Recently in the Around Loudoun Category

Loudoun is the perfect home base for experiencing some of the mid-Atlantic’s most popular attractions. Washington, DC, Skyline Drive, and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate are all within one hour’s drive. Civil War sites such as Gettysburg, Antietam, Manassas, and Harper’s Ferry are, too. So, come to Loudoun: a destination that is also close to much more. Learn more at Visit Loudoun.

The sounds of dance music from the '70s and '80s, rock and roll, hip hop, and reggae, will drift through  Brambleton when the Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series comes to the Town Center. Exciting live performances on  Aug. 13 and 27. The concerts are open to the public at no charge. Enjoy dinner out at one of the Town Center's vibrant new eateries, and then bring a chair or blanket to the Town Center plaza and join the fun from 7 to 9 p.m. For additional information, visit Brambleton's website, www.brambleton.com or call the Brambleton Visitor's Center at 703-542-2925.

Virginia is for wine lovers! The annual Loudoun Wine Trail bochure is available at several locations around the county:

You can also find all the Virginia wines at the Leesburg Vintner on the corner of Market and Loudoun Streets in downtown Leesburg.

Driving around Loudoun County provides an abundance of pleasant scenery: bucolic landscape, history, wildlife and the occasional "out of the box" sighting. This old barn and silo has been refurbished with a fresh coat of paint. It is an antique and home boutique store. I couldn't resist the picture. It is located just south of the village of Lucketts on Highway 15 (or a couple of miles north of Raspberry Falls). If you get close, you won't miss it.

A more recent drive-by revealed an old wagon stacked with various shades of pink pumpkins. Lets re-define the Halloween colors!

Early August, 2006 on a recent drive in western Loudoun County. The bucolic scenes are wonderful as you can see in this photo of a farm, rock walls and gravel/dirt roads. Looking west towards the Blue Ridge mountains the haze of a hot, humid day hang silently with nary a breeze to cool the skin. Stepping out from my air conditioned vehicle into this soupy air, my glasses instantly fog as does the lens on my camera. This is the kind of day we all wish for thunderstorms!

Raspberry Falls is a showcase of spring color! See if you can identify these spieces:

(hover to see names, click for larger size)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First row from left: Fothergilla, Cherokee Dogwood and the lowly Dandelion.

Second row from left: Japanese Pine candle and cone (and a bug), Viburnum and the prickly Barberry.

There are two distinct regions in Loudoun County: east and west. Eastern Loudoun features an urban lifestyle while the west is still characterized as rural. Western Loudoun is known for it's equestrian roots, farms and most recently, vineyards. Here is a sample of "horse country:"

[click photo for larger view]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a small horse property just south of Round Hill, Virginia in Western Loudoun on Windover Hill Lane. Very bucolic!

Raspberry Falls is located in Loudoun County, Virginia just a few miles north Leesburg, the county seat. Loudoun is the northern most county in Virginia. Located a short 40 miles from our nation's capitol and home to The Dulles International Airport, AOL, MCI and other major employers such as Orbital, United Airlines and Loudoun Health Care.

Loudoun is bordered on the north and east by the Potomac River. The county's rich history includes George Washington performing the first land surveys, civil war battles and home to important government documents threatened by the civil war when it was thought Washington D.C. was under siege.

Loudoun has been among the fastest growing counties in the US the last several years. The county is proud to have one of the best school districts in the nation.

People and families want to live here for a variety of reasons including:

• Quality of life
• Proximity to Washington D.C.
• Access to the Dulles airport
• High quality of schools
• Both rural and urban lifestyles
• History
• Recreation
  

There really is "No Place Like Loudoun." And, Raspberry Falls is situated so residents can enjoy all the benefits of this urban/rural lifestyle.