Leesburg so rich with history!

Visit the Balls Bluff Battlefield, then tie history together by visiting the old courthouse and Loudoun Museum, which has several civil war exhibits. Walk around the historic district and browse the many antique shops or have lunch. The outlets in town will give you a quick change of pace and you are sure to snag a deal or two. If you bring your bikes, don't forget to ride on the WO&D trail, which is a 45 mile long paved trail! Teens may also find the skate park in town to be just what they are looking for after spending a week touring the Smithsonian!

Quick Tips:

On the first Friday night of every month, the restaurants and galleries host a "gallery walk" from 6-9pm. The Tally Ho Theater has been restored and often has a special event in addition to featured movies.

Best Way To Get Around:

To see the area you will need a car. Parking in downtown Leesburg is very easy because the town has a parking garage.

Just as the name implies, the building is an old mill built in 1899 and moved to its present location in 1985. It is in an area of town known as Market Station with a variety of speciality stores.

The food is fantastic! I highly recommend the Sautéed Medallions of Lobster to start your meal (approx $13). Follow that up with either the Filet Mignon or the Sesame Roasted Salmon and you will have a meal to remember. They also have a great selection of local wines.

This resturant is known to the locals as "Tuskies" and is a favorite with everyone. If you choose to go at lunch time order the Grilled Chicken Panini or the Crab Cake Sandwich! As a bonus they serve the same lobster appetizer at lunch time!

Housed in a turn-of-the-century, fully-restored bank building, this restaurant serves seasonal American cuisine. Although somewhat pricey, it is a must see!The best way to visit this restaurant is to visit the bar and have a cocktail or coffee and dessert (which are excellent). They accept online reservations, which are necessary on weekends.

The authentic slow smoked real pit bar-b-que and moderate prices has kept RH&B on the Top 100 Best Bargain list for 10 years straight by Washingtonian Magazine. This is a chain, but well worth the visit.

The service is super fast, so the wait is never long. I haven eaten at Red Hot & Blue's in four different states and have never been disappointed. Service is fast and the food is great at every location.

Start off your meal with an onion ring loaf or the sausage and cheese plate. My favorite meal that I order again and again is the pulled pig platter. The ribs are also excellent. You can also get a local brew (from Dominion) -- it is the house beer on draft! Great prices!

The best burgers in town! They also have an excellent appetizer menu and a good selection of beer. Live entertainment on some evenings. Call ahead to be sure the place isn't closed for a private event (it happens too often). Also, be prepared, the place is smoky!

Excellent food! Pizza is wonderful and so are the subs. The white pizza (no red sauce) is especially delicious! Huge non-smoking area (hard to find in this area). Very reasonable prices and fast service help to rate this place an A+. Seat yourself. They are located in a shopping center on E. Market St also known as Rt 7 (across the street from Red, Hot & Blue).

Here you'll find over 100 fantastic stores with bargins galore. This is an outdoor mall, so it is best enjoyed during nice weather. It's usually only crowded on the weekends. Stop by the information desk and show your AAA card and get a discount book, or register on their website and download a coupon to redeem for the book.

Stores include: Rockport, Reebock, Nike, Gap, Movado, Smithsonian, Old Navy, Pottery Barn, Barneys of NY, Bebe, Williams & Sonoma, Kenneth Cole, and Saks (to name just a few)

The best deals can be found at Greg Norman, Seiko, and Old Navy.

For a complete list of stores visit their website.

The food court isn't cheap or very good, so plan to eat before or after. TGIFridays is just across the parking lot if you want to spend the entire day shopping, which can easily be done! This mall is open 363 days of the year (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).

They have a 12,000-square-foot lighted skating area for in-line skaters and skateboarders. Obstacles include launch ramps, fun boxes, rail slides, and half-pipes. Protective gear including helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads must be worn. The park is reserved on Saturday mornings from 11am to 1pm for skaters under 10. Regular summer hours are Monday-Friday 2:00pm to 10:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 11:00am to 8:00pm. Non-resident rates are: adults, $6; 15 and under, $5. The pads are also available for rent if you forget them. This is not the best skate park in the area, but it gives the kids a needed break while you shop!

