Nestled just outside Washington D.C., Woodbridge, VA, is a small town tucked in Prince William County.
With around 55,000 residents, Woodbridge maintains its quaint but vibrant suburban beauty.
It’s also a wonderful travel destination for its natural attractions, which nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will surely drool over.
It has great sceneries that you’ll see from its unspoiled state parks and nature preserves.
Woodbridge is home to the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Belmont Bay.
This quaint community also has its fair share of interesting history that you’ll find at the Rippon Lodge and its local museums.
Moreover, Woodbridge also boasts numerous upscale shopping malls and a wide array of restaurants serving international cuisines.
Woodbridge combines what nature best offers and an upscale lifestyle in a small suburban community.
To find out what makes this place awesome to visit, here are the 15 best things to do in Woodbridge, VA.
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The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Neabsco Creek Boardwalk allows you to enjoy the beautiful view of the wetlands and meadowlands through an elevated boardwalk that stretches for about a mile along Occoquan Bay.
The Heritage National Scenic Trail Neabsco Creek Boardwalk is a must-visit place for its beautiful view of Occoquan Bay and its local wildlife.
The boardwalk has gentle curves that guarantee visitors a great view of the wetlands.
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It’s an excellent place for bird-watching where you’ll see blackbirds, mallards, and herons in their natural habitat.
Furthermore, there are exotic insects and small reptiles you’ll see in the area.
If you want to visit Prince William County’s oldest standing house, you should head to the Rippon Lodge.
This house was built way back in 1747 by renowned sailor Richard Blackburn, an admiral back in Woodbridge.
Aside from being a former tobacco plantation, the house also served as the residence for the Atkinson Family a century back before a descendant of Blackburn, Wade H. Ellis, purchased it.
In 2000, Prince William County purchased the house and the entire estate, and it underwent massive restoration to bring back its old beauty and preserve its historical significance.
The Rippon Lodge is an interesting place to learn history through the house’s walls, walking trails, and artifacts found in the estate.
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The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge features more than 600 acres of protected forest, grasslands, and wetlands where native flora and fauna are thriving.
This wildlife refuge is tucked in between the rivers Potomac and Occoquan.
Before it became a wildlife refuge, it served as a testing location for the United States Army.
Still, it was eventually taken over by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and converted into a wildlife refuge today.
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Visiting this natural attraction allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature teeming with local wildlife.
You can also hike or bring your bicycle there and traverse its scenic trails.
Woodbridge has a diverse culinary scene, making it an exciting food destination.
The Taste of Tandoor, an Indian restaurant that serves authentic and traditional Indian cuisine, is considered a hidden gem in Woodbridge.
But, who would expect that you could enjoy the spicy and aromatic Indian food in the middle of Prince William County?
Well, Taste of Tandoor guarantees you a wonderful gastronomic experience from its 37 menu items cooked and prepared the Northern Indian way.
Plus, they cook their food in a traditional ‘tandoor’ or the cylindrical oven commonly made from clay or metal used in India and Middle-Eastern countries.
Furthermore, they use authentic Indian herbs, spices, and blends to their dishes, giving you that extra kick and flavor.
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The G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, known by locals as the Pfitzner Stadium, is a popular venue for baseball in Woodbridge that’s been open since 1984.
Its name came from the late G. Richard Pfitzner, the former chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
The stadium was once the home to a minor league baseball team, the Potomac Nationals.
Unfortunately, the Nationals transferred to Fredericksburg in 2019.
Nevertheless, the stadium is still very active in hosting local baseball tournaments in Woodbridge.
Although the 6,000-seater baseball stadium isn’t featured in the minor league anymore, visiting this place still lets you reminisce of its glory days.
Woodbridge is truly a nature lover’s haven.
Your itinerary will likely visit many state parks, wildlife, and nature preserves.
For that reason, discover the Julie Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve.
It offers a different kind of nature exploration because of its unique landscape that changes from forested areas to marshlands.
The entire wetlands preserve spans 230 acres with an accessible trail to hike for visitors.
Like other natural attractions in Woodbridge, this place is also an excellent spot for bird-watching.
Visiting this place lets you appreciate the mesmerizing view of the natural mosaic created from the beautiful wetlands and forested areas.
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The Leeslyvania State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
The entire state park spans 500 acres featuring camping grounds, trails, boating docks, fishing spots, outdoor activity areas, and historical sites.
Historically, the Leeslyvania State Park became the residence of Henry Lee II, the grandfather of Confederate General Robert E. Lee back in the day.
It’s also believed that the Leeslyvania State Park was a former Native American village.
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During the Civil War, the state park also served as a confederate battery to repel Union navy ships attacking the area in 1861.
Interestingly, you can still find the cornerstone of the Lee residence today and its chimney while several graves are still intact in the property.
Aside from its historical significance, it is a popular outdoor destination in Prince William County.
A total of 22 residents of Prince William County lost their lives during the tragic day of September 11, 2001.
