Culture

An aerial shot of the coastline that lines Lima Peru. A vast number of buildings line the land atop cliffs, with a deep blue ocean on the right of the image, running alongside a road beneath the cliffs.
Travel and Outdoors
Which cities share NOVA’s latitude and longitude?
Directly north, east, south, and west of Northern Virginia, cities across the world await.
March 19, 2026 11:43 AM
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
The west facade of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin, China, showcases its distinctive Byzantine-style architecture. The cathedral features a large green domed roof, brick walls with ornate detailing, and tall windows. The entrance is visible in the center, with decorative arches and a tower extending above the building.
Culture
Take a virtual tour of Fairfax’s 3 sister cities
Our guide may even make you want to grab your passport and head for our sister cities in South Korea or Turkey.
March 12, 2025
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
NOVAtoday: NOVA_Old town Alexandria_MAR25
Culture
Artificial Insults: A ChatGPT roast of NOVA
With artificial intelligence seemingly everywhere, we decided to hone its powers for a good lighthearted roast of Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax.
March 7, 2025
 · 
Shea Stapley
Rue Froide, a narrow street with colorful shop fronts in Caen France
Culture
Alexandria’s 3 sister cities: A virtual tour
Our guide may even make you want to grab your passport and head for our sister cities in Scotland or Sweden.
March 7, 2025
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
NOVAtoday: NOVA_Mt. Vernon Trail dog_MAR25
Culture
NOVAtoday’s spring ‘in’ and ‘out’ list
Spring has sprung… almost. Here are our hot takes on what’s cool this season and what’s not.
March 7, 2025
 · 
Shea Stapley
NOVA | Aachen cathedral.jpg
Culture
Travel to Arlington’s 5 sister cities (virtually)
Our guide may even make you want to grab your passport and head for our sister cities in Germany or France.
March 7, 2025
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
A view of the Washington Monument in DC from the shore of the Tidal Basin
Culture
ChatGPT roasts Washington, DC
Can AI write a good roast of the nation’s capital? We decided to find out.
March 6, 2025
 · 
Shea Stapley
Load More
The Buy

Shop The Buy
Latest News
More from NOVAtoday
The Old Town Hall in Fairfax, Virginia is a white house with columns.
Unwrap these 16 gifts given to Northern Virginia cities
Well, maybe not us directly — but Northern Virginia really is the gift that keeps on giving.
December 15, 2025
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
Paper snowflakes and holiday candles on a table.
Arts
Holiday craft workshops around Northern Virginia
Want a fun outing with friends or a unique holiday gift idea? Try these craft workshops to create personalized creations like paintings or custom tea blends.
December 11, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The outside of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
Entertainment
Check out these Northern Virginia museums
DC doesn’t have to have all of the fun — here are some Northern Virginia museums that you can check out.
December 10, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The Historic Del Ray mural in Del Ray.
City
Wander through the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria
Newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski toured the Del Ray neighborhood to discover its best spots.
December 9, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A gray fox photographed on a trail camera, mid-walk through leaves in a wooded area.
Travel and Outdoors
The Virginia Gray Fox Project collects trail-cam photos for wildlife research
Organizations throughout Virginia have contributed thousands of photos to the Virginia Gray Fox Project, and we picked our top 10 trail-cam moments.
December 8, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A person cutting someone's hair.
Business
Six salons around Northern Virginia
With the holidays right around the corner, many of you may be looking for the perfect place to get your hair done. Check out these great salons around Northern Virginia.
December 5, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A GIF saying "2025 Wrapped."
City
Your 2025 NOVAtoday Wrapped: The top news stories of the year
Spotify isn’t the only one having fun — dive into your 2025 NOVAtoday Wrapped.
December 4, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The outside of an Amtrak train at Alexandria Station.
Airports and Transportation
Your guide to the Amtrak in Northern Virginia and DC
Traveling soon, but not feeling the hassle of flying? Check out this guide to Amtrak routes in and around Northern Virginia.
December 2, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A photo of shops along King Street in Old Town Alexandria.
How to shop local on Small Business Saturday
The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on November 29 — the perfect time to help you add a local sparkle into your holiday shopping.
November 24, 2025
 · 
Staff
People shopping at a holiday market in Northern Virginia.
City
Holiday markets in Northern Virginia
Check out these six holiday markets happening throughout December in Northern Virginia — offering art, food, and, of course, holiday cheer.
November 21, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski