Take It In! Experience Loudoun in 5 Days
Day 1 (History, Towns, and Wine Country)
10am Begin your exploration of Loudoun with a visit to Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Arrive in time for the on-hour guided tour of the 22-room Greek revival home that was once the center of a thriving 3,400-acre plantation. Then, continue your tour through four acres of formal gardens and connecting terraces. Don’t miss the Carriage House gift shop!
12pm Take some time to stroll the brick sidewalks in the historic district of Leesburg, Loudoun’s county seat. Have lunch on your own in one of the many local eateries downtown. Then find yourself browsing through the many antique shops and specialty boutiques and meet our friendly local merchants.
3pm Experience our wine country at one of Loudoun’s most scenic wineries. Sunset Hills Vineyard produces award-winning wines from a historic farm, inside an Amish restored 140-year-old barn. Enjoy a tour and tasting of their current wines and then relax on one of their two decks offering panoramic views of the Blue Ridge and Short Hill Mountains.
5:30pm Return to Leesburg for dinner at one of the area’s most acclaimed restaurants, Lightfoot Restaurant, situated across from the stately county courthouse. Lightfoot was named in honor of Francis Lightfoot Lee, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The restaurant is housed in a turn-of-the-century bank, turned polished, exquisite dining space adorned with a rare and striking collection of 1920s original French posters. The food is imaginative and does not disappoint.
Day 2 (Civil War, Towns, and Horse Country)
10am Start day two with a guided tour of the Civil War battle site of Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, the second largest battle fought in the county. The October 1861 clash on the bluffs of the Potomac River was a lopsided Confederate victory, and ended with the Federals literally being pushed into the river. Soldiers killed in the fighting floated downriver to Washington and brought the shocking reality of the war to the public’s attention. The site includes Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery, one of the smallest in the nation, and a one-mile hiking loop with interpretive signs of the battle.
12pm Drive into historic downtown Leesburg and dine at the Green Tree Restaurant. This cozy restaurant features Colonial décor and the menu offers a collection of 1700s period Colonial recipes.
2pm After lunch, take a short ride down historic Rt. 15 and Rt. 50 to the town of Middleburg, the unofficial capital of horse country in America. For more than 100 years sporting enthusiasts and their horses have claimed the town and its lush rolling countryside as their own. The horse theme is no secret, with eateries lining the historic sidewalks with names such as Cuppa Giddy Up. Shop the town’s upscale boutiques and antique shops.
5pm End your day at the Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, which has been offering hospitality to travelers since 1728 and is the oldest continually operated inn in the United States. Each of its six dining rooms features hardwood floors and stone fireplaces, and its walls are adorned with paintings of foxes, hounds, and horses, pointing to the hunt country traditions of the area. During the Civil War injured soldiers were cared for in the inn’s tavern, and the service bar, still in use today, was made from an operating table used by an Army field surgeon.
Day 3 (History and Wine Country)
10am A short drive to the eastern part of the county will land you at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on the grounds of Washington Dulles International Airport. This is the Smithsonian Institution’s companion center to its museum in Washington, D.C., and houses 80% of the museum’s collection, including 125 aircraft and 130 major spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle “Enterprise,” the Concorde, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the B-29 Superfortress “Enola Gay.” Watch one of the center’s IMAX movies, browse the extensive gift shop, see the airport traffic in the observation tower, and have lunch in the food court.
1:30pm Your next stop is Aldie Mill, Virginia’s only surviving grist mill powered by twin water wheels. For more than 150 years the mill ground grain for markets along the East Coast and overseas. President James Monroe was an early customer while living at nearby Oak Hill. The mill provided grain for soldiers and their horses during the Civil War, and Union Soldiers hid in the wheat bins trying to escape from Confederate partisan John Singleton Mosby. Enjoy the guided tour, grinding demonstration, exhibits, and gift shop.
3pm Take one of Loudoun’s most scenic byways, Snickersville Turnpike, to arguably the best view in Loudoun. Nestled on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Bluemont, is Bluemont Vineyard. At 951 feet and on a clear day, you can see the top of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. nearly 50 miles away. Enjoy tastings of their wines, relax on their stone patio, take in the gorgeous scenery, and shop in their gift shop.
