#FlyWashington Magazine Winter 2017 | Page 70

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.