Written by Kirstin Hawthorne
Winter offers a unique blend of cozy comforts and outdoor adventures. From the joy of building a snowman and sipping hot cocoa by the fire, to the exhilaration of skiing down snow-covered slopes, winter captures the magic of both relaxation and thrilling activities. Coupled with the holiday activities that wrap everything in a warm glow of joy, wonder, and togetherness, here are some local activities that should be on your winter bucket list:
- Ice skate at Reston Town Center or Pentagon Row.
- Visit the year-round Farmers’ Markets in Del Ray and Falls Church for fun seasonal produce and artisanal goods.
- Go sledding at Burke Lake Park or Frying Pan Farm Park.
- Take a walk through the Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
- Attend the Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon and see the estate lit up with thousands of lights.
- Drive-through and enjoy the Bull Run Festival of Lights holiday light display.
- Marvel at the ice sculptures and other winter activities at the Ice Fest in Leesburg.
- Ski or snowboard at one of the local ski resorts such as Massanutten or Bryce Resort.
- Visit one of the many local wineries such as Paradise Springs, The Winery at Bull Run, Stone Tower Winery, or Rappahannock Cellars and enjoy a glass of mulled wine.
- Enjoy a holiday concert or performance at Wolf Trap.
Willing to take a jaunt into the city? Here are a couple of “must-dos” in DC this holiday season.
- Visit the National Christmas Tree on the National Mall.
- Explore the winter gardens and conservatory at the United States Botanic Garden.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t share the FOCUS on NoVA team favorites with you. We hope you enjoy them and add some to your own traditions going forward.
- Doreen: Visiting Mount Vernon on Christmas Day to celebrate with America’s first family.
- Ingrid: Enjoy The Things I Love – Afternoon Tea and sip delicious teas and treats with clotted cream and jam.
- Kirstin: Making fudge and decorating sugar cookies (then enjoying these treats in front of the fireplace).
- Latoria: Toasting marshmallows for s’mores with my boys.
- Lynn: Attending the Nutcracker at George Mason with my mom, sisters, and nieces and going to Magnolia’s Dessert Bar after the show.
- Maura: Picking out a tree at Merrifield Garden Center.
- Sharon: Skiing at Massanutten (shoop, shoop).
- Tracey: Going ice skating at Fairfax Ice Arena on Christmas Eve.
