Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but fall is definitely the best. As I’m still stuck in fall-less Florida, I decided to write about my favorite things to do in my hometown of D.C./Northern Virginia. Enjoy the chilly weather, sweaters and leaves!
Go up the Washington Monument
What better way to see the city’s fall magnificence than the tallest structure? Reserve a ticket for $1 for the world’s tallest freestanding structure. You’ll see the colors wrap around the Tidal Basin and follow the Potomac towards Alexandria. To the north, Georgetown’s houses feel almost New Englandey, mixed between the trees. The stretch of Rock Creek Park almost glows amongst the city and the skyline of Tyson’s shines in the distance.
Go for a hike in Shenandoah National Park
I could write an entire guide on where to hike in Shenandoah… actually, I probably will. Fall is one of the best times to go, there’s crisp air and stunningly gorgeous views of the fire colored valleys. Weekends bring tons of crowds, but the weekdays are relatively light. Take a trip down Skyline Drive and stop at as many overlooks as you can. Hike up to Mary’s Rock to see a scale of the leaves below. Feel a sense of accomplishment by summiting the notorious Old Rag Mountain or even frame the Whiteoak Canyon waterfalls with the fall leaves. Be sure to stay after sunset. Without any humidity to pollute the air, the stars stretch for miles and the Milky Way is usually visible.
Great Falls
The great falls of the Potomac are beautiful all year and one of my favorite places in the area. When the foliage around them comes alive, they’re even more impressive. Brave the crowds and you’re rewarded with one of the best places to hike near D.C. The Billy Goat trail on the Maryland coast is the best trail, but the star views are from the NPS owned park in Virginia.
The Apple House’s Apple Cider Donuts
It’s a very simple task, but so worth your time. The Apple House (4675 John Marshall Highway) is about an hour outside the city and makes some of the best Apple Cider Donuts I’ve ever had. Grab a dozen before hiking into Shenandoah, then grab another on the way home!
Cox Farms + Fields of Fear
During the day, Cox Farms is an idealistic fall festival. They have about half a dozen themed slides, an acid-trip equivalent of a hay ride, tons of pumpkins, apple cider (and donuts) and a corn maze that doubles as a fever dream, a pumpkin patch and so much more. At night, the wholesome event turns spooky. With a haunted hayride, dark cornmaze and giant bonfire, it’s one of the best events in the National Capital region.
Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt
One of the District’s closest amusement parks, Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion is a pretty impressive event! It’s nowhere near the scale of the name brand haunts, like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, but the regional park packs a ton of scares in its five haunted houses and four scare zones. Some of them seem to carry a loose tie in to the Appalachian/Virginian region, which is a fun added bonus! The park also opens most of their rides during the event. About an hour and a half south from D.C., it’s an easy for the night.
Fall Festivals
Almost every town has their own little fall festival. For me, it’s not fall until I’m walking around the little advertisement booths from around the area. Falls Church has Farm Day on October 9. Manassas’ Fall Jubilee is October 7. Alexandria’s is on November 5. You get the idea, check with your local suburb!
Apple Picking
Blessed by the proximity to the Shenandoah Valley, D.C. has a plethora of crop picking opportunities. Butler’s Orchard is about 30 miles northwest of the city. Aside from apples, they have pumpkin picking, a farm market and an annual Pumpkin Festival! Crooked Run Orchard, in Purcellville, Va., is 45 miles into the Shenandoahs. The orchard is one of the premier apple picking ones, with absolutely gorgeous views and delicious fruits. Great Country Farms, 60 miles away in Bluemont, Va., has a flashlight cornmaze alongside apple picking that definitely piqued my interested.
Corn Mazes
My beloved Corn Maze in the Plains closed last year! I was left scrambling to find another good corn maze, so here’s what I found. Wayside Farm, outside of Winchester, Va., has a pretty cool maze. This year, the ten-acre maze is themed to Baby Yoda. Summers Farm is a little further outside the city. Near Frederick, Md., the five-acre maze has 2.5 miles of trails which include a hidden bridge inside the maze!
Bike!
For me, cooler weather is synonyms with long bike rides. The D.C. area has so many good biking trails! One option is the Mount Vernon Trail. What better way to get a workout in then biking by the Potomac alongside brilliantly colored leaves and some of the nation’s most iconic monuments? The 18-mile trip goes from Georgetown to Mount Vernon. Highlights include Old Town Alexandria (stop by St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub for coffee), Gravelly Point and Belle Haven Park. A larger challenge is the 45-mile Washington and Old Dominion Trail. The paved path stretches from Shirlington to Purcellville, outside Leesburg. This path will take you into Virginia’s rolling hills, all filled with foliage. Highlights are passing by Washington Dulles International Airport, Leesburg, the Reston Town Center and Carolina Brothers Pit BBQ.
Go on a Ghost Tour
History is D.C.’s middle name. Likewise, historic sites usually attract unrestful paranormal spirits. Some of D.C.’s most haunted sites include The Octagon House, The Hay-Adams Hotel and the president’s own White House. D.C. Ghosts claims to have the city’s best tours, but there are so many other options as well. Freetoursbyfoot also has an online self-led walking tour you can take
Go to a Winery
In my opinion, fall and wine also go hand in hand. Virginia is one of the country’s largest wine producers and the wine region is a short hour away from D.C. Take a trip into the Valley to sample some of the region’s best offerings. The closest to the city are in Aldie, Va., and include 50 West Vineyards, Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg and Chrysalis Vineyards.
Turquoise Skies 