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Beyond your typical fare of shopping centers, battlefields, and historic homes, Loudoun offers plenty to see and do that you would be hard press to find elsewhere.

Find more extraordinary facts about Virginia with these books at the Loudoun County Public Library.



Allsports Grand Prix. Indoor go-kart racetrack located in Dulles, VA.

Indoor Moonbounces.

• Sports Bounce in Ashburn offers weekday open gym (Monday -Friday). Age range is 18 months to 5 or 10 years and toddler time for children 18 months to 3 years. Click the link for available times.
• Pump It Up in Leesburg offers open gym (Pop-in Playtime) (Monday-Thursday). Age range is 1 to 10 years and toddler equipment for children under 2 years of age. Click the link for available times.

Paintball.

• Pev's Paintball offers two Pro Shops in Loudoun (Sterling and Leesburg) and a paintball field in Leesburg (known as Pev's at AG).
• Hogback Mountain also located in Leesburg. Walk-ons every Saturday and Sunday.

Bull Run Castle. "A man's home is his castle," they say and for John Roswell Miller, his home IS a castle. Located at the Prince William County and Loudoun County border on Route 15 (click here for pictures from Flickr.com). You cannot go in, but there is plenty to see from the road.

Indoor rock climbing.

• Arcola Community Center in Aldie.

• Claude Moore Recreation Center in Sterling.

• Sports Rock in Sterling.

Raft / Tube / Canoe / Duckie (inflatable kayak) on the Potomac River at BTI in Purcellville. If you hear people mention Butts Tube, this is the place.

Crux Gloria. A 37 foot tall steel cross with the image of Jesus cut out of the middle is located at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville. The cross can be seen from northbound Route 7 (Harry Byrd Hwy), just west of the exit for Hwy 287/Berlin Tpke. At night the cross is illuminated for a greater effect.

The Mighty Midget Kitchen. A Leesburg landmark made from a fuselage of a B-29 bomber in 1947.Formerly the home to B'z BBQ Company, the Kitchen will soon serve German food from Hamburg Doener.

Aldie Mill. This 200 year old mill offers milling demonstrations Saturdays and Sundays during the operating season.

The Smithsonian's Natural Center. Located in Leesburg, Virginia, invites visitors ages 10 and older to use its 36.000 object hands-on collection of natural history objects, 6,500 books, and scientific equipment. Identify natural objects and curiosities, draw work on school projects, or just browse. For additional information, click here.

The British Pantry. Located on Route 50 near the Route 15 in Aldie, native Brits sell authentic British grocery items. Adjacent to the store is a small dinning room serving popular dishes and full afternoon teas.

Goose Creek Bridge. What makes this 200 year old bridge interesting is the fact that: (a) it is no longer in use, so you don't have to worry about cars; and (b) the creek is a fraction of its former self, so you can walk up to and under most of the arches without getting your feet wet.

White's Ferry. In operation since 1786, White's Ferry is the last ferry operating on the Potomac River. Located just north of Leesburg, the cable ferry contacts to Maryland six miles from Poolesville. You don't need a car to use the ferry, pedestrians and bicycles are welcome.

Indoor train and carousel. Located inside the Dulles Town Center Mall, the carousel is on the upper level in the Food Court and the train departs from the Consumer Service Desk located on the lower level, center court. Times for the train are Monday through Saturday: 10:00am - 7:00pm, Sunday: 12 Noon - 5:00pm.

The MAiZE at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park. Temple Hall Farm in Leesburg offers many attractions including a giant corn maze in the Fall. The park is open from April to November with the MAiZE open starting in September.

Old fashioned soda fountain. Home Farm Store in Middleburg is a traditional butcher shop and grazier (plus you can find wine and gifts) in a former bank. Upstairs, Home Farm has recreated an old fashioned soda fountain where you can purchase drinks, ice cream, and candy from yesteryear.

Carriage Museum. Located at historic Morven Park, home to two governors: 19th century governor of Maryland, Thomas Swann (1864-1867) and Virginia governor Westmoreland Davis (1918-1922). The Winmill Carriage Museum's collection of 120 antique vehicles. Notable carriages include the miniature Road Coach once owned by "Tom Thumb" and an antique Hearse.

Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America. Also located at historic Morven Park, the museum displays and exhibits art, artifacts and memorabilia of a centuries-old sporting tradition. NOTE: the museum is currently CLOSED during renovations to the mansion.

National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Located next to the Dulles International Airport, hundreds of aircraft are on display including the SR-71 Blackbird, the Concorde, the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, and the space shuttle Enterprise. The Donald D. Engen Tower offers a 360 degree view of the airport and countryside. In addition, the Center has the only IMAX theater in the area.

The Flying Circus. Located in Bealeton in neighboring Fauquier County, "watch antique 'Flying Machines" perform feats of daring and skill." Open cockpit biplane rides are available before and after the show. Sundays, May through October with a Hot Air Balloon Festival in August.

Dinosaur Land. Located in White Post in neighboring Clarke County. Over 30 life-size animals roam this attraction that has been open since the 1960s. More than just dinosaurs, see a shark, an octopus, King Kong, and more. And, yes, there is a gift shop. Closed January and February.

Trinity Episcopal Church. If you enjoy good architecture, take Route 50 to the hamlet of Upperville in Fauquier County. In the early 1950s, the church was built with cutting tools made in a forge on the grounds. The architect, H. Page Cross, freely adapted French country church architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries. To read more about the church's origins, click here. While you are visiting the church, be sure to check out what is possibly the smallest library you will ever lay eyes on.

Perils of the Lost Jungle miniature golf. Located in Herndon in neighboring Fairfax County, Perils of the Lost Jungle offers a unique miniature golf experience. Rated one of the top five mini golf courses in America by Newsweek Magazine.

Panther Family Fun in Dulles offers lazer tag; an arcade; and "cosmic golf" an indoor, 9-hole, black light miniature golf course.

Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City (Frederick County) located on Route 11 South is one of eight surviving drive-in movie theaters in Virginia. The Family Drive-In has a playground and is the only "twin" (two screens) drive-in in the Commonwealth. Open April through September.