Business trip to Ashburn VA, looking for stuff to do.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Business trip to Ashburn VA, looking for stuff to do.

Posted: 4/12/2017 5:07:19 PM EDT

End of April through mid-May I'll be in Ashburn, about 40 minutes Northwest of DC. Any must-see gun shops? Full-auto rentals? I'll be coming from New York so pretty much all the fun stuff you guys have - we don't. Would I be able to rent handguns without a VA permit? Not looking to spend a ton of money of course, but I'll definitely be interested in checking out some cool stuff while I can.

I'm already hoping to hit up the Smithsonian Air & Space museum and possibly the US Navy museum, as well as do some mountain biking in a park called Fountainhead - I'll be driving down and bringing my bike. How about good BBQ in the area or just a great hamburger - any tips on any of this will be great. Thanks very much -

Steve.

Posted: 4/12/2017 5:46:45 PM EDT

[#1]

I lived in Ashburn for ten years. Its just a suburban nightmare, not much of a destination so you'll be driving to any real attraction.

But you can catch dinner/drinks and a movie at Alamo
https://drafthouse.com/northern-virginia

Across from Alamo is Topgolf, its pricey but you can drive golf balls and drink.

Not sure of any rental gun ranges near Ashburn. But there are several ranges, and NRA HQ is about 10 miles away. NRA has a free museum, but their awesome range doesn't rent guns.

Ashburn has a Wegmans. You problably have that near you in NY too, but its a good place to grab dinner or groceries.

Posted: 4/12/2017 5:59:46 PM EDT

[#2]

Hey, the NRA museum - that's a great suggestion, thanks!
Also curious about any good hiking within a reasonable drive.

Posted: 4/12/2017 6:12:10 PM EDT

[#3]

Yes Blue Ridge and a other range in the area rent handguns, ARs, AKs, etc. Yes you can handle and rent without a permit. 30 round mags are ok.

Plenty to do, there is a car road racing track(Summit Point) about am hour west of Ashburn. About 1.5 hr there is a dirt track in Winchester.

Post up when you get here, maybe we can get a HTF dinner or lunch going. Probably about 50+ Arfcommers with 20 miles of Ashburn.

Posted: 4/12/2017 9:11:16 PM EDT

[#4]

I work near ashburn. Its just another place.

But Quantico Tactical in Woodbridge worth the drive. Virginia Arms across from Southern States in Manassas is OK too.
The cove is a cool place to shoot if you want to drive west a bit.

Elite Shooting Sports is by far the best indoor range, its not too far, its off the 234 and I-66. It has a 100 yard range.

You need to check out the Marine Corp museum of the I-95, there's a big thread on touristy stuff to do in DC.

Shenandoah National Park isn't far and has some good hiking and backpacking. Old Rag Mountain is pretty but can get crowded.
Fairfax County has lots of parks with neat hidden trails. You can be walking in the woods next to streams and not realize your next to million dollar houses.
I like to walk around Sugarland park for lunch on nice days.

Posted: 4/12/2017 10:46:34 PM EDT

[#5]

Willard's is opening a place in Reston next week. I'd check that out for BBQ.

Go see a changing of the guard at Arlington.

Go see this.

Posted: 4/13/2017 11:26:12 AM EDT

[#6]

Check with any ranges regarding rental policies. Not sure of the current status of the local ranges, but it's not uncommon for ranges not to rent to anyone who comes in alone and without a gun of their own. but your NY permit is good here. And open carry requires no permit.
Take a look at our laws, they're quite a bit different than you're used to. http://handgunlaw.us/states/virginia.pdf
But hey, if you need a shooting buddy I'm sure someone here wouldn't mind a trip to the range.

Posted: 4/13/2017 5:34:06 PM EDT

[#7]

Carolina Brothers makes tasty, no frills SC style BBQ and is located in Ashburn.

Smokehouse Live is off Rt. 7 between Ashburn and Leesburg, and has good bbq, bourbon and frequently live music.

