10 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Fairfax County, Virginia

The state of Virginia is one of my favorites because it offers an incredible variety of accessible things to do. You can roll down into a cave in the town of Luray, enjoy the beauty of Shenandoah National Park, and eat your way through Richmond’s many fabulous restaurants to name a few of my personal favorite experiences. But if you are looking for a destination in Virginia that literally has something for everyone, look no further than wheelchair accessible Fairfax County! 

Recently, I was able to spend a few days exploring Fairfax County for the first time. Whether I was visiting George Washington’s home, having afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton, or admiring whitewater rapids from accessible viewing platforms, I had a wonderful trip. If you are looking for the best wheelchair accessible Fairfax County attractions and things to do, here are ten of my recommendations for you!

Wheelchair Accessible Fairfax County Attractions & Things to Do

Check out my short video below of some of the best things to do in Fairfax County as a wheelchair user –

National Museum of the United States Army

Once I arrived in Fairfax County, my first stop was the National Museum of the United States Army. The museum had a variety of interesting exhibits, but in addition to that, the museum truly made an effort to be as accessible as possible. I was super impressed! 

There were multiple companion-care restrooms in the museum, an accessible seating area in the on-site theater, and there were even accessible options for the interactive exhibits, such as hand controls for people that can’t reach the screens. I have never seen a museum with an option for hand controls, so this was amazing to see and it showed me just how inclusive museums all over the world can, and should, be. 

I spent about two hours touring the museum, but you could easily stay much longer, and I would actually suggest planning for three to four hours. The National Museum of the United States Army celebrates over 245 years of Army history, so there is a lot to see. Exhibits ranged from the Cold War to stories of soldiers to global war and more. Before visiting the museum, I didn’t know much about the Army, but I certainly learned a lot and was very glad that I visited.

The museum is open every day from 9am-5pm and admission is completely free. However, you should get the complimentary timed-entry tickets online in advance of your visit. This museum is one of Fairfax County’s newest attractions and is definitely worth visiting if you’re looking for wheelchair accessible Fairfax County attractions to enjoy! 

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Fairfax County, Virginia is home to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, which is the estate where the country’s first President and his family lived in the 18th and 19th century. This was one of my favorite places that I visited in the area for a variety of reasons.

At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the most popular thing to do is tour the mansion. You can only enter the Washington’s mansion on a guided tour and each tour lasts approximately 20 minutes. Timed-entry tickets should be purchased in advance of your visit, as mansion tours are extremely popular. 

The entire lower level of the mansion is wheelchair accessible, but unfortunately, there is no elevator available to access the upper level. The staff members did offer to show me photos of the upper level though and they thoroughly described everything. 

After touring the mansion, I rolled around the surrounding gardens, saw George Washington’s tomb, and more. There are smooth paths throughout Mount Vernon (paved, hard-packed dirt, and brick paths, but all smooth), so I had zero issues getting around in my motorized wheelchair. 

Touring George Washington’s Mount Vernon was a fantastic experience and a wonderful learning opportunity, but there was some very sad history to the estate as well. Throughout George Washington’s life, at least 577 enslaved people lived and worked at Mount Vernon. By the end of Washington’s life, his views about slavery changed and in his will, he said that all of the enslaved people he owned should be freed after his wife Martha Washington’s death. The estate did a great job of explaining the truth about what happened here and today, there is a Slave Memorial on-site that can be visited. 

In addition to the mansion and the grounds, there is a huge museum with fascinating interactive exhibits, movies, a cafe, and gift shops. I really enjoyed my time in the museum and learned so much about George Washington’s life. 

Plan to spend at least three or four hours at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, as there is a lot to see. For a smoother experience, you can purchase tickets in advance of your visit on the website here. This is one of the most popular attractions in the area and after visiting, I can see why! 

Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center 

You may have heard of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, but did you know that it has a sister-museum in Fairfax County, Virginia? The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is in Fairfax County and it is a spectacular place to visit. Whether you are interested in air travel, space travel, or just want to watch an IMAX movie, you’re sure to enjoy this museum! 

Here, you can see dozens of airplanes and learn all about them, get face-to-face with the Space Shuttle Discovery, go up in an observation tower and see planes taking off at nearby Dulles Airport, see an IMAX film in the onsite theater, and more. I was shocked at how large the museum was and how much it had to offer. 

Accessibility at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is great! I was able to access every space within the museum and elevators were available. Admission is also completely free, which is great, but if you’d like to see a movie in the IMAX theater, that is an extra cost. There is a $15 parking fee at the museum as well.

You could easily spend several hours (or more!) exploring this museum! It’s honestly one of the coolest museums I’ve ever visited, but I love planes and space, so this is basically my dream museum. Oh, and did I mention that the museum has a Shake Shack in it as well?! Yeah, this place is a must-visit in Fairfax County! 

