If you’re driving around downtown Woodbridge, VA, you’re probably thinking to yourself that there’s not much to do here. Truth be told, you’d be kind of right! Within the city limits, there aren’t too many exciting things to do. However, within a 20-minute or so drive, things can change drastically! Here are some ideas regarding top attractions in Woodbridge, VA. We’re going to be including some of the local attractions as well as things that you can do nearby. If you read all the way through, you’ll probably be surprised by the variety of attractions within the area.
Hiking Near the Mason Neck Area
Hiking or just walking through different types of trails is an activity that’s popular in this area. There are plenty of public parks that you can access even within the Woodbridge, VA, city limits. If you’re really looking for the best hiking experience in the area, you have to go to the trails around Mason Neck National Park. It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown Woodridge to the middle of the park. You can visit George Mason’s Gunston Hall, a small museum, as part of your day trip.
If you don’t want to cross the bay but still want to walk through nature, the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is the spot for you. All of these spots are great for a stroll in the spring or even the summer. There are almost 20 different hiking trails that you can enjoy around Woodbridge. It could be a good idea to check which one best fits your needs before you hit the road!
Dinner By the Occoquan River
There are different ways to enjoy this experience. Usually, when people mention having dinner by the Occoquan River, they mean driving up U.S. Route 1 and taking a left before crossing the river on Marina Way. Once there, you can pick any of the many restaurants to sit down and have a nice evening. That’s certainly a great way to spend time with friends. However, there are actually other ways to have dinner by the Occoquan.
You could head further north to Occoquan Park. There, you could do some more walking if you’re not too tired from hiking. Maybe pick another day to make this visit. Anyway, there are plenty of great spots within the park to set up a picnic. You could even use one of the grills there to have a Sunday barbecue with the family. It’s all about getting creative; when you do that, the possibilities are endless.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
The trip to Mount Vernon from Woodbridge, VA, takes about 20 minutes. Of course, that’s going to vary depending on traffic. What a lot of people want to know about this place is whether it’s worth a visit. The estate is actually in great condition, and as part of the tour, you can visit George Washington’s former house. There’s also a museum on the property. To be honest, the best time to visit Mount Vernon is from April to October. Those are the only months of the year when the distillery is open for guests. That’s a part that can really help the entire trip come together.
Casino Trip to an MGM Grand Property?
Maybe your time at Mount Vernon wasn’t what you hoped it would be. Now you have a choice to make: you can either drive back down to Woodbridge and hit up the local bowling alley, or you can drive up to Alexandria and then cross the Potomac into Maryland to find an MGM Casino. The drive is about 20 to 25 minutes either way.
To say that the MGM Harbor Hotel & Casino is one of the top attractions in Woodbridge, VA, maybe a bit of an overstatement. If you head straight here from downtown Woodbridge, it’s about a 45-minute drive at best. When you pair the casino with a stop at Mount Vernon, that’s a valid day trip to attractions near Woodbridge, VA, in our book. If you have a little too much fun, be sure to stay on property or near the MGM Hotel. Make your trip back down to Woodbridge the next day to be extra safe.
Plenty of Golf to be Played
There is no golf course within the Woodbridge, VA, city limits. However, there are about seven different courses in the vicinity. It’s important to check which of those properties has public access and how long they’re actually open throughout the year. Some of the clubs are known to close down their facilities as the winter months approach. If you’re keen to play a round of golf while you’re in the area, you’ll likely be able to do so.
Some of these attractions may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s also true that, in most cases, there’s a drive involved to get to the actual spot. In spite of this, you can find plenty of different things to do around Woodbridge. As mentioned, if you’re driving around town, and you get discouraged, you may want to expand your horizons. When you do that, you’ll surely find plenty of things to do.
