You've got to admire a Spite House. It's known as the Hollensbury Spite House and is 7-feet wide…read moreand 325 sq feet. It was built in 1830 and is considered to be the narrowest historic house in the U.S. So inquiring minds want to know -- why was it built? It was built to block an alleyway with too much traffic.

Cutest house and easy to find in such a charming neighborhood…read more Does someone actually live here?

If you want to take a step back in time and visit a small Virginia town, then take a beautiful…read morecounty drive to Clifton. There are NO chain stores here. In fact, there are only 1-2 shops and several restaurants. The main draw are the historical markers along the railroad tracks that describe their history and importance and the quaint 1900's architecture. The first railroad station, now gone, was built around 1850. The railroad was important during the Civil War with many battles fought near this border town. The town remains unchanged since the 1930's. Colorful homes line the street each telling a story. Amenities are limited. There is some street parking and a small parking lot behind Buckley's store. Parking is free. The only restrooms are in the restaurants. All the restaurants are good. Gas up before you come.

This is a nice town in Virginia. Surrounded by both Fairfax and Prince William Counties, bring cash…read moreand credit cards. Nothing is cheap here. In many ways it's a lot like Middleburg. On a plus note I do like the trains a lot. Also the caboose exhibit is a nice aspect. Yet do take care, as the main road can be fairly congested. Old Town Alexandria or Fairfax, are more foot traffic friendly. Is it pretty? Yes. The old church and general stores are very attractive. Seeing the old Texaco sign is always pleasant. There are some expensive craft shops and restaurants. Petersons Ice Cream, is higher than most, but I do love them for a dessert treat. Parking can be a challenge, but overall small and quaint.

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.

TL:DR - A oasis in Washington, DC…read more While the phrase "hidden gem," is too often overused, the Tregaron Conservancy is place where that label is completely apropos. Located off Macomb Street in the toney Cleveland Park neighborhood, this is definitely a spot frequented by locals. Walking up to the small gate entrance, it's almost as if this a secret garden of sorts. Make you way up the winding path, and visitors encounter some of the most beautiful green spaces in all of DC. The Tregaron Conservancy and the associated grounds are joint tenants with the adjacent Washington International School (https://tregaron.org/news/washington-international-school-tregaron-conservancys-perfect-partner). Just be aware that while the main sections of the Tregaron are open to the public, the school portion is not. While the Tregaron is not expansive, there are many nice sections. There are benches down by the Lily Pond which I have often enjoyed a coffee and conversations with friends. The remaining grounds are kept pristine with slight hills which are perfect for an afternoon picnic or just sitting to enjoy sunny days. There is also the scenic Klingle Valley trail which winds through the woods and eventually connects up with Rock Creek Park after crossing through busy Connecticut Ave. Good information before you make the trip: https://tregaron.org/planning-your-visit My advice is to take the Metro to the Cleveland Park stop, and make the short 10 minute walk. There are many restaurants and bakeries where you can pop in, get a beverage and pastry to enjoy at the Tregaron. Bonus Tip: If you need to use a restroom, the Cleveland Park Library is at corner of Connecticut Ave and Macomb Street (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleveland-park-library-washington?osq=cleveland+park+library&sort_by=date_desc) There aren't many "attractions" at the Tregaron...but that's really the point. It's a place to escape the concrete jungle that is DC and commue and appreciate nature, at least for a short while. If you are looking for an "in the know" place and want to impress long time DC residents and visitors alike, I highly recommend visiting the Tregaron Conservancy.

The Tregaron Conservancy is a beautiful hidden gem for a short walk in a natural setting right…read moreinside the city. I'm amazing by how much of an escape it feels like as it's tucked on a very small land area. It may not be a tourist destination to make a trip out for, but I am so grateful to have this local spot. The area could be walked through very quickly, but I have also spent hours sitting by the pond and birdwatching or just enjoying nature. The park can be tricky to find, I access it from Klingle Valley Trail. Note - this is the Conservancy which is an outdoor park. I believe the "Estate" is now the Washington International School building and is not open to the public.

