If you’re looking for a new place to call home, consider moving to near Woodbridge, Virginia. The Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, which was part of the old village and used to be a train track, has been revived to be used by dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, and parents pushing strollers. Former farmland is home to a significant hi-tech, commercial, and residential district, chic neighborhoods, dining, and entertainment.

Another draw of Woodbridge is its proximity to Washington, D.C. In less than an hour by car, you can be in the nation’s capital and have access to scores of museums, see many historical monuments and iconic areas, and hit up D.C.’s food scene for a great meal. You can also take advantage of its many entertainment offerings, including live music, theater, and ballet. If you still need some convincing, our Crème de la Crème team invites you to consider these seven reasons to move to near Woodbridge.

Loudoun County Public Schools

Sunset at Beaverdam, Ashburn, VA by Abhijeet Karle is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Loudoun County Public Schools have an A+ rating based on various factors, including academic performance, graduation rates, and college readiness. In addition to public preschools through to high schools, the area is also home to many private schools. The county has some of the best public high schools and received a College Success Award, which recognizes schools that do an exemplary job of preparing students to succeed. These high schools have excelled at getting students to enroll in college and stick with it until graduation. They have also created more significant equity by helping students from lower-income families access higher education.

Ashburn Ice House

Visit Ashburn Ice House at 21595 Smith Switch Road for year-round indoor ice skating. This indoor skating rink has two ice sheets and offers public skating sessions and skating lessons. It also runs adult and youth hockey leagues, summer youth hockey, and youth skate camps. You’ll find a pro shop and a restaurant on-site to complete your visit.

iFLY Loudoun

Head to iFLY Loudoun at 20315 Commonwealth Center Drive to catch some air. iFLY offers indoor skydiving for a unique, unforgettable experience for youth and adults alike. With the help of expert instructors, you’ll gear up and experience the sensation of flying in their state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnels. No experience is necessary, as instructors will guide you every step of the way.

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park has been called the skinniest park in Virginia, as it’s a paved trail that travels between Shirlington and Purcellville, Virginia. The W&OD Trail, as it’s known to locals, is the former Washington and Old Dominion Railroad bed. The trail is a 45-mile route running through the city’s heart and into the beautiful countryside. You can cycle, run, or skate the trail, while equestrians can use the adjacent 32-mile gravel horse trail. The W&OD Trail offers multiple parking areas to jump on and off the trail at different points.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

For a unique cinematic experience, head to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at 20575 Easthampton Plaza. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema One Loudon also houses the Glass Half Full Taproom Bar. The Alamo Drafthouse’s mission statement of “good food, good beer, and good film, all at the same place” has remained constant since they opened in 1997. One of the best things about this theater is that they show first-run new releases and feature classics, cult classics, foreign films, and indie movies. Getting to experience old favorites on a big screen again is a real treat.

AR Workshop Loudoun

To create DIY art, check out AR Workshop Loudoun at 1601 Village Market Blvd. SE, Suite 116. They offer hands-on DIY workshops where you can create personalized, on-trend home decor from raw materials, including chunky knit blankets, canvas pillows, and wood framed signs. They also offer specialty workshops and DIY To-Go Kits if you want to work on your project at home. You can take a workshop in their studio, or they can bring a workshop to your location. It’s great for a girls’ night out, family time, a date night, or a birthday party.

Beer Crawls

Loudoun County has a great microbrewery scene, with multiple breweries contributing to the excellent craft ale culture in the city. First stop, get your draft on at Old Ox Brewery at 44652 Guilford Drive, Suite 114. They have an indoor tasting room, a dog-friendly outdoor beer garden, and curbside pick-up also available during tasting room hours, which are Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

During tasting hours Wednesday through Sunday, you can enjoy delicious food with your brew served by the Old Ox Food Truck, and on Tuesdays, Killer Tomato Food Truck serves up amazing pizzas. If you’re arriving by two wheels, bicycle-friendly Old Ox is between mile marker 25 and 25.5 of the W&OD Trail. In addition to the beer and grub, they have bike racks, air for your tires, water, and clean restrooms, making it a perfect pit stop during your next ride.

Next up, hit Lost Rhino Brewing Company at 21730 Red Rum Drive, Suite 142, for their award-winning brews and quality brewpub fare. Their tap room hours are Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. They also have outdoor seating.

For a brewery specializing in crafting hard ciders, hop over to Wild Hare Cider. Visit their Leesburg Cider Cabin at 106 S. St. SE in Leesburg. They serve their delicious ciders from an 1840 log cabin in historic Leesburg. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday from 2 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 6:00 p.m.The Crème de la Crème of Woodbridge staff invites you to explore our little list of local sights to see what makes our city unique. If you decide to move here, you can count on us to provide your kids with the best possible early childhood education.