Travel and Outdoors

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City
How Northern Virginia ranked in 2025
Here are 15 different rankings where NOVA ranked in 2025.
January 15, 2026 12:38 PM
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
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
A trailhead on a path shows an image of a stick figure with a leashed dog and says "Turkey Run Loop .75 MI" and "Potomac Heritage Trail .25MI." A river is visible through the trees and down a small set of wooden steps.
Play
Take a hike: A guide to trails around Northern Virginia
Looking for the perfect hike? This curated guide highlights tried-and-true trails in the area — plus everything you should know about them, from difficulty level to accessibility and beyond.
March 6, 2025
 · 
Brianna Williams
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More from NOVAtoday
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
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Weird Virginia laws you might not know about
Have you committed one of these strangely specific crimes? Take a browse through some Virginia laws you might not have known were on the books.
November 20, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The Panes con Pavo sandwich from Your Only Friend, made with Salvadoran braised turkey, cortido, salted cucumber, Crystal Hot Sauce fried chili oil, Duke’s Mayo, served cold on a soft roll.
Restaurants
Sandwiches, pho, and more: Newly acclaimed restaurants near NOVA
From restaurants to chefs, see which three DC eateries and one culinary talent recently received top accolades.
November 19, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski