The Little Known & Hidden Side of Arlington

Arlington, Virginia’s lineup of icons and landmarks persuasively earn its claims to being a place where history and hipness intersect.

A traditional Arlington tour might include national treasures like the Marine Corps War Memorial or the Air Force Memorial; however, if you're the type of traveler who enjoys the sites that are more "off the beaten path," here are some places that make Arlington truly one of a kind.

Pictured | Dark Star Park

Dark Star Park

Show up at 9:32 a.m. Aug. 1. That’s when shadows cast by the poles align with permanent forms in the shape of the shadows on the ground. The date marks the day in 1860 that William Henry Ross purchased the land that later became the Rosslyn neighborhood. Nancy Holt is the creator behind the internationally acclaimed Dark Star Park, first built in 1984 and restored in 2002. It was Arlington’s first contemporary work of public art-- and sort of like the UK’s Stonehenge that is aligned to the sunset of the winter solstice and the opposing sunrise of the summer solstices—Dark Star Park has become a capital area cultural icon.

Ball-Sellers House

Built in the 1740s, the Ball-Sellers House Museum shows how the middle class used to live in Virginia’s Colonial era. Step back in time, and envision farmer John Ball, his wife Elizabeth, and their five daughters spinning wool. Or hear about William Carlin, a tailor for George Washington, who also lived in the house back then. Visit free every Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from April through October and the summer holidays of Independence, Memorial, and Labor Days.

Lyon Hall’s Restroom

“Insider tip: best bathroom in Arlington,” wrote a TripAdvisor reviewer. “They also have an interesting open bathroom where the men's and women's bathroom can see each other when washing your hands,” wrote one reviewer on Yelp. Said another, “Crazy bathrooms, as you wash your hands, you can see into the bathroom of the opposite sex as they too wash their hands. It's bizarre if you've never experienced it before.”

It’s not every day that online reviewers urge you to check out the restaurant’s bathroom. But at Lyon Hall, a restaurant more well-known as a classic French brasserie that serves freshly baked bread, house-cured charcuterie, and handcrafted cheeses on a daily basis, such is the case.

Tunnel Experience

Just across Arlington’s Army Navy Drive from Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, you can easily access via tunnel the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial which honors the 184 lives lost at the site in 2001.

“You walk across the street to the outer Pentagon parking lot, through a really cool tunnel under the I-395 highway and a walk on a well designated path to the memorial,” wrote blogger Nick Saraceni. “Never felt so safe with so many service members walking through the tunnel,” wrote one TripAdvisor reviewer.

Weenie Beenie

Since 1954, Arlington's Weenie Beenie restaurant has been serving up their famous half-smokes, Carolina BBQ, beef hotdogs, and more to locals and visitors from far and wide. This restaurant has even received attention from Northern Virginia native and Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, after his band named a song after the establishment.

Rosslyn Metro Station Escalator

While we wouldn't recommend for those afraid of heights, the escalators at Rosslyn's Metro Station are 207-feet long, making them some of the longest in WMATA's whole system!

Insider Tip: Make sure to move to the right of the escalator when not actively walking up and down the escalator. This is especially important during rush hour in the capital region.

Bon Air Park Rose Garden

Did you know Arlington is home to an enchanting rose garden? The Bon Air Park Rose Garden is a beautiful memorial rose garden that features more than 120 different varieties of roses. While they typically are in bloom around May every year, the garden is open and maintained by Master Gardeners year-round.

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