River Sea Chocolates 

If you have a sweet tooth (or 32!) like me, then you need to check out River Sea Chocolates in Fairfax County. It is a bean-to-bar chocolate factory and shop, and they craft “exquisite single-origin artisanal chocolate creations that are not only rich in flavor, but also packed with nutrition.”

The chocolate shop is open every day of the week from 11am-5pm and until 6pm on Saturday. I enjoyed trying a few different chocolate treats (the peach chocolate was particularly delicious!), but my favorite item was the hot chocolate. There was a craft hot chocolate menu with many options to choose from. All of the hot chocolates are made with ground 60% single-origin chocolate. You can get butterbeer hot chocolate, salted caramel hot chocolate, or several others. I opted for the “Old Town hot chocolate”, which included cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, orange peel, and more. By far, it was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had.

If you’d like an extra special visit at River Sea Chocolates, they offer a variety of tours and tastings as well. You could do a chocolate tasting flight and factory tour, a wine and chocolate tasting, a chocolate bar making class, or more. All tours and tastings should be booked in advance and you can do that on their website. 

River Sea Chocolates is a hidden gem in Fairfax County and has some of the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted. What I really loved was their passion for making the best chocolate as well. In talking with the staff, their thorough knowledge and passion shined, and I am thankful they have an online shop so that I can continue satisfying my sweet tooth for years to come! 

The Town of Vienna, Virginia

The quaint Town of Vienna is located in Fairfax County and it is just the most charming place. I absolutely fell in love with this town and it’s a wonderful place to spend a day. Whether you want to shop or roll on accessible paths, you’re sure to have a fun time in Vienna. 

I enjoyed rolling along Vienna’s historic Church Street and visiting the many different shops. Some of my favorite shops on Church Street were Bards Alley Bookshop, Trace The Zero Waste Store, and Great Harvest Bread Co. I especially loved Trace because they sold eco-friendly household and personal items. I’ll admit, I’m not the most environmentally conscious person, but this was a great store and it showed me just how easy it could be to have a zero-waste lifestyle.

Along Church Street, every shop that I saw was wheelchair accessible. I’m not saying that they all are because I didn’t see every single store, but of the shops that I noticed, they were accessible. There were also smooth curb cuts at the street crossings.

After shopping for a couple hours, I visited the Old Caboose and rolled on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, which is paved and wheelchair accessible. The caboose serves as a reminder of the importance of the railroad industry in Vienna’s history and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail is a perfect way to enjoy a nice day outside. The trail is 45 miles long, but fully paved. Of course, I didn’t roll the entire length of it in my wheelchair, but I did roll on it for about a mile and had fun. You can join the trail right by the Old Caboose. 

Vienna is a wonderful town to spend several hours in or even a full day. No matter how much time you have though, it’s worth devoting some time to exploring this charming town in Fairfax County. I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I did! 

Meadowlark Gardens’ Winter Walk of Lights

If you’re visiting Fairfax County during the holiday season, make a plan to enjoy Meadowlark Gardens’ Winter Walk of Lights. I am a Christmas fanatic and this experience definitely got me in the holiday spirit! 

The light display takes place at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and there is a half-mile paved trail, where you can see the nature and animal-themed holiday lights. The trail was smooth and easy for me to roll on in my powered wheelchair, but some sections were a little bit steep. It should be easily manageable for motorized wheelchair users, and most manual wheelchair users, though.

The light displays were beautiful and along the trail, you can also stop for hot cocoa, snacks, and you can even make s’mores at the end of the path for a minimal extra cost. The trail was only a half-mile long, but since it offered so much to see and do, we were there for about an hour or so. 

If you are not visiting Fairfax County during the holiday season, you should still check out Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. It’s a beautiful area and I’m sure it’d be equally as impressive during the daytime. But as a Christmas fanatic, I loved the Winter Walk of Lights and would highly recommend it.

Great Falls Park

Great Falls Park is located in Fairfax County and just a short 20-30 minute drive from Washington, DC. I was extremely surprised (in a good way!) that this outdoor oasis could be so close to the bustling city. Great Falls Park is a phenomenal place to unwind and enjoy nature, no matter what your abilities are.

At Great Falls Park, the Potomac River falls over steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. As it builds up speed, it forms Class V whitewater rapids in parts. It’s a beautiful sight to see! 

There are several overlooks at Great Falls Park, where you can see the water from. Overlooks 2 and 3 have wheelchair accessible platforms, but overlook 3 is the most accessible, as it has a glass section that wheelchair users can easily see through. If your wheelchair cannot elevate, overlook 3 is definitely where you want to go.