This estate from 1804 features a mansion, greenhouse, dairy, smoke house, bank barn, and gardens on 261 acres. This is a National Historic Landmark. The mansion was owned by three families before it was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The original owner George Carter, great grandson of colonial Virginia's renowned Robert "King" Carter, ran a successful plantation. Following the Civil War and the loss of their slave labor, the plantation fell into serious financial trouble. The formal gardens sited on four acres are breathtaking.

The plantation is open from March 30 to December 30. Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Sunday 1pm to 5pm. House tours on hour until 4pm. Property (and gates) close at 5:30pm. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors/students, $1 children age 5 to 11. $5 garden and grounds only.

The Battle of Ball's Bluff was small in terms of the number of soldiers involved, but the Union forces suffered a large number of casualties. There were reports of dead Union soldiers floating downriver to Washington which brought the reality of the war to the city.

This is a one-mile trail that loops in a circle with interpretive signs. Along the way you learn about the battle of Ball’s Bluff which was fought on October 21, 1861 and was the result of a mistake. Although the opposing numbers were almost equal, in the open, with their backs to the bluff the Union soldiers effectively were trapped.

Estimated Casualties

Union
Number of Soldiers 1720
Killed 49
Captured 553
Wounded 158
Missing 161

Confederate
Number of Soldiers 1709
Killed 36
Captured 2
Wounded 117
Missing 0

Guided tours are offered on the weekends. This park does not have any restroom facilities.

To get to the park from Downtown Leesburg take Route 7 east toward DC, then Route 15 Bypass north. Turn right on Battlefield Parkway (this is a residental area) and left on Ball's Bluff Road. The park is located at the end of the street.

Leesburg is home to several wineries. Most offer tastings and tours. Some have light snacks and/or full meals. Here are the local wineries:

www.tarara.com There is a tasting fee, and they usually have special events with dinners.
www.hiddenbrookwinery.com Light fare, e.g., cheese & crackers. There is no tasting fee.
www.willowcroftwine.com

In addition to these there are a few more just on the outskirts of town!

This is a great trail. Fully paved the entire length of the trail. It also has a trail that runs beside it allowing you to go "off trail" if so desired. To access the trail in Leesburg, take Route 7 west into Leesburg, turn left onto Sycolin Road. Turn immediately right into the parking lot for the Douglass Community Center and park in the rear of the building. The trail is directly behind the building through the picnic area.

When headed west toward Purcellville, the ride will be approximately 11 miles from here. This is a challenging and scenic ride. Once in the town of Purcellville, you can choose from several resturants to eat in. The ride home is a breeze, mostly downhill from here!

If you decide to go in the other direction, there are also many attractions along the trail. Trailside parks, a general store in Ashburn, and, just east of this site, watch for the sign and you can jump off the trail and visit the Dominion Brewing Company for lunch.

This trail runs all the way into Arlington, VA, where you can connect to another trail that will take you all the way into Washington, D.C.

The Loudoun Summer Music Fest is a program of The Loudoun Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money to support Loudoun charities.

This is the second year of the concert series. The concerts take place on Sundays in Ashburn just off of Rt 7 on the grounds of the Belmont Manor (6.5 miles East of Leesburg).

The bands change every week. This season kicked off with Grand Funk Railroad, and many great bands have followed: The Wailers, Kansas, Little Feat, and the Gin Blossoms. This weekend (Aug. 14th), Joan Jett and the Blackhearts play. On Aug 21st, KC & The Sunshine Band, and the last concert of the year, on Aug 28th, will be Eddie Money.

Tickets are only $15.00 at the gate, and they accept cash, VISA, and MC. If you order in advance online, they are $12.00 PLUS a $2.50 Internet processing fee. Children under 12 are free.

Activities and entertainment for children include balloons, a moon bounce, face painting, and magicians.

They sell wine and beer for $5 a cup (large water size). There are also vendors selling hamburgers, nachos, and pizza. The fresh-squeezed lemonade is also very good.

Gates open at 5pm. Concert starts at 6:15pm. Parking is in a field and is very organized when you are getting in, but it is a nightmare getting out of the place. Just sit tight after the show and let most of the traffic leave.

Things to bring: your friends and family, money, lawn chair or a blanket, bug spray, and a hat if you get there early, as the sun can still be intense at 5pm.

Things to leave at home: pets, food, and beverages. No tailgate parties are allowed, and you cannot bring food or drink into the concert from outside.

For more information or a new concert schedule (next year), visit the official website: http://www.liveatbelmont.com