adequate parking lot and is well maintained. The site has a bookstore/visitor's center/gift shop. There are some picnic tables near this building where you can sit, eat, and or relax, some of which are shaded. You will also find some building structures at the site that that include the main house, a smokehouse, which you will see fake meat hanging from the overhead, and a replica slave quarter. If you are driving here, there are two parking lots for you to park. You will find a ton of green space, some trails, and additional picnic tables by the main house. I like that this site does not shy away from its slavery past. It faces it head on and pays tribute to those that were enslaved. I like this site. It provides a bit of a history lesson through informational placards placed along the grounds. Gives hikers an opportunity to explore and work out, and is also a place of peace and relaxation. The site has a decent event schedule that includes: Dairy Days-Ice Cream Making & Butter, Peaches and Cream, A Visit With Santa, Colorful Pumpkins, Making a Scarecrow, classic car shows, and various scout merit badge opportunities. In addition to all of that, they offer tours. There is always something going on here. It was pretty chill and laid back during my visit. There were not a lot of people there. This is a neat place to check out. You could spend about 2 hours here exploring.