6pm Have dinner at one of Loudoun’s destination Restaurants in the town of Purcellville. Magnolia's at the Mill is housed in a restored 1905 mill and its rustic past is part of its draw today. Simple clapboard siding and exposed beams give the restaurant a cozy ambiance, while the wheels and pulleys, still suspended in the ceiling, speak of its hard-working history. The vibe is as upbeat as the open kitchen and the menu is inspired both by the chef’s Italian background and by Southern traditions.
Day 4 (Shopping and History)
10am Start this day with some invigorating shopping! The outdoor village-like setting of the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets makes shopping easy, convenient, and an experience in itself. And with more than 110 designer and name brand stores offering impressive every day savings, how can you resist? The center includes stores such as Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, BCBG, Coach, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Pottery Barn & Williams-Sonoma Outlet, and many more.
1:30pm Dine in one of Leesburg’s most popular restaurants, Vintage 50. Voted “one of Loudoun’s hottest new restaurants,” it mixes classic taste, fresh and local ingredients, and a modern style. Try one of their exclusive craft-brewed beers.
3pm Historic Morven Park is one of Loudoun’s must see attractions. Not really a park at all, this 1,000 acre historic estate features a Greek Revival Mansion that was the home of World War I-era Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis which recently underwent 4 years of extensive restoration. The home features artifacts collected by Governor Davis from his trips around the world, including a 15th century Persian tapestry and a Tiffany lamp. Also on the property is the Winmill Carriage Collection, which displays more than 50 of the 120 restored 19th century horse-drawn carriages in the collection, including Tom Thumb’s carriage and Grace Kelly’s carriage from the film, The Swan . For aficionados of the sporting life, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting is sure to please, and garden lovers will find the intricate boxwood gardens enchanting. Civil War buffs will enjoy learning about the Civil War camp built on the property by Confederate soldiers during the winter of 1861-62, and seeing the replica log huts that tell the story of their daily lives during that time.
6pm Featuring an impressive array of American folk art, Audubon prints, and antique carriages and sleighs, Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm is not only a restaurant, but an attraction as well. Four historic buildings from Vermont and Virginia, dating to the late 1700s and early 1800s, were brought to the property, connected, and restored, to create this classic inn that serves American fare under the well respected Washington, DC restaurant-chain name. The restaurant offers 7 dining rooms, each with its own flavor, four bars, and an outdoor garden with a pond and waterfall. Ask your server for the two-page cheat sheet that tells the history of the buildings and their decorative elements.
Day 5 (History, Recreation, and Wine Country)
10am Tour Dodona Manor, the recently restored home and gardens of General George C. Marshall, best known as the author of the Marshall Plan which laid the groundwork for post World War II European recovery. Marshall was also Special Ambassador to China, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Nobel Peace Laureate. Ninety percent of the furnishings and memorabilia are original to the Marshall period of residency, from 1941-1959. The home is situated on four acres in downtown Leesburg.
12:30pm Stop into South Street Under in Leesburg and put together a boxed lunch (make sure your sandwich is made from their almost famous ciabatta bread). Then head to western Loudoun to BTI Whitewater for a gentle flatwater (or more exciting whitewater) rafting or tubing ride down the Potomac. Let the river nudge you downstream as you enjoy the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
4pm Visit Breaux Vineyards, one of Virginia’s largest producers. Described as a tranquil “Mediterranean-meets-Napa” style estate, it is also one of Loudoun’s most scenic. Meander past manicured lawns and through a stately wrought iron gate to the large tasting room that features a stone fireplace and a gift shop filled with unique gifts and gourmet goodies. The inviting patio offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
6pm Come back into Leesburg’s historic district for dinner at Tuscarora Mill Restaurant, a local favorite that is consistently voted one of the best restaurants around. It also holds the Loudoun Destination Restaurant designation. Visitors seek it out for the same reason the locals do – great food, a charming and comfortable atmosphere, and welcoming and friendly service. Like its younger sibling, Magnolia’s, Tuskies (as the locals call it) is housed in a meticulously restored grain mill, which links it to Loudoun’s agricultural heritage. The cuisine and wine list are nationally recognized and are designed to please a wide range of palates.
