George Washington’s Dogs Were Here
Fun Fact: The American Kennel Club recognizes George Washington as the Founding Father of the American Foxhound.
The county’s most famous resident, George Washington loved dogs, had dozens of them, and traveled with his canine companion Sweet Lips.
Traveling with dogs?By George, what a great idea! Hey guys, how would you like to take a tour of Fairfax County?
We’ll take that as a yes.
We usually rate our road trip experiences but — full disclosure — we met and fell in love in Fairfax County, and understandably view the area through rose colored glasses. We now live nearby, so we did not stay at any of Fairfax County’s dog friendly accommodations. For suggestions aplenty, see Dog friendly Fairfax and Pet friendly Travel options in Fairfax County.
Great Falls Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
George Washington would tell you that Great Falls Park is THE place to see in Fairfax County.
George Washington visited Great Falls multiple times (maybe he even brought his dog) while he strategized how to bypass the rapids to establish a trade route.
In 1785, George Washington founded the Potowmac Company to develop the Potowmack Canal. The canal ceased operation in 1828 but visitors can see its remnants along the Potowmack Canal Trail.
Lost Dog Café
1690 Anderson Rd., Ste. A, McLean
Of course we stopped to eat at the Lost Dog Cafe which helps homeless pets, serves great food, and provides dog friendly seating.
Doggy divas will dig Tysons, the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast. This shopping Mecca in McLean (pronounced McLANE) includes dog friendly Tysons Corner Center, which allows service animals and small dogs (who are carried or placed in a rolling cart, such as a dog stroller).
Photo from Facebook | Tysons Corner Center
Public Art Reston
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
I got my 10,000 steps while looking for Reston’s public art. I used the handy dandy public art tour maps and found several stunners.
JINYA Ramen Bar
11964 Market St., Reston
It was not a difficult decision to stop for dinner at the Reston Town Center’s JINYA Ramen Bar. I devoured a big bowl of the most delectable vegan ramen I have ever slurped down. Kudos to the staff for providing exceptional service to both its doggie and human customers.
Developed in the 1960s, Reston is the nation’s first modern planned community. Reston’s founder Robert E. “Bob” Simon, envisioned a community that prized community, diversity, green spaces, and art, as an alternative to suburban sprawl.
This documentary tells the entire fascinating story of the creation of Reston, including Simon’s radical vision of an integrated community in Virginia during the 1960s.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
Quiz time!
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts:
A. is the only national park completely dedicated to the performing arts.
B. provides lovely trails to walk a dog (or three).
C. participates in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program to ensure that dogs and their humans Bag waste, Always leash up, Respect wildlife, and Know what’s off limits.
D. all of the above
The correct answer? D. all of the above. Wolf Trap is all of these things.
Newly sworn in B.A.R.K. Rangers: Jake and his buddy (Instagram sensation!) Oshie.
Before we embark on a hike, we frequently use the Go Hike Virginia site to learn helpful tips. Once again, the site did not disappoint, and provided everything we needed to know about hiking around Wolf Trap, including where to park.
Caboose Tavern
520 Mill St., NE, Vienna
We found the nearby Caboose Tavern to be a super popular, dog friendly spot to order some grub.
Dogs who fancy a long walk in the park will be happy to know that the Washington & Old Dominion Trail Railroad Regional Park (known as the W&OD Trail) stretches for 45 miles. Virginia’s skinniest park snakes right through Vienna and hosts all sorts of foot traffic, including horses on the gravel portion. During our visit, we saw an entire herd of deer cross the trail.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
The only public Korean bell garden in the Western Hemisphere? We’re in!
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens offers Pup Stroll Wednesdays to allow dogs to tour the breathtakingly beautiful acreage, including its Korean bell garden. The dogs must ensure that their humans act politely, are attached by leash, and pick up any waste.
Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant
2531 Chain Bridge Rd., Vienna
Photo from Facebook
Our favorite place to eat in Vienna? The Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant. It’s healthy AND tasty, plus it offers dog friendly outdoor seating.
Tinner Hill Historic Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
In 1915, the town council of Falls Church voted to segregate Tinner Hill and restrict land ownership by African Americans. Residents Joseph and Elizabeth Tinner were among those who worked hard to ensure that this didn’t happen. Their efforts also led to the formation of the NAACP’s first rural branch in 1918.
The Zig Zag Sculpture at the Tinner Hill Historic Park, on the site of the Tinner’s former home, shows the location of the proposed segregation line.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 N. Washington St., Falls Church
At Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, we felt like we were at the beach instead of in the middle of downtown Falls Church.
Sully Historic Site
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
We took a self-guided tour of the Sully Historic Site. Established in 1799, the grounds of this former plantation include the main house, slave quarters, outbuildings, and a cemetery.
If the timing is right, your 1799 experience will include up close views of planes landing next door at Dulles Airport.
Santini’s New York Style Deli
3980 Corsair Ct., Chantilly
We picked up dinner-to-go from nearby Santini’s New York Style Deli, and ate at one of Sully’s picnic spots. However, it’s nice to have options and Santini’s offers dog friendly seating on its patio.
Mosaic District
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
Besides shopping, dining, and just hanging out, the Mosaic District provides a dog friendly feast for the eyes.
During your visit to the Mosaic District, see if you can find all of the public art shown here.
While admiring the aesthetics, we met fellow art connoisseur Jackie accompanied by her human.
Nando’s PERi-PERi
2987 District Ave., Ste. 100, Fairfax
At Nando’s PERi-PERi located in the Mosaic District, we like the menu; we like the dog friendly seating, and we like the public art.
