Journey Through 250 Years of History in Fairfax, Virginia

Travel groups have plenty of History to experience in Fairfax, VA

This two-day itinerary will take you through some of Fairfax’s most historic and impressive attractions. From George Washington’s iconic home to Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, your group will be fascinated by Fairfax.

Enjoy These Fairfax, VA Attractions and More:

Mount Vernon
National Museum of the United States Army
Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
Winery at Bull Run
And much more!

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Fairfax, Virginia DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 in Fairfax, VA: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON

Mount Vernon, the iconic home and estate of George Washington, America’s first president, offers visitors a full morning of activities. Explore Washington’s estate, gardens, museum, historic buildings, enslaved persons memorial, and the Tomb of George Washington. During April-October weekends, visitors can also explore George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill where they can meet 18th-century millers and watch the water-powered wheel grind grain into flour just as it did 200 years ago.

Leading up to America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026, Mount Vernon will offer special exhibits and programming. Beginning early March 2025, the new Revolutionary War Encampment will showcase the way soldiers, officers, and camp followers lived during the American Revolution. Encampment interpreters will be on hand to answer questions. Additional experiences, exhibits, and events will be announced throughout the year, and visitors can look forward to a new Education Center that will be unveiled in 2026, along with the completion of major preservation work on the mansion.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant where you can savor Colonial-inspired dishes including Peanut Soup or Hoecake and be certain to save room for the Apple Pie. Silver Diner Restaurants, with a location in nearby Springfield, now welcomes and offers tour operator/group-friendly menus for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Perfect for all ages, guests can dine in their retro-themed eateries where classic comfort food meets modern twists.

Explore the National Museum of the United States Army, located at Fort Belvoir, the first comprehensive and truly national museum to capture, display, and interpret 250 years of Army history through the eyes of the American Soldier. In 2025, the museum will unveil a new exhibit titled “CALL TO Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War” to commemorate the Army’s 250th birthday (June 2025) and America’s 250th (2026). This limited-time landmark exhibition will include a rare collection of Revolutionary War artifacts from the original colonies, England, France, and Canada, accompanied by soldier stories of our nation’s first veterans.

For dinner, choose from two different options including: Maggiano’s Little Italy, which serves up delicious Italian-American cuisine paired with great service, generous portions and a warm atmosphere at their locations in Springfield and Tysons. Glory Days Grill, with a location minutes from George Washington’s Mount Vernon, isa sports-themed family-friendly American grill that combines an award-winning menu of freshly prepared foods in a fun, family-friendly environment.

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Day 2 of Fairfax, Virginia Attractions: Historic Town of Clifton

Start your second day at the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in Lorton. This national-in-scope Memorial commemorates the women who fought for the right to vote in the U.S. with tireless activism. Enjoy a guided tour of the site, with a period-dressed docent, which brings to life the stories, struggles, and triumphs of key suffragists. The interactive storytelling will give you insight into how these women helped change American history forever. Snap a photo in front of the actual White House fence that these suffragists picketed in front of in 1917.

Take a stroll through the quaint Town of Clifton, located along the scenic and curvy roads of a Virginia Scenic Byway. The town, a product of the Civil War, has not changed much since its inception and features a tiny two/three block downtown and a classic Main Street. There isn’t even

a stoplight. But its charm is a mile wide. Here you can find the Clifton Café for a specialty coffee,

Peterson’s Ice Cream, a family favorite local ice cream shop, Trattoria Villagio for authentic Italian

dishes, or Trummer’s Restaurant, a sustainable, farm-to-table upscale restaurant featuring a vast menu of Virginia wines.

Head to The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville, where you’ll take the “Witness to History” wine tour. This grape-to-glass farm winery is located adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park, where the first major battle of the American Civil War took place. The winery offers a unique experience by blending wine tasting with a guided tour of its exclusive Civil War artifact collection in a new Museum located in the Barrel Room. Bask in stunning Virginia vineyard views while soaking in this integral piece of American history and sipping award-winning wines. Lunch can also be provided to groups interested in dining at the vineyard.

Located adjacent to Washington Dulles International Airport, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tells the story of human flight and space exploration from 18th-century ballooning to the latest NASA discoveries. More than 3,000 artifacts and nearly 200 aircraft are on display, including Space Shuttle Discovery. For a more engaging visit, groups may also pre-schedule a docent-led tour that delves into a variety of historical topics.

Dinner options include Fogo de Chão, which provides an elegant dining experience certain to delight. Boasting an open kitchen showcasing the centuries-old Southern Brazilian grilling technique of churrasco, groups will savor every bite and every moment of this unique experience.

Brio Italian Grille in Fairfax is a casually elegant restaurant that takes its inspiration from Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast. The chef-driven group menus are both robust and affordable and the perfect option for any adult group.

Silver Diner Restaurants offers three more locations to choose from including Fair Oaks, Tysons, or Merrifield.