Virginia sightseeing.. staying in Ashburn (Alexandria, Reston: home, living, restaurants)

[vishnu111]

I will be staying in Ashburn for a day or two.

Looking for a shopping area..kinda of a time square feel..
(oh.. I can hear the comments already!)

Where could I go shopping: (arlington, maryland, DC, etc, etc)

(Not looking for the same old universal Mall that I could find
in my local town)

Last time I visited DC, I asked the front desk...
where can I do shopping? and she said..
there's a forever 21 down the street.

I mean.. really?

When I go to another state, I want to do and experience new things...
(festivals, nature, big city.. I dunno..)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by vishnu111

Looking for a shopping area..kinda of a time square feel..
(oh.. I can hear the comments already!)

Where could I go shopping: (arlington, maryland, DC, etc, etc)

(Not looking for the same old universal Mall that I could find
in my local town)

Old Town Alexandria (King Street) or Annapolis if you like an outdoor "Main Street" type experience.

[Caladium]

Drive by Reston Town Center, and see if it feels different enough for you--if not, head down to Old Town. I'd also hit a few of the local wineries--they're nearby since you're in Loudoun. You could see if there are any equestrian events near Middleburg. Go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum--it's next to Dulles Airport, so just a few miles from Ashburn, and it's not your run of the mill museum. If you like quaint villages, a drive out to Waterford might be appealing.

Here are some photos of Reston Town Center to give you an idea if this is something you'd find interesting.


Reston-Town Center and Lake Anne

Photos of Waterford:

Waterford

Old Town:

Alexandria-Old Town

[yamota]

Old Town Alexandria, Old Town Fairfax, Old Town Manassas might be good suggestions

[saganista]

Harper's Ferry is closer to Ashburn than Old Town Alexandria. Easier to find a parking spot there, too.

[Caladium]

Hmmm, I like the suggestion of Harper's Ferry. It's definitely a unique town, and you get a really interesting glimpse at what small towns were like before the Civil War started and the town was torched. The entire downtown area is essentially a living museum (some buildings still have active stores and restaurants, others have been returned to period pieces with displays of what the businesses and stores used to be like). The OP wants unique, and something that has local flavor--that would be an interesting choice. The only possible downside is there aren't a lot of stores, and the OP mentioned shopping. There's a fantastic bookstore, a few gift shops, a wine shop, a few clothing stores, and a cool store for hikers (this town is part of the Appalachian Trail), but that's about it.

On the way home you could stop at a winery, or get a sandwich at Wegman's (believe it or not Weggie's impresses lot of tourists, if you've never seen a grocery store like that it's a memorable place to go).

[Middlin]

Like Times Square? We have nothing like that. Given that you are only here a day or two and traffic is really bad (you didn't mention if all that time is free to look around) I would opt for the old town of Leesburg, perhaps do the outlets in Leesburg (you can get some amazing deals). Middleburg is a cute little town and you could visit Chrysalis winery for great views.

If you can afford the time, I would do Georgetown or Old Town

[arielmina]

strolling the streets of Middleburg, especially with them decked out for the holidays, is a great way to while an afternoon away. Grab lunch and a hot cocoa at Mello Out, one block behind Main Street. But bring money!

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by vishnu111

I will be staying in Ashburn for a day or two.

Looking for a shopping area..kinda of a time square feel..
(oh.. I can hear the comments already!)

Where could I go shopping: (arlington, maryland, DC, etc, etc)

(Not looking for the same old universal Mall that I could find
in my local town)

Last time I visited DC, I asked the front desk...
where can I do shopping? and she said..
there's a forever 21 down the street.

I mean.. really?

When I go to another state, I want to do and experience new things...
(festivals, nature, big city.. I dunno..)

The closest thing to a Times Square experience in this region is the 7th street corridor next to the Verizon center in downtown Washington DC. I will leave it to folks who know Loudoun better to discuss how long it would take to get there. Traveling that distance for that experience may or may not be worth it to you. if not, go to one of the suggestions above instead.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by vishnu111

Looking for a shopping area..kinda of a time square feel.. (oh.. I can hear the comments already!)

When I go to another state, I want to do and experience new things...
(festivals, nature, big city.. I dunno..)

What kind of shopping are you looking for? Designer clothes, handbags? Antiques, vintage, and collectibles?

The outlets in Leesburg has the newish stuff.

Nothing like Times Square around here. Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown (in DC) or downtown DC are the closest to that. But since you're in Ashburn for only 2 days, I would save a visit down there for later. Middleburg is a good suggestion, especially for the holidays. Leesburg is smaller but has some offerings.

If you get a chance to eat out, I would recommend this place:
Clyde's Restaurant Group :: Restaurants:: Willow_Creek_Farm (http://www.clydes.com/main/RestaurantsDetail.cfm?Section=Main&Restaurant=Will ow_Creek_Farm&submit=Submit - broken link)

It will be close to where you are staying and is truly unique. The photos don't do it justice--but it is a collection of historic structures, great design, and architectural features.