Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Loudoun County, VA

  • Published 2023/04/08

Many things drive visitors to enjoy the exciting Loudoun County, Virginia.

A thriving agricultural base propelled the growth of Loudoun County since its foundation in 1757 in northern Virginia.

The vast farms in Loudoun County brought economic prosperity and weaved many points of interest in and around its 521-square-mile area.

The rolling hills of the county are home to more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms, enticing visitors to come for tours and wine tastings.

Such a beautiful and bountiful countryside setting combines a rich history to attract visitor interest in the county.

There are seven towns in the county that you can explore.

Cross off the items on this list of the best things to do in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Catch Bass at the Beaverdam Reservoir

Scenic view of Beaverdam Reservoir

Barry Blackburn / Shutterstock.com

The Beaverdam Reservoir is a favorite of bass anglers in Loudoun who holds fishing tournaments here several times a year.

Accessible via Mt. Hope Road, the Beaverdam Reservoir is located in Ashburn on the southeastern part of Loudoun.

Besides largemouth bass, the reservoir has black crappie, channel catfish, white perch, bluegill, and redear sunfish.

View of the Beaverdam Reservoir

Matthew W. King, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Beaverdam Reservoir features more than 600 acres of parkland, where you can also hike on its scenic trail around the water.

In addition to fishing and hiking, visitors can also kayak on the Beaverdam Reservoir.

Sip Fine Wine at Breaux Vineyards

Internationally acclaimed wines await visitors of Breaux Vineyards, nestled on a picturesque 404-acre estate in Purcellville.

It is east of Harpers Ferry Road, between the Short Hill and Blue Ridge Mountains.

Breaux Vineyards’ winery and tasting room, Patio Madeleine, and its landscaped terraces are open daily from April to October.

The wines here are drawn from 17 different grape varieties grown in this vineyard, which include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

Some of the Breaux Vineyards’ wines that visitors love are 2013 Nebbiolo, 2015 Merlot, 2016 Chere Marie, 2017 Madeleine’s Chardonnay, and 2017 Sauvignon Blanc.

The tasting room of Breaux Vineyards provides various seating options to enjoy the scenic surroundings while sipping wine.

Its friendly and knowledgeable staff is always on hand to show guests the vineyards’ award-winning wines and breathtaking grape farms.

Dine and Drink at the EagleTree Farm Winery

EagleTree Farm Winery offers more than a vineyard experience at its 6.5-acre farm east of Harrison Lane in Leesburg, the county seat.

This winery operates with a full-service restaurant run by a full-fledged chef who doubles as a winemaker.

The wine choices from EagleTree Farm Winery include the peppery Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Tannat, and Merlot.

Try to pair the talon red wine of EagleTree Farm Winery with its restaurant’s meticulously prepared Arancini packed with a mushroom risotto for an exquisite dining experience.

Weather permitting, dining is best at the winery’s patio, where you’re immersed in a quiet countryside setting.

Visitors can hike around the vineyard, which, besides grapes, also grows blueberries you can pick when in season.

Enjoy a Dinner Party at the Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek

Wine lovers planning a visit to Loudoun often find their way to the Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek.

Special events, like dinner parties for its new wine releases, make this boutique winery one of the top attractions in Leesburg.

The vineyard of this winery spreads over 50 acres on the rolling hills between Route 15 and the Potomac River.

Bordeaux and Burgundy-style wines are the pride of Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek.

These French varietals are crafted from hand-picked and sorted grapes, producing top-quality Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit, and Merlot.

This winery offers Harvest Club and Ambassador Club memberships that open access to its special events, limited edition wines, and discounts.

Immerse in History at Mt. Defiance Historic Park

The Mt. Defiance Historical Park preserves the relics of the 1863 Battle of Middleburg between the cavalry units of the Union and Confederate armies.

The Mt. Defiance Historical Park, located just south of John Mosby Highway in Middleburg, features several historical markers on the battle.

Civil War-era buildings are the other points of interest at Mt. Defiance Park.

These vintage structures include a cottage and blacksmith shop that were mute witnesses to the Battle of Middleburg.

Visitors are not allowed inside these buildings but can explore and take pictures on their grounds.

Hike the Chapman DeMary Trail

Take a hike on the Chapman DeMary Trail to explore the last remnant of the old-growth forest in the Loudoun town of Purcellville.

Treks on this trail best start from a parking lot near the Purcellville police station on East Hirst Road.

The forest that the Chapman DeMary Trail winds through spreads over ten acres.

Local students and scouts helped construct facilities along the trail.

These facilities include boardwalks, benches, bridges, picnic tables, bat boxes, and signage.

You can learn about the trees, plants, and wildlife in this lush green habitat from the markers and signs along the trail.

Monthly nature walks are hosted at the Chapman DeMary Trail by Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board experts.

Launch a Canoe at the Bazil Newman Riverfront Park

The Bazil Newman Riverfront Park sprawls over 100 acres, featuring a canoe and kayak launch for paddlers on the Potomac River.

This park is located off Heron Way in Loudon’s unincorporated planned community of Lansdowne.

A section of the 710-mile Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail traverses this park, opening the opportunity for an extended hike in the local area.

Hikers can also access the Bazil Newman Riverfront Park, a section of the Riverpoint Drive Trailhead.

The historic Elizabeth Mills canal lock system is yet another point of interest in this riverfront park.

