Recently moved to Fairfax, VA or thinking about moving there? The best way to get to know a place is to spend a Saturday in it. Here’s where to start. Some of the most interesting things to do in Fairfax, VA won’t cost you an admission fee. The local museum takes about an hour, so you can stop in before lunch in Old Town without setting aside a whole day for sightseeing.
Fairfax City is independent of Fairfax County, despite the shared name. The stops here are in and around the city, with George Mason’s nearby campus in the county.
Old Town on foot
Old Town Square, at 10415 North Street, puts you near Old Town Hall and the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House. You can see both on a walk through downtown, with a break in Kitty Pozer Garden along the way. Getting inside the house takes more planning; it opens for tours on a limited schedule.
Tip: Old Town has public garages and lots, but a parking space isn’t necessarily yours for the day. Read the posted time limit before walking away.
An hour at the Fairfax Museum
The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center occupies an 1873 schoolhouse at 10209 Main Street. Its exhibits trace local history, and you can pick up a map for your walk afterward. Admission is free, with parking on site.
This is a useful rainy-day stop, though you’ll need to work around its hours: 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Wednesday through Monday, with some holiday closures. Tuesday visitors will find it closed.
The writing on Blenheim’s walls
Civil War soldiers wrote on the walls of Historic Blenheim at 3610 Blenheim Boulevard. The writing survives, and an accessible replica in the interpretive center lets you examine the attic graffiti. You won’t be able to enter the original attic.
The exhibits also address the Willcoxon family, who owned the house, and the people they enslaved. Admission and parking are free. The center opens Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; you can walk the grounds from dawn to dusk.
Tip: Planning to see both museums? Wednesday through Saturday gives you that option. Visit Blenheim first if you’re getting a late start, since it closes an hour earlier.
Two parks for different afternoons
Van Dyck Park is great for kids who need to run around, with a playground (3720 Blenheim Boulevard) and a skate park for older kids who bring their gear. Pack lunch if you’d like to stay; picnic tables and parking are available. A casual visit is free, although reserving a pavilion costs extra.
Daniels Run Park is worth a separate trip when you want a wooded walk. Its 48 acres include streamside paths, with both paved and unpaved sections. Entrances are on Embassy Lane, Estel Road, Heritage Lane, and Tedrich Boulevard. Pick one before setting out, and allow for muddy stretches after rain.
Both parks open at dawn and close at dusk. Daniels Run is also free to visit.
Dinner and a show nearby
Dinner in Old Town pairs well with a show at George Mason’s Center for the Arts. The venue, at 4373 Mason Pond Drive, is outside the city in Fairfax County. Its programs include concerts and dance performances; the show’s start time will determine how early to book dinner.
Tickets vary in price. For Great Performances at Mason and Family Series events, parking in Lot K is free. That offer doesn’t automatically extend to every campus performance.
What’s happening on the weekend?
The Saturday Farmers’ Market at 10500 Page Avenue runs from spring into fall. Popular items can sell out early. If you have your heart set on a particular vendor’s baked goods, make the market your first stop.
Rock the Block concerts and December’s Holiday Market give Old Town a different feel from an ordinary shopping afternoon. The city’s seasonal event calendar has the dates, including the annual Fall Festival. Use the individual event listing for admission and parking details.
A Saturday route through Fairfax
Start at the farmers’ market while it’s in season, then walk through Old Town before the Fairfax Museum opens at 11. Have lunch downtown. In the afternoon, choose Blenheim if you’re interested in history, or Van Dyck if the kids have had enough time indoors. Dinner can be the last stop; add a George Mason performance only if there’s one you want to see.
If you’re new to Fairfax and just settling in, save Daniels Run for another weekend. A return visit gives you something to look forward to after a week of unpacking.
When you’re ready to make the move to Fairfax, be sure to look for an experienced professional moving partner to get you there!
Please note: Opening hours and event schedules are subject to change