Loudoun County’s breathtaking backdrop featuring vineyards and the Blue Ridge Mountains, alongside the lure of its historic towns, make it a must-visit destination for any group. Easily accessible and just outside the nation’s capital, Loudoun County is a place where groups can find experiences that match any interest. From sangria or bonbon making to immersive art and history tours and interactive murder mystery dinners, Loudoun has an unmatched collection of curated experiences.
Small town travel
Credit: Neal Alfano Photography
Picturesque destinations in Loudoun County combine the best of local history with first-class shopping and dining experiences. In Middleburg, America’s horse and hunt capital, groups will find small-town charm on Washington Street, and the surroundings characterized by stone-lined country roads and thoroughbred-filled horse farms. Middleburg is known for its mix of modern amenities to historic gems like the Red Fox Inn and tavern. In Leesburg, groups will find King Street, the restaurant row of Loudoun County. Visitors will savor everything from farm-to-table fare to fine dining, including popular local dining destinations like The Wine Kitchen, King Street Oyster Bar, and Señor Ramon Taqueria. Other local activities for groups visiting Leesburg include self-guided walking tours featuring local art and historic buildings, and the popular chocolate-making class at The Conche.
Historic homes & gardens
Credit: Visit Loudoun
Groups can step back in time at numerous historic properties in Loudoun County. The notable George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor is situated on 3.8 acres in Leesburg’s historic district and features a pristine garden landscape and museum inside what was once George C. Marshall’s home. The National Historic Landmark site will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Marshall Plan this year, marking that historic movement in world history.
At Morven Park, groups can sit back and experience the excitement of Polo in the Park. The 1,000-acre property also features The Davis Mansion, Museum of Hounds & Hunting, Morven Park International Equestrian Center and the Winmill Carriage Museum. Just south of downtown Leesburg, Oatlands Historic House & Gardens provides a beautiful setting to experience a murder mystery dinner, sip tea in a historic carriage house or take a docent-led garden tour.
Food & dining
Credit: Ron Blunt
Local restaurants draw on Loudoun County’s agricultural heritage and take advantage of locally sourced and organic ingredients in nearly every dish. Known for its one-of-a-kind dining experiences in historic homes and buildings, Loudoun’s rich history and culinary excellence is on display at favorites like Clyde’s at Willow Creek Farm, a farm-to-table restaurant that draws inspiration for its classic tavern menu from its working farm, Magnolias at the Mill, an American-style restaurant in a historic 1900s grain mill, and Lightfoot Restaurant, a Romanesque revival–style building once home to the former People’s Bank, which served the community for over a half-century.
Wine & craft beverage
Credit: Neal Alfano Photography
Also known as DC’s Wine Country®, Loudoun County features almost 50 award-winning wineries and more than 30 craft breweries. Unobstructed tasting room views of rolling hills and cliff-side overlooks rival notable landscapes across the globe. Bluemont Vineyard and Henway Hard Cider, nestled on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offer hands-on sangria classes for groups. At the fourth-generation dairy farm-turned-winery Zephaniah Farm Vineyard and the solar-powered Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, groups of all sizes can schedule private tastings.
Outdoors & adventure
Credit: Visit Loudoun
Groups eager to explore nature will find thrills and adventure all over Loudoun County. The paved Washington and Old Dominion Trail, a converted W&OD Railroad route, connects the towns of Shirlington to Purcellville and provides 45 miles of hike- and bike-friendly opportunities. Thrill-seekers can climb the largest indoor ropes course in the country at Summit Ropes, a challenging 16,550-square-foot obstacle inspired by Zion National Park. Or, groups can explore the Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park, which features more than 60 acres of pristine hiking trails and a breathtaking overlook above the Potomac River.
For more information about group travel in Loudoun County, contact Hannah Oliver, tour & sales manager for Visit Loudoun, at 703-669-4434 or oliver@visitloudoun.org, or visit visitloudoun.org/groups.
Main image: Bluemont Vineyards, Bluemont, Va.; Credit: Visit Loudoun
Article by Erica Zazo