Bullseye Guns and Loudoun Guns are both located in Leesburg. Bullseye is small and Loudoun is medium sized. I wouldn't call them "must sees", but if you're in the area and want to browse they are worth a look.

ETA: There is a range with rentals right in Ashburn, Silver Eagle. The owner is a huge anti-gun Hillary supporter, so I choose not to patronize this establishment whenever possible but it's there.

Posted: 4/13/2017 5:40:27 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hey, the NRA museum - that's a great suggestion, thanks!
Also curious about any good hiking within a reasonable drive.

View Quote

Easy hiking areas (more like trail walking) would be Ball's Bluff and Red Rock. I believe both of these are parks, and are in the Ashburn/Leesburg area.

If you are willing to drive about an hour, go west towards Front Royal and you can hit GR Thompson WMA or Sky Meadows State Park. The AT runs through both of these areas, along with plenty of side trails. There are also plenty of Civil War battlefield parks nearby, such as Manassas and Bull Run. You can certainly hike around those if old battlefields are of interest.

Posted: 4/13/2017 6:53:00 PM EDT

[#9]

Great, keep 'em coming.

I should have specified about the hiking - I'd be willing to go for a decent drive for a good trail. Scenic and challenging, rocks and cliffs are definitely cool with me. Looks like Google helped me find a few, a couple hours away.

Posted: 4/13/2017 8:10:26 PM EDT

[#10]

Billy goat trail is fun and close, it can get crowded sometimes.

http://www.hikingupward.com/OMH/BillyGoatTrail/

Posted: 4/13/2017 8:53:32 PM EDT

[#11]

Check out Great Falls Park (https://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm). Right outside the beltway. Trails on both the Virginia and Maryland side. The Billy goat trail (http://www.hikingupward.com/omh/billygoattrail/) on the Maryland side is a fun challenging hike with lots of rocks to scramble over and nice overlooks of the Potomac River.

Posted: 4/14/2017 7:30:45 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Great, keep 'em coming.

I should have specified about the hiking - I'd be willing to go for a decent drive for a good trail. Scenic and challenging, rocks and cliffs are definitely cool with me. Looks like Google helped me find a few, a couple hours away.

View Quote

For what you seek, google 'Old Rag' in Shenandoah National Park. About 2 hours drive to the trail head from Ashburn. It's a rock scramble to the top of a ancient mountain. Then you hike back down via trail and and old woods road. The loop is 7 -ish miles total and the rock scramble is a good work out. The views are excellent. Trails are well marked. Only drawback is it gets crowded so get there early. There is a fee to park at the trailhead- since it is part of the National Park. This hike is a must do for any true Virginian.

Posted: 4/14/2017 4:32:55 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Check out Great Falls Park (https://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm). Right outside the beltway. Trails on both the Virginia and Maryland side. The Billy goat trail (http://www.hikingupward.com/omh/billygoattrail/) on the Maryland side is a fun challenging hike with lots of rocks to scramble over and nice overlooks of the Potomac River.

View Quote

Great Falls would be a good place to get a hike in and be close to other attractions you might want to see. But stay out of the river. Every year they pull bodies out of people that went in just to wade or thought they could boulder hop across it.

Also, if you bring a bike, Ashburn has a trail that you can ride all the way to Arlington- the Washington & Old Dominion Train (W&O Trail).

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:13:08 PM EDT

[#14]

If you want hiking and are willing time drive about 45 minutes, Sugar Loaf Mountain is what you seek.

Posted: 4/16/2017 2:47:46 PM EDT

[#15]

Not sure if this will interest you or not, it's a little pricy. I have been to the location in Baltimore for a work outing and this one opened recently.

www.iflyworld/loudoun.com

Posted: 4/16/2017 6:39:48 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not sure if this will interest you or not, it's a little pricy. I have been to the location in Baltimore for a work outing and this one opened recently.

www.iflyworld/loudoun.com

View Quote

Top golf also nearby.