All of the overlooks are just a short 5-10 minute walk/roll from the Great Falls Visitor Center. The path to them does have loose gravel and was a bit bumpy, but my powered wheelchair handled it rather easily. If you use a manual wheelchair though, you may want someone to help push you at times. 

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect at Great Falls Park, but it certainly surpassed whatever expectations I did have. If you will be in Fairfax County and want to enjoy some time admiring the great outdoors, there is no better place to visit! 

Reston Town Center

One of the best areas for shopping and dining in Fairfax County is Reston Town Center. Across several blocks, there are dozens of great shops and restaurants to enjoy, and it is a beautiful area.

Reston Town Center is very wheelchair accessible, so don’t let your wheels stop you from exploring this area. Every shop and restaurant that I saw was completely accessible. The sidewalks were smooth as well and all of the curb cuts were easy to navigate, which I appreciated. 

As I mentioned, there are dozens of shops and restaurants at Reston Town Center. You can dine at Fogo de Chão, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, or Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food to name a few. If you do dine at Jackson’s though, be aware that they only have booths, so that could be an issue if multiple wheelchair users are dining together. In terms of shops, you will find Apple, J. Crew, Anthropologie, and many others here. 

One unique activity that I really enjoyed at Reston Town Center was making my own candle at Paddywax Candle Bar. I was able to choose the fragrance of the candle, measure the ingredients (wax and fragrance), mix it, and pour the wax into the candle holder. It was a fun process and took about 30 minutes, and cost $45. If you’re interested in this experience, be sure to reserve your session in advance. 

Whether you want to shop, eat some good food, see a movie, make your own candle, or something else, Reston Town Center is a fun place to hang out in Fairfax County. If I lived in the area, I would undoubtedly be here on a weekly basis.

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner

If you’re looking for a luxurious experience or an activity for a special occasion, look no further than afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner hosts afternoon tea and it is such a special experience.

My mom and I highly enjoyed this activity, as neither of us had ever done afternoon tea before this… especially at somewhere as wonderful as the Ritz-Carlton. We had delicious sandwiches (my favorite was the smoked salmon sandwich with caviar, but the egg salad sandwich was great as well!) and plenty of sweet treats, as you can see in the photo below. 

The tea menu was extensive as well with a variety of green, black, white, and more tea options. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about all of the different teas and helped us choose the perfect one.

Pricing for this afternoon tea experience starts at $75 per person and in my opinion, it was worth it. If you’re looking for a special experience in Fairfax County, Virginia, spend your afternoon enjoying tea and treats at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner! 

Tysons Corner Center

I’ve already mentioned a couple of great places to shop in Fairfax County, but one last recommendation that I have for you is Tysons Corner Center. This is a gigantic indoor mall with several hundred shops to choose from! 

In this mall, you can find popular retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s, but you’ll also see 40 dining options. There is even a movie theater and IMAX theater in the mall, and if you literally shop till you drop, then you’ll be happy to learn that there’s a Hyatt Regency hotel connected to Tysons Corner Center. This would certainly be a fun place to stay in Fairfax County! 

Tysons Corner Center is located just ten miles from Washington, DC and is open every day of the week. If you enjoy shopping and dining (and who doesn’t?!), you will love this ultimate shopping destination in Fairfax County! 

Where to Stay: Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax

While in Fairfax County, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax. I have always had good experiences at Hilton Garden Inns throughout my travels and this one was excellent for me as well. It was also in a convenient location, just a short drive from all of wheelchair accessible Fairfax County’s best attractions. 

I stayed in a wheelchair accessible room with two queen-sized beds. There was plenty of space for me to maneuver within the room and a hoyer lift could fit under both beds, as there was clearance underneath. The room had a TV, desk, mini fridge, microwave, and a full-length mirror as well. 

In the bathroom, there was a roll-in shower with smooth entry and a fold-down shower seat. There were grab bars by the toilet and a nice pull-under sink. 

My stay at Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax was perfect for me in terms of accessibility and I would absolutely stay here again. If you’d like to learn more about this hotel or book a stay of your own, just click here. 

My few days in Fairfax County were action-packed and full of fun! There are so many wheelchair accessible Fairfax County attractions to enjoy. Whether you’re staying in Fairfax County for two days, two weeks, or longer, I’m sure you’ll have nonstop excitement. Now, start planning your own trip to this fantastic part of Virginia! 

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Also, be sure to check out the accessibility pages of these attractions by clicking on them below:

• National Museum of the United States Army
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon
• Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
• Great Falls Park

And for more information about accessible travel in Fairfax County, Virginia, please visit this page.

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*Thank you to Visit Fairfax for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Fairfax County! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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