Although there’s an extensive memorial at New York’s Ground Zero, you’ll also find one erected in Woodbridge called the Prince William County Liberty Memorial.
The beautiful memorial serves as a tribute to the Prince William County locals who were victims of the infamous attacks.
The memorial is tucked between James J. McCoart Administration Building and the Prince William Parkway.
It has a unique design that uses four beams from the original World Trade Center that collapsed during the attacks.
Across the street leads you to Freedom Park, where you’ll find a Pentagon-shaped fountain.
Visiting the memorial will cover you in utter silence, making it a perfect place to reflect and remember those who had untimely deaths on that tragic day.
The Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge is one of the natural attractions in Woodbridge, where reaching there is somewhat challenging.
Since it has restricted access, visitors can enter this wildlife refuge through non-motorized boats along Neabsco Creek since a railroad cuts along the area.
Nevertheless, your struggle entering the wildlife refuge is paid off with beautiful sceneries from its wetlands and tidal marshes spanning over 325 acres.
Since the area is protected, you’ll encounter dozens of notable bird species such as bald eagles, American kestrels, and red-tailed hawks freely roaming there.
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Formerly the Washington Outlet Mall, the Potomac Mills is the most extensive mall in Virginia, featuring more than 80 stores and around 30 restaurants.
You will likely spend your entire day roaming around the mall to find great deals from mainstream brands to local specialty shops.
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Some of the brands you’ll find there are American Eagle, Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Footlocker, and H&M.
If you’re yearning for a respite from a tiring day of shopping, you can watch a movie at Potomac Mills’ IMAX theater.
Or perhaps unwind and eat delicious food from a huge selection of restaurants that feature Indian, Japanese, Mexican Vietnamese, Chinese, and Greek restaurants.
This marina is perfectly positioned on Occoquan Riverbanks, making it a perfect place to pass the time and breathe fresh air.
Belmont Bay Harbor has a floating dock that serves around a hundred boats and a marina that you can walk on to see the beauty of the Occoquan River.
Visiting this place allows you to appreciate the beauty of the Occoquan River and watch boats pass by.
You can also visit the harbormaster building, check out the Belmont Bay merchandise, buy exciting souvenirs, or perhaps sign up for a boat cruise and tour the Occoquan River.
This small joint tucked in Daniel Stuart Square is another hidden gem in Woodbridge.
Little Taipei is popular for serving authentic Taiwanese and Chinese cuisine that you won’t find anywhere else in Prince William County.
This small restaurant has received rave reviews in Yelp because of its outstanding Taiwanese and Chinese cuisine, which uses fresh ingredients and authentic recipes from Asia.
The restaurant is popular for its sweet and sour pork, Ma Po Tofu, spicy fish fillet, pork stew on rice, Taiwanese noodles, and pork burgers.
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The Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center is a unique development that combines upscale shopping, business, and residential district in Woodbridge.
It’s well-known for its upscale open-air shopping mall, which features popular brands like Carhartt, Black Market, Wegmans and White House, Apple, Old Navy, DSW, South Moon Under, Sports Zone Elite, along with specialty shops that you’ll only find in Woodbridge.
Furthermore, it also has a wide selection of restaurants you can dine at.
You can choose from Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food, Zoe’s Kitchen, Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Nando’s Peri-Peri, Starbucks, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill.
If you’re looking for entertainment, you can watch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema or try figure skating at the area’s ice-skating rink.
Veterans Memorial Park is adjacent to Woodbridge’s three famous natural attractions: the Occoquan Bay National Water Reserve, Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge, and Marumsco Creek.
Once you’re done exploring these outdoor attractions, head straight to the Veterans Memorial Park, which is teeming with exciting outdoor activities and sports.
Being the main sports and recreation venue in Woodbridge, the Veterans Memorial Park hosts numerous local sports events, from baseball, volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, and swimming.
If you want to get active and want to stretch some muscles in your visit to Woodbridge, this is the perfect place to do it.
You can engage in different sports, and if you have kids, you can take them to the park’s playground.
African food has been gaining popularity in the United States for the past few years, thanks to African migrants who set up small joints to share their traditional cuisine with Americans.
Its unique and flavorful dishes are irresistible but rarely served across the country.
Fortunately, a local restaurant in Woodbridge serves authentic Western African food.
Head to Hajara’s Kitchen & Suya Supply to fix your African food craving.
The restaurant is popular in Woodbridge for serving authentic Western African dishes prepared and cooked using traditional and innovative culinary techniques.
You should try their signature skewered meats called spicy suya kebab along with their Jollof Rice, Tuwo Shinkafa or fufu rice, Couscous, and many more.
Woodbridge will surely get you acquainted with nature while enjoying quality leisure time at its malls and restaurants.
This small community in Prince William County is a perfect weekend destination for yourself or your family.
So, don’t forget to do the things and visit the places listed in this post!
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