Sterling, VA, has outstanding tourist attractions that are well worth a visit. Drive around in a Chevy Trax, Trailblazer, or Tahoe to learn more about the region's agricultural history, enjoy plenty of outdoor recreational fun, and cool off at the splashiest spot in town. 1. The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum tells the story of the region's rich agricultural history and the perseverance and ingenuity of ten generations of Loudoun residents and farmers through interactive exhibits in themed rooms. The Grandma's Kitchen exhibit display appliances and furnishings showing what farm kitchens looked like in the decade before WWI. more Su's Schoolhouse represents a 1909 one-room schoolhouse with benches and a blackboard, and the Waxpool General Store has shelves packed with groceries and candy. The American Indians: America's First Inhabitants exhibit showcases many artifacts and provides information on the area's first inhabitants and how they used the tools they left behind. Address and Hours The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is at 21668 Heritage Farm Lane in Sterling and is open Tuesday to Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 2. Algonkian Regional Park Discover 838 acres of beauty and outdoor fun in Algonkian Regional Park along the scenic Potomac River. Explore the natural woodlands and open meadows on miles of hiking and biking trails, fish, boat, and paddle on the river and catch glimpses of bald eagles, hawks, and river otters. Swing your iron on the 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course, putt your way around the Polynesian-themed miniature golf course, and cool off at the waterpark. To give yourself enough time to enjoy all the park offers, stay in one of the lovely riverfront vacation cottages for a few nights. If you really want to treat yourself, pick a deluxe cottage with a deck and a hot tub overlooking the river. Address and Hours Algonkian Regional Park is at 47001 Fairway Drive in Sterling and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. 3. Volcano Island Waterpark The Volcano Island Waterpark, a tropical paradise in Algonkian Regional Park, is one of the area's biggest attractions in summer. The amazing island-themed waterpark features thrilling waterslides where you'll scream your way down 230 feet on the open and 170 feet in total darkness on the closed slide. There's a gigantic play structure with fountains, platforms, squirters, and an enormous 500-gallon dumping bucket. There's a splash pad with sprinklers, buckets, and water cannons for the little ones, plenty of shade under the large umbrellas, and Paradise Cafe is well-stocked with delicious favorites. Address and Hours Volcano Island Waterpark is at 20015 Volcano Island Drive in Sterling. The waterpark opens for the summer season on May 27 at 11 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. Sterling has many fun things to do and experience, from looking at fascinating artifacts and playing golf on a championship course to paddling on the Potomac River and exploring breathtaking woodlands. To make sure your Chevy is in tip-top shape for exciting excursions, call Ted Britt Chevrolet today for an expert maintenance service. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
Sterling, VA is in what was once the heart of a young United States. We have some great landmarks in the area that showcase our history, and we'd like to recommend you pack a picnic into the Chevy Tahoe, load up some family or close friends, and explore a few of these places. Broad Run Toll House At 45290 Russell Branch Pkwy in Ashburn, the Broad Run Toll House is where the toll keeper on the old Leesburg Turnpike use to live for many years until Highway 7 was finally finished and then repaved. Since then, it's been neglected, but it's a place that deserves to be remembered. more The building was constructed in 1829, and tolls were collected on the stone bridge at Broad Run here until 1924. The bridge continued to be used until 1949, when a new modern bridge was built. In 1970, the toll house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Heritage Farm Museum Head over to the Heritage Farm at 21668 Heritage Farm Ln here in Sterling, in the Claude Moore Park Visitor Center, to learn more about our area and see the history of the county. The museum sits on land that was once a Native American trail, and also home to a nature center from the mid-eighteen century, the 1779 Lanesville Ordinary and Post Office, and a historic schoolhouse built in the 1880s. At the museum, you can travel through 10 generations of Loudoun County families, explore a real one-room schoolhouse, learn about what life was like for the American Indians who lived here, and enjoy the blacksmith forge and workspace. The museum also has a huge collection of horse-powered agricultural materials collected by a local family and now on display. Historic Ashburn Mill At 20704 Ashburn Rd, the Ashburn Mill is a gorgeous building and one of the oldest parts of Ashburn. The county has worked hard to make this a beautiful place where you can learn about the area and the way life used to be. The original mill was built in the 1870s by M.L. Kendrick. His son sold it, and the mill was then purchased in the 1910s and finally sold for the last time in 1944. Though it's no longer used as a mill, you can still see how it all used to work and the way people pursued their jobs in this kind of work. Arcola Slave Quarters Historic Site At 24837 Evergreen Mills Rd, this spot is also on the National Registry of Historic Places, and also the Virginia Historic Landmarks Registry. It's heavily involved in research into the lives of slaves in nearby Oatlands and Sully plantations and is the only standing former slave dwelling in the area. The structure has been donated to the county by the Friends of the Slave Quarters, in the hope that it will be part of raising public awareness about slavery in the region and the history of Loudoun County's African American population. These are just a few interesting places you can explore in a reliable Chevy. To get one, or get service on yours, see us at Ted Britt Chevrolet today.
As home to some of the first settlers nearly 400 years ago, Loudoun County has a long, rich history that encompasses American Indian heritage, the Civil War years, agricultural development and more. Whatever era you're interested in, be sure to check out our list of the best historical attractions if you're in or around Sterling, VA. 1. Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum Dedicated to preserving the agricultural history of the region, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is crammed with intriguing artefacts and interactive exhibits. As well as a huge collection of American Indian tools, there are exhibits of the farm tools and machinery used by ten generations of Loudoun inhabitants. There's also a blacksmith's shop in the nineteenth-century barn, and the Waxpool General Store, which give you a chance to step into the past. more The museum is family friendly and children can learn in Mrs Su's Schoolroom, use antique cooking implements in Grandma's Kitchen, or be a farmer for the day. If you're looking for an excuse to load the family into the Chevy Suburban for a day trip, this could be the ideal opportunity. 2. Lanesville Heritage Area This site features buildings such as a schoolhouse museum, an outhouse, and tenant's house. There's a Civil War Signal Station site, and Vestal's Gap Road also runs through the grounds. This ancient American Indian overland route, through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Ohio, is reputed to have been used by George Washington in 1770. Located in Claude Moore Park, a visit here will also give you the chance to admire the scenery and enjoy the available walks, lake, and amenities. 3. Ball's Bluff Battlefield The site of one of the largest Civil War conflicts in Loudoun County, Ball's Bluff Battlefield preserves the site of the significant 1861 battle and features a cemetery with the graves of 54 Union soldiers who fell. Visitors can take part in the scavenger hunt, or take a guided tour to gain fascinating insight into the engagement while taking a mile-long walk around the battelfield. 4. The Marshall House Dodona Manor was the residence of George C Marshall, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who masterminded the Marshall Plan in the aftermath of World War Two. Built in the early nineteenth century in the Federal style, the house is now a centre of learning for ethical leadership. However, it's also a site of architectural interest and is still mostly furnished with items that belonged to Marshall and his wife. With guided tours available, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the politics of the last century, or the architecture of the one before. And for anyone who loves the outdoors, there's even a tour of the 29 varieties of tree on the grounds. Whether you want to learn about American Indian heritage, Civil War history or the twentieth century, you're sure to find out more in Sterling. And while you're taking a learning tour, remember to visit us at Ted Britt Chevrolet to find the right car for your voyage of discovery.