This Autumn, signs began to appear on telephone poles in the Gainesville/Haymarket area - warning…read moreof the Un-lucky Inn. Being a Halloween fan - I was intrigued, I visited their web site. So it looks and sounds cool based on the story on their web site. But would it actually deliver the scary goods? I went last Friday night on my way home from Shenandoah National Park. I arrived about 6:40 pm and bought my ticket - $10.00. The first hour The Un-lucky Inn conducts a non-scary version for little kids to go through. While you are waiting, a couple of vendors are selling food - one has hot chocolate and coffee for sale, the other is Red Hot and Blue - selling pulled pork and chicken sandwiches - just in time for you to eat them, then enter the Un-lucky Inn - and lose your lunch! :-) At 7:30 pm, they begin the real horror. Groups are sent though with a couple of guides, no more than eight people per group. You cross the yard and enter the Un-lucky Inn. I am not going to give away the scary details as I want others to be properly frightened and terrified. Suffice to say, this is to date the best and scariest haunted house I have experienced as an adult. Go, go to The Un-lucky Inn. You may check in, but you will never check out! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

The Un-Lucky Inn is not a pofessional haunted house, its ran by volunteers of Reminton Fire house…read more People from surronding counties came to volunteer to help with the haunt. I should know, I was one of the main actors.. or actress you should say. Its a timing and tiring process but we did it, cause we enjoy scaring people. :) The Un-Lucky Inn is filled with any possible scary effects that would make a grown man cry, or #2 himself. Gladly tho, there are porta pottys near, so if you gotta go befor and after, its there for you. That is not a lie, I had to clean up my station plenty of times. Yes, there may be a line to wait in, but doesnt all haunted houses? At least there is a barrel of fire to keep you warm before your haunt, and great food and drinks for sale. Have kids too scared to go thru the regular haunt, there is a scare free tour for the little ones or the faint at heart ones.. Its a great haunted house to go to. No only will we give you the heeby jeebies, but the real owner of this house. Mr. Lucky himself. He still resides in this house, i swear. I work in the house, yet, I even get scared just going back and forth in the house. I hope you will check out the house someday. ITs a fright you will never forget. Rescue teams available if needed. NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL PERMITTED ON GROUNDS. if you come in drunk or high, we will notify police.

I had no idea that such a unique piece of architecture was located right in the suburbs of…read moreBethesda. I only found this out after searching for activities to do in the area and was recommended this site. Definitely a really cool crafted home that looks like a smurf or flinstone home!

One of the most unusual houses you will ever see. Reminds me of a Smurf house. Definitely a one of…read morea kind gem hidden right in suburbia.

I like the graffiti cliffs for a multitude of reasons. My main reasoning is it allows me to get an…read moreescape from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being right in the middle of it. Additionally, it offers a great view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the Potomac. It is one of those experiences in the city that takes you away while still being present. A couple of downsides to this area is that it can be a bit sketchy and you're best to watch your back when you come up here. On the flip side, they're there for the same purpose that you are - to chill. You leave them alone and you will be left alone. It is easy to access for the most part. Just take the stairs up from the parking below by the kayaks and you'll find yourself on the C & O Trail. Wear good shoes. You will be better off than wearing sandals.

If you want to see some American Graffiti, this is where you come. Jimmy Cliff and Cliff Richard…read more(ew) like it here too, hence it's named the Graffiti Cliffs. I didn't even know the Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown even existed (even) until my most recent visit, which is weird because I know everything, lol, and I used to live around here. But it's a must visit. I love it. The views are amazing and the graffiti on all of the cliffs and things around here is awesome. The sometimes strict local police let everything go here, so it's basically just a free artistic place. It's sort of like a tolerance zone for prostitution, but instead, it's art. Although Barbi and I consider some forms of prostitution to be art, too, especially when we do it. So Graffiti. Not as much fun as prostitution but it might be better to look at depending on who the client is. I mean artist. However, I learned that just a few weeks after I visited here, they closed it off. Not even for Coronavirus, but before Corona. Hopefully it'll be opened up again as soon as Coronavirus is over. It better be.

I'm not thrilled with this park. At best it's a quick way to get out of suburbia. Located next to…read more66, the road noise is prominent. That decreases the getting away part. Tis a shame but Merrifield/Mosaic is huge. Alright that's mitigated by the cool restaurants and stores. This park is part of the Fairfax County system. They have one of the best in the country, but this is one that can be skipped. Sure there's a small playground for little ones, but so many area parks have more for children of all ages. My guess is that eventually this will be changed to something else. I don't have any inside information, but rather just a hunch. Gallows Road is extremely busy and development is lightning fast.

small park with a playground, some tennis courts, a basketball court and some tables…read more There is like 20 spots for parking maybe? Good place to start if you want to bike on Washington & Old Dominion Trail nearby. There is a porta potty