The Workhouse Arts Center
The Barns at Wolf Trap
The Smithsonian’s National Air
and Space Museum Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Across the river from our nation’s capital in the heart of Northern Virginia, you’ll find Fairfax County,
home to a treasure-trove of premiere historic attractions, welcoming accommodations, and world-
class arts, natural and cultural resources. Fairfax County is a destination worth exploring year-
round, but it’s an especially attractive place to visit during the late fall and winter months because
of the special events surrounding the holiday season and the always-temperate indoor oriented
attractions. Here are just a few suggestions of how you can have fun on your next visit.
THE SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL
AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM STEVEN
F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER is the
companion facility to the Air and Space
Museum on the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. It’s the perfect place to spend a crisp
fall or winter day — exploring its two huge
hangars where thousands of aviation and
space artifacts, including a Lockheed SR-71
Blackbird, a Concorde, and the iconic Space
Shuttle Discovery. The Center also houses
the Airbus IMAX® Theater and features the
Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, which
gives you a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of
Washington Dulles International Airport and
the surrounding area.
Don’t miss: Daily docent-led tours, flight
simulators, a movie in the IMAX theatre, the
Donald D. Engen Observation Tower.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 68 WINTER 2017/18
THE WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER
is set on 55 acres of land on the campus of
what used to be the historic D.C. Workhouse
and Reformatory where prisoners (including
imprisoned suffragettes) built the facilities
and farmed the land, gaining skills to walk a
steady path upon release. Today, that legacy
of healing and creation is carried forth on a
campus housing 65 studio artists and over
100 exhibitions showcasing craftspeople
from painters to glassblowers to fiber artists.
Visitors are encouraged stop in to watch
the resident artists at work in their studios,
purchase one-of-a-kind creations, or enjoy
one of the hundreds of theatrical, dance,
comedy or musical performances held year-
round on campus.
Don’t miss: Second Saturday Art Walks,
the Prison Museum, the artist studios and
exhibitions.
THE BARNS AT WOLF TRAP is
a popular night spot for D.C. area music
lovers. At 382 seats, it allows audiences
to experience performances in an
intimate setting. You’ll find more than 80
performances annually between October
and May, everything from jazz greats
to chamber musicians to legendary folk
singers. The venue’s unique name stems
from it being constructed out of 2 adjacent
18th century barns refurbished and refined
that allow for the superb acoustics and
amenities to really take center stage. The
Barns were donated in 1981 by Wolf Trap
founder Catherine Filene Shouse.
Don’t miss: The full bar and concessions
available to patrons 90 minutes prior to
performances, the superb acoustics and state-
of-the-art sound system.