10 Best Winter Activities in Arlington, VA | Arlington Convention & Visitors Service

1) Unleash Your Inner Agent

Explore the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum in Pentagon City. The museum welcomes visitors to check out a wide array of fascinating artifacts—green platform shoes worn by an undercover agent, a Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by a member of the Hell’s Angels, and a prison uniform worn by drug king pin “El Chapo.” The exhibits explain how the DEA has conducted its investigations throughout its history and has interactive technology to engage younger visitors. The DEA Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is FREE!

Two women interact with an exhibit at the DEA Museum in Arlington

DEA Museum Exhibit

2) Enjoy a Meal from a Celebrity Chef

Arlington boasts cuisine from around the globe, and a number of stars from the culinary world have chosen Arlington as their home. Arlington welcomes New Orleans native Chef David Guas, who’s appeared on Good Morning America, Food Network’s “Chopped” and the Travel Channel showcasing his Cuban and Creole heritage. Stop in Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery to try award-winning sandwiches, New Orleans-style cocktails and luscious beignets. For casual fare with a touch of foodie fame, Top Chef favorite Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery serves up burgers, fries and shakes for guests with home cooked flair. Considered by many to be the greatest Chinese chef in America, Chef Peter Chang tantalizes taste buds at Peter Chang in Arlington. Look for super fresh ingredients and tongue-numbing, flavorful cuisine.

Close-up of a bowl of shrimp and grits served at Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Virginia

Visit Bayou Bakery

Credit | Bayou Bakery via Instagram

3) Go Ice-Skating

Take some heart-pumping spins around the Westpost at National Landing Ice Skating rink, the largest ice rink in Northern Virginia. It’s open every day, and afterward, warm up by a dual-sided stone fireplace with a hot drink from Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen or grab a bite to eat and any of the many restaurants and cafés that surround the rink.

MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Ballston, the home of the Washington Capitals, offers you the chance to try out your newest ice-skating moves indoors. After taking a few spins on the ice yourself, stick around to watch the Washington Capitals practice for their next big game!

Learn more about ice-skating in Arlington here.

Two girls twirling around on the ice while ice skating at Westpost Outdoor Ice Skating at National Landing

Go Ice-Skating at Westpost in National Landing

4) Learn Civil War History

Beyond the birthplaces and battlefields, discover Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery. Reopened after a complete rehabilitation of the site, the home was originally constructed between 1802-1818 by George Washington Parke Custis as a memorial to his adoptive grandfather President George Washington. The Greek Revival residence was built by enslaved individuals who lived and labored on the estate. Custis’s daughter Mary Randolph Custis married General Robert E. Lee, and their family owned the house until it was seized during the Civil War. Arlington House became a hospital for wounded Union soldiers, and the adjacent land the site of Freedman’s Village, a temporary wartime refuge for emancipated African Americans and freedom-seeking enslaved people. Take a FREE, self-guided tour of the property to see the more than 1,000 artifacts and gain a complete picture of life during the Civil War.

Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery

5) Get Pampered

Go ahead – you deserve it. Enjoy pampering and indulge yourself at Azure Dream Day Spa, a luxurious, yet cozy spa in Ballston. The side-by-side customized massages will leave you both rejuvenated and ready to face the world together. At Origins Thai Spa in Clarendon, there’s plenty of relaxation to be found. The spa’s technicians create tailored wellness sessions that focus on massage and facials. Trained in thousand-year-old Southeast Asian practices, the treatments include gentle stretching to soothe aching limbs and quiet the mind.

Read on here for more places to enjoy a spa day around Arlington.

Azure Dream Day Spa

6) Discover Arlington's Arts Scene

Whether taking in a performance or browsing amazing works of art, Arlington