We all like sand and the sea but you don’t have to travel to the beach to enjoy Spring Break this year. Less than an hour from DC, yet a world away, a variety of family friendly activities await in Loudoun.
Forget the surf – go where the grapes grow.
Adventurous
Loudoun is the perfect place for thrill seekers. Hiking enthusiasts will love “The Rollercoaster” section of the Appalachian Trail above Bluemont and Round Hill, while the lesser known Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park in Leesburg is home to several native plants and varieties of wildlife and an easier hike for kids. For something slightly more daring soar above the treetops with Salamander Adventures, part of Salamander Middleburg’s zipline course where expert instructors guide you through 20-acres of lush forest, flying as high as 670-feet at points. Not an outdoors person, but love a physical challenge? UP! Ultimate Adventure Park in Ashburn is 7,000 square foot adventure facility equipped with a 33-foot high zip line, ropes course, 36 unique climbing walls and more. Check the website for hours of operation. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center has a great zip-line course over forest canopies in addition to kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting.
Educational
Ever feed a baby goat? Wonder where cheese comes from? Make your way to historic Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville where visitors get to feed and snuggle with the new litter of baby goats each spring. You can just show up on weekdays but weekends and the five days of Spring Break are reservation only. The farm store also sells superb cheeses – chevre, feta, blue – produced with milk from those goats. Sticking to the theme, Double 8 Alpaca Ranch in western Loudoun offers private one-hour farm tours for families, an opportunity to learn about the llamas, alpacas and those who work the ranch. Enjoy up-close encounters with the fluffy creatures and don't forget to capture the memories with a selfie. Other educational opportunities include needle felting classes - a crafting technique to create imagery using a barbed needle, loose wool and alpaca fibers. Check the class schedule here. In eastern Loudoun, just minutes from Washington-Dulles International Aiport, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum provides hands-on educational programming and events for engaging families in the world of farming and animals. Make the learning experience fun and guide yourself through the interactive exhibit, which includes a sensory garden. If you are interested in the museum’s private programs and events, visit here.
Sporting
Outdoor recreation is where Loudoun thrives on the sporting scene, go out to Leesburg-based premier 5,000-seat stadium, Segra Field, to catch local pro soccer team, Loudoun United, go toe and toe with the competition on home turf. At home games you and your buds can host a fun-filled gathering on the field - or any of their other event spaces. Find out more here. What about a family day spent cycling? The scenic Washington & Old Dominion Trail perfectly dissects the county, connecting Sterling in the east to Purcellville out west. It’s perfect for family or friend groups and while some sections are steep its mostly a flat ride for cyclists of any caliber. In eastern Loudoun, just outside the Brambleton, Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park is equipped with 17 athletic fields, including pickleball courts, a skate park, over 75 acres of outdoor space and an events venue. The new state-of-the-art padel facility in Sterling, Padel Up, is the first of its kind in the DC and surrounding areas. Padel, popular in Latin countries, has become one of the fastest growing sports and the Loudoun facility features 4 indoor courts as well as an organic smoothie bar, coffee counter and a pro shop!
Cultural
Loudoun has a rich arts and culture scene. Loudoun Art Tours does guided walking tours of downtown Leesburg’s exciting public art scene, from contemporary pieces in Raflo Park Sculpture Garden to the colorful Journey to Freedom mural on the wall of the Loudoun Museum depicting Bazil Newman, a Black 19th Century Loudoun landowner and ferry business operator taking a young boy across the Potomac River to Maryland on a moonlit night. The Potomac can be accessed at Bazil Newman Riverfront Park. For drama fans, StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn presents frequent live theatrical shows from stand-up and improv nights to magic shows and crime mystery dinners. Visit the Events Calendar dates and locations of upcoming productions. Over in Purcellville Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center hosts family-friendly exhibits, shows and classes in spring and throughout the rest of the year. Check the calendar here.
Indulgent
What’s a visit to Loudoun without fine wine, beer and food? At glorious 365-acre Doukenie Winery outside Hillsboro, parents can enjoy a bottle of the 2025 Rosé while the kids play on the lawns or even fish in the pond on the grounds. Beer-wise, at Dirt Farm Brewery in Bluemont grown-ups can drink fine craft ales while children run around on expansive grounds in front of spectacular views. For outdoor dining, families love the massive outdoor patio seating at Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling which overlooks a pond and fountain. Kick back and enjoy dishes such as lobster bisque, salmon salads, great chili and juicy burgers. In Leesburg, the secret garden at the back of popular King Street café Shoe’s Cup & Cork is the ultimate lunchtime hideaway. As for sweet treats, Loudoun has you covered. The Yard at One Loudoun in Ashburn does craft milkshakes with outrageous toppings while Purcellville has two iconic ice cream parlors – Gruto’s for soft serve, and Tipped Cow Creamery for artisanal farm ice cream.