Your Vincent Van Dogh will enjoy Fairfax County’s public art treasure trove (mapped out on ArtsFairfax Public Art Locator).
Ox Hill Battlefield Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
Thanks to the work of Civil War preservationists in the 1980s, Fairfax County’s only major Civil War battlefield was not lost completely to development.
The self-guided audio tour on the Battle of Ox Hill Park website brings to life the events of September 1, 1862 and greatly enhances a walk around the park.
P. J. Skidoo’s
9908 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
We have extremely fond memories of hanging out at P. J. Skidoo’s back when we were dating. Today, we brought the entire pack to enjoy lunch on its enormous dog friendly patio.
I love stopping by the Fairfax County Animal Shelter because of its loving, happy vibes, clean, modern building, and sweetie pie doggos.
The shelter assists thousands of pets annually. One way to help the shelter is by donating to the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter – Finnegan’s Fund which provides funding for emergency medical care.
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
Photo from Facebook of hemlocks at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park
The only designated old-growth forest in Fairfax County, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park contains centuries-old hemlock, sycamore, and tulip poplar.
Words that came to mind during our walk in the woods: Majestic, Enchanting, Peaceful, Stunning, Wow, and Holy Crap!
Paradise Springs Winery
13219 Yates Ford Rd., Clifton
Dog friendly Paradise Springs Winery is right next door and customers can bring food to eat outside or purchase à la carte menu items, including whatever the Paradise food truck offers that day.
Beware the Bunnyman Bridge which got its name because of sightings back in the 1970s of an ax-wielding man dressed in a bunny suit.
The Bunnyman Bridge, 6494 Colchester Rd., Clifton
Fountainhead Regional Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
Woods or water? How about Woods AND water?
We nominate Fountainhead Regional Park as the perfect spot for Spot to hike in the woods and enjoy a bit of kayaking on the Occoquan Reservoir.
If you pack a cooler, your pack can stay all day. The snack bar located at the Fountainhead marina sells chips and soda and also provides a dog friendly place to eat lunch.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
The lobby of the Ford Orientation Center features a selfie station.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the nation’s most visited historic estate, serves as Fairfax County’s crown jewel.
Upper Garden
Even better, its outdoor spaces are dog friendly. We purchased grounds passes, visited a couple of times, and developed the Mount Vernon ABCs for success:
- Arrive on a weekday morning to avoid crowds.
- Bring a doggie water bowl to fill up whenever you pass a water fountain.
- Contextualize your self-guided tour with information from Mount Vernon’s virtual tour website.
Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant provides dog friendly seating on its front porch. Due to the popularity of this place, we suggest arriving on a weekday during non-peak hours.
Pohick Bay Regional Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
We stumbled upon the place where perfect weekends are made.
While we were out on the water, we met fellow paddler Stitch and his human.
In the making of your perfect weekend at Pohick Bay Regional Park, you will definitely want to bring:
- your own kayak or paddle board if you want to go out on the water with your dog. The park does not allow dogs in its rentals.
- lunch, but you can add a few snacks and drinks from the camp store.
- hiking boots for the miles of trails.
Map from https://www.novaparks.com/parks/pohick-bay-regional-park/things-to-do/hiking-trails
George Mason’s Gunston Hall
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
As an alumnus of Fairfax County’s George Mason University, I am happy to highlight George Mason’s Gunston Hall as a fabulous dog friendly place to visit.
We arrived on a beautiful Saturday and had the place to ourselves for a self-guided tour of the outbuildings and gardens.
We recommend packing a lunch and bringing hiking boots. A grounds pass provides access to picnic areas and hiking trails throughout 550 acres located along the Potomac River.
George Mason wrote the Constitution of Virginia and the Virginia Declaration of Rights which served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights. However, like many of the nation’s founding fathers, George Mason had feet of clay. He championed for liberty but also owned slaves.
Mason Neck State Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
The bald eagles were shy during our visit, but they are a big draw at Mason Neck State Park and the adjoining National Wildlife Refuge, the nation’s first for bald eagles.
If you hear this sound, a bald eagle can’t be too far away.
Bunnyman Brewing Café
9514 Workhouse Way, Lorton
Named after the local urban legend, located in a former prison, and providing dog friendly seating, how could we resist the Bunnyman Brewing Café? We recommend the vegan pot stickers which disappeared before I could snap a photo.
Grendel finds LOVE at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9528 Workhouse Way
Occoquan Regional Park
My edits on VDOT’s map of Fairfax County
It’s easy to love this beautiful riverside park. I especially appreciate its 5K trail and suffragette memorial.
Brickmakers Cafe
9751 Ox Rd., Lorton
The park’s Brickmaker’s Cafe (which gives a nod to the location’s historical brick kilns) provides a full menu and dog friendly seating with a view of the Occoquan Reservoir.
Thank you Fairfax County for all of the wonderful memories from years gone by and for the new memories we made during these dog friendly adventures.
Road Trip Reads
One day in 1992 at the CIA headquarters building (which is not far from Tysons Corner) an intelligence office figured out that her co-worker Aldrich Ames was selling secrets to the Soviets.
It sounds like fiction, but in 1989 Reston experienced an Ebola virus outbreak. This riveting book tells how it happened.
Like an Eastman Jackson painting, this book sheds light on the daily lives of Mount Vernon’s slaves and tells how one of them managed to escape.
Roving through Virginia with Rover 
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