Editor’s note: This is the seventh post in a series of guest posts from the PRSA National Capital Chapter publicity committee leading up to the PRSA 2014 International Conference, October 12 – 14. Follow the Conference conversation by searching the hashtag #PRSAICON and following our PRSA National Events Twitter handle, @PRSAevents.
While PRSA conference attendees may visit the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and even Ben’s Chili Bowl you also may be interested in traveling across a bridge (Roosevelt, Key, or Memorial) to another tourist mecca– Northern Virginia or NoVA.
NoVA offers a wide variety of tourist attractions including restaurants, museums, parks, historic churches, and much more–most available by Metro.
Here are some top reasons why we like to say (Northern) Virginia is for Lovers:
- Arlington Cemetery. (Metro stop: Arlington National Cemetery) Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of several U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices and military heroes, is across the Potomac River from D.C. at the west end of the Memorial Bridge. Stop in at the informative visitor information on the Cemetery’s website to plan your trip and be sure to visit the Welcome Center to make sure you’re equipped with maps and guidebooks.
- Air Force Memorial. (Metro stop: Pentagon). Overlooking the Pentagon, the Potomac River and D.C. the design of the Memorial symbolizes flight and the flying spirit. The Memorial has three stainless steel spires that soar 270 feet high and evoke the image of “contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds as they peel back in a precision ‘bomb burst’ maneuver.”
- Tysons Corner/Tysons Galleria. (Metro stop: Tysons Corner–Silver Line scheduled to open summer 2014). As one of the top five malls in the nation, Tysons Corner Mall has provided retail therapy since 1968. The Mall directory reads like a “who’s who” of retail including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor, American Girl, L.L. Bean, Michael Kors, Lacoste, Kiehl’s, Brooks Brothers and more. The Mall also has a16-screen stadium seating and IMAX 3D theaters, fine and casual dining, and multiple food courts. Across the street the upscale mall, Tysons Galleria includes Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, luxurious retail and designer stores such as Chanel and Versace.
- Old Town Alexandria. Dating back to 1749, Old Town’s riverfront was an important port during the colonial, revolutionary and Civil War periods. Today’s Old Town boasts a quaint waterfront with cobblestone streets, colonial houses and churches, museums, shops and restaurants. Take the Metro to King Street metro stop and can walk toward the Potomac riverfront or catch the FREE trolley at the King Street metro stop. Bonus Tip: Be sure to check out the Torpedo Art Factory featuring the studios and original work of local artists.
- Other NoVA neighborhoods. In addition to Old Town, NoVA includes several neighborhoods worth checking out:
- Clarendon (Metro stop: Clarendon). Located between Ballston and Rosslyn, Clarendon is home to many young professionals who work in D.C. The area is filled with trendy shops, and ethnic (Indian, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican, etc.) restaurants, fine dining, a shopping center (Market Commons) and Whole Foods.
- Shirlington. (closest Metro: Pentagon, a 5-minute cab ride), Billed as Arlington’s Arts and Entertainment area, the outside area known as Shirlington Village has more 15 restaurants, the W&OD bike trail, an artsy movie theater, the award-winning Signature Theater, a library, and a Harris Teeter.
- Pentagon City/Pentagon Row. (Metro: Pentagon/Pentagon City). Located just south of D.C., the Pentagon City/Pentagon Row are next to one another, near the Pentagon. Pentagon City is a four-story enclosed Mall anchored by Nordstorm and Macy’s, 170 stores, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, restaurants, and a food court. Accessible through a walkway from Pentagon City, Pentagon Row is an outside retail/residence area with a public space that features concerts in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. Restaurants and shops that surround the public space include LOFT, DSW, Bally’s gym, Harris Teeter and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon.
- Crystal City. (Metro: Crystal City). With its high-rise apartment buildings, corporate offices, hotel and numerous shops and restaurants, Crystal City is a resident and tourist destination. There is a network of underground shopping areas and connecting corridors beneath Crystal City. The area is home to defense contractors, the United States Department of Labor, the United States Marshals Service, the EPA and many satellite offices for The Pentagon.
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Nicole Racadag, MSJ, is a Public Relations Specialist at the American Industrial Hygiene Association in Falls Church, VA.