Fishing and picnics are the other recreational activities at the Bazil Newman Riverfront Park.

Browse the National Sporting Library & Museum

Exterior view of the National Sporting Library & Museum

Wisconsinjpc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The National Sporting Library & Museum is located on Plains Road in Middleburg.

Founded in 1954, this facility highlights the rich heritage and enduring tradition of field sports.

The National Sporting Library & Museum shelves contain rare books about horsemanship, angling, shooting, foxhunting, and similar outdoor sports activities.

This library and museum have amassed an extensive art collection of over 800 pieces on the same theme.

The artworks and other collections in the library and museum span from the 17th to the 21st century.

Play Golf at the Brambleton Golf Course

The Brambleton Golf Course is a municipal link noted for the beauty and grandeur of its 18-hole layout.

Located off Ryan Road in Ashburn, this course offers regulation play at par 72 over 6,648 yards from its back tees.

This course was inaugurated in 1994 and offers play year-round.

The Brambleton Golf Course presents challenges in its tiered and bunkered greens, with water in play on six holes in the front nine and two on the back.

Golfers are likely to chance upon wildlife as they tour the rolling terrain of the Brambleton Golf Course.

After a round, golfers can relax at the clubhouse and drink at the Brambleton Ale House.

Bring the Family to the Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park

Hal & Bernie Hanson Regional Park covers all your bases for outdoor sports and recreation.

This 257-acre park is located on Hanson Park Drive in the unincorporated community of Aldie.

The Hal & Bernie Hanson Regional Park facilities include ten multi-purpose soccer fields, four baseball/softball fields, four tennis/pickleball courts, and two artificial turf fields.

In addition, the park provides an outdoor basketball court, batting cages, and a cricket pitch.

It also offers a skate plaza, disc golf course, splash pad and playground with inclusive features, and two gardens with paved rubber surfaces.

Visitors who want less activity can turn to the Hal & Bernie Regional Park’s five ponds with fishing piers.

Picnic pavilions, grandstands, a theater, a nature center, off-leash areas for dogs, trails, and concession/restroom buildings likewise form part of the facilities in this park.

Take the Kids to the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum

The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is located on Heritage Lane within Claude Moore Park in Sterling, a census-designated place in Loudoun County.

The hands-on exhibits in this museum delight children and take them through the generations of farmers in the county.

In one of the interactive exhibits, the Claude Moore Children’s Farm, children can wear a costume and act as a farmer doing chores like milking a cow or collecting eggs.

Another feature of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is Grandma’s Kitchen which recreates a pre-World War II Kitchen.

Enjoy a display of the Waxpool General Store & Post Office, which operated in Loudoun County from 1890 to the early 1940s.

For souvenirs, visitors can drop by the Gift Shop in the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, featuring some of Virginia’s Finest label products.

Check Out Hill High Marketplace

Hill High Marketplace is a quaint shopping complex on Stoneleigh Drive off north of Harry Byrd Highway in the Loudoun town of Round Hill.

Its pitch of “The Best of Loudoun Under One Roof” resonates in the tenant lineup of this marketplace.

At Hill High Marketplace, you’ll find the retail outlet of Mom’s Apple Pie, selling pies made from fresh, organic ingredients from its nearby farm.

This store also sells organic meats, dairy products, wine, beer from other farms, and fresh seasonal produce.

The Hill High Marketplace also hosts the tasting room of Bogati Winery, which features hand-crafted wines inspired by the culture of Argentina.

For alternative drinks and food items, the neighboring More Better Restaurant and Beer Garden offers many American and European flair choices.

The child-friendly gallery of the Round Hill Arts Center is another attraction at the Hill High Marketplace, where artworks and gifts are on sale.

Join the Loudoun Public Art Tours

Experience the rich local culture by joining the Loudoun Public Art Tours.

These tours virtually make downtown Leesburg an open-air museum.

The Loudoun Public Art Tours will walk you through several murals, sculptures, and statues around the town center of Leesburg.

These tours take at least 30 minutes to two hours, during which you’ll hear the unique stories behind each artwork.

Stops at tap rooms of famous local breweries and coffee shops can also be arranged for inclusion in the Loudoun Public Art Tours.

Shop at Loudounberry Farm

Loudounberry Farm is one of the standout destinations in Lucketts, an unincorporated historic hamlet of Loudoun County.

This farm is located off James Monroe Highway, where you can see chickens raised naturally on a pasture of grasses, flowers, and herbs.

Loudounberry Farm also raises quails and sells their eggs and various other farm produce.

Other products available at this farm include coffee, peanuts, meats, jerky, and cheese.

Visitors can also buy wood-fired pizza, ice cream, and organic milk at the Loudounberry Farm.

Pick a Thrill at the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center

Various outdoor thrills for the choosing await you at the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center in Purcellville at the northern tip of Loudoun County.

Located on Adventure Center Lane off the William L. Wilson Freeway, this outdoor fun facility invites you to go tubing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing,

Off the water, Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers an aerial adventure park, zipline, jumping pillow, and hiking.

The adventure activities here are suitable for all ages and skill levels.

The Harpers Ferry Adventure Center also offers cabin accommodations and campsites.

Final Thoughts

Loudoun County is a must-visit destination, with its historic small towns offering plenty of things to do for all ages.

The ubiquitous vineyards and wineries of the county combine with other local points of interest to make an exciting visit.

Explore the best things to do in Loudoun County, Virginia!

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