Staying close to home this year? Looking for events and activities that won’t stretch the bank account? Check out Northern Virginia which is loaded with free things to do and local attractions. That’s right: even with its proximity to a world capital, there’s lots to do in Northern Virginia that’s fun, free and invigorating for young and old alike.
Visit these red-hot, Northern Virginia, absolutely, positively free destinations today:
Arlington’s Central Library
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Telephone: (703) 228-5990
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm and Sunday: 1:00pm – 9:00pm
Website: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Libraries/about/LibrariesAboutCentral.aspx
Check out this Arlington, Virginia treasure for year-round events, activities, lectures, programs, and special exhibits. All free and all good. Great selection of books in every language, on tape, large print. Great customer service. A wonderful Arlington gathering place.
Arlington House (Custis-Lee Mansion)
George Washington Memorial Parkway
McLean, VA 22101
Telephone: (703) 235-1530
Open Hours 9:30am-4:30pm daily (October-March); 9:30am-6pm daily (April-September)
Website: http://www.nps.gov/arho/
Arlington House is open to visitors every day except January 1st (New Years Day) and December 25th (Christmas Day) when Arlington National Cemetery is also closed. First-come, first-served. Reservations not required. Groups limited to 25 at a time. Free guided tours, other formats available. Managed by the U.S. Park Service. Ranger on site. A real treasure in the National Capital region.
Gateway Park, Rosslyn
Arlington, Virginia
Telephone: (703) 522-6628
Website: http://www.rosslynva.org
From May 1-September 1, Gateway Park (near Key Bridge) plays host to the I Love the 80’s Film Festival which features movie screenings at dusk. Films include Top Gun, Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and, even, our favorite E.T. Gateway’s a great destination in Northern Virginia. So, grab the family and head on down to Gateway for family movie night, free of charge.
Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Website: http://visitalexandriava.com/
Stroll the streets of Old Town Alexandria for a wonderful view of early-American architecture, cobblestone streets, and dog-and-people watching that can’t be beat. Old Town has a great park, historic attractions, and other sights and sounds that are simply priceless. Check out the city’s website for a list of summer, seasonal and year-round events. Book a summer getaway to Old Town through Travelocity.com and get more free savings, including a free “Key to the City” pass. Includes free admission to 9 Alexandria historic sites, and 60 special offers to attractions, shops and restaurants. To get your pass, check out visitAlexandriaVa.com’s Travelocity vacation booking engine.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Adjacent to George Washington Parkway (Arlington, Virginia)
Hours: Open Daily, year-round, from dawn until dusk
Admission: None. Open to the public. Parking available
Website: http://www.nps.gov/this
One of Theodore Roosevelt’s greatest legacies was his dedication to conservation. Today, this island is part of the national park system and serves as a fitting memorial to our country’s 26th President. A favorite place to de-stress for Washingtonians in the know. Features 1.6 miles of trails for a good 1 hour+ walk. Relatively flat walking trail winds through marsh, swamp and wooded forest. Great for bird and nature watching. Take the dog along for good measure. Even on the hottest summer day, Teddy Roosevelt Island is a cool place to visit. Special Attractions: Memorial, statues, fountains, memorial plaques in quiet grove. Children can feed the ducks. Linger awhile on the footbridge or put on your cycling helmet for a ride on the Mount Vernon Trail, easily accessed from the parking area.
