Easy to locate some favorite restaurants and quick access to show times and tickets.

Favorite Restaurants:

Red Rock Canyon Grill-located in Centreville,this is full flavored American cuisine, fresh and bold, made by chefs from scratch every day, and presented by servers who treat you like the valued guest you are.  Open for lunch and dinner, with indoor and outdoor seating by a fire pit.
 
Mike's American Grill-located in Springfield, it's a classic American steakhouse in a historic location with impeccable service and food!  Highly recommend Call Ahead Seating...703-644-7100.
 

Coastal Flats-with two locations in Fairfax Corner, and McLean, it's in the same Great American Restaurants Family as Mike's so the service and food can't be beat...only this restaurant is fashioned as a casual 1950s coastal Florida inspired seafood house.

Sweetwater Tavern-another Great American Restaurant, in Centreville, Sterling, and Merrifield, Sweetwater Tavern is cowboy style...to include their own brewery. 

Carlyle-in Great American Restaurant excellence, this high-energy bistro serves innovative award-winning food in the Village at Shirlington (in Arlington).

Cheesecake Factory-Arlington, Tysons Corner, Fair Oaks Mall, and Dulles for their Restaurant, Bakery, and Bar.  Fantastic food and of course an extensive selection of desserts! 

Lebanese Taverna-This cozy family style restaurant is known throughout the area for its friendly atmosphere and delicious Middle Eastern food. Visit their original location in Arlington, or Tysons Galleria and the charming Pentagon Row location.  Cooking Classes also offered. 

Thaiphoon-at Pentagon Row in Arlington, or in Washington, DC. The warm atmosphere, attentive service, rich culture, variety of Wines and cocktails, and authentic Thai cuisine is what you can find in the contemporary establishment.

Maggiano's Little Italy-located in McLean at Tysons Galleria, offers enormous portions of delicious family style Italian dishes in an environment they describe as warm and intimate with a dash of bustle and energy.
 
Paolo's Ristorante-Traditional Italian made California fresh.  Wonderful to combine with ice skating in Reston Town Center, or there is an additional location in Georgetown (Washington, DC).

P.F. Chang's-in Arlington, Tyson's Corner, or Fairfax, blends classic Chinese design with a modern bistro look.  An extensive, fresh menu in a stylish, comfortable, and upbeat dining experience.  Offer online ordering.
 
 Take-Out Taxi-is available to deliver fine food to many service areas in Northern Virginia, and D.C.

Alexandria Dining Guide

Movies and Shows:

Don't forget to check reviews for the movies you are considering...try Rotten Tomatoes.

A wide selection of movie theatres throughout our area, so it is often convenient to search a couple of different theatres for the right time and movie for you. Try searching with fandango and  movietickets.com as I often find different times and/or different availability for online ticketing at these two sites.  

Ticketmaster-for all the latest shows, concerts, circuses, and games
*I highly recommend Cirque du Soleil and Cavalia (Arabian Horses) when they come to town!!!

Kennedy Center-Since opening in 1971, the Kennedy Center has continued its efforts to fulfill his vision?presenting the greatest performers and performances from across America and around the world, including the National Symphony Orchestra, nurturing new works and young artists, and serving the nation as a leader in arts education.

The National Theatre-historic playhouse opened in 1835 in D.C., but has certainly been updated since then (to include new seats in 2002) to provide fans an elegant setting to enjoy Broadway shows.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts-the only national park dedicated to presenting the performing arts. No matter what your age or taste in shows, you?ll find something you like onstage at Wolf Trap in Vienna. Multiple amphitheaters in the park present performances from May through September such as musicals, dance, opera, jazz, popular music, and country.


...and if the natural venue is more your preference, check out more information about the area's parks and recreation opportunities on my Sports and Recreation Page.

More to See:

A Tourist's Guide to D.C. will give you all there is to do in The District, which is a quick Metro Ride away.  Festivals, Museums and Monuments...there's always something to do!

Smithsonian Museums-The Smithsonian Institution bills itself as "the world's largest museum complex," and it's hard to imagine any other contenders. You could spend a good part of a month visiting all of its 19 Washington, D.C.-area attractions, and since they're all free, you wouldn't spend a cent (except for transportation, lunch, and of course, printing photos of your trip).

Don't miss out on the Smithsonian Annex to the Air and Space Museum, located in Chantilly, Virginia.  Very popular for the air and space artificats at this Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. 

National Zoo-A 163-acre zoological park set amid Rock Creek Park in the heart of Washington, D.C. Open to the public 364 days a year, it is home to 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species.  Highly recommend taking the Metro instead of having to go back home when you can't find a parking space...and I couldn't believe...admission is FREE!    

Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens-open seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas, come tour George Washington's historic Alexandria home and enjoy special events and seasonal activities that re-create the bustle of 18th-century life. You can also just come for shopping or  colonial dining at the Mount Vernon Inn. 

Alternatively, you can see more historic grounds in Mason Neck, Virginia at Gunston Hall, which was the home of George Mason. 


Rennaisance Festivals:

Virginia Renaissance Faire-located in Spotsylvania each May/June.

Maryland Renaissance Festival-not too far away in Annapolis, Maryland each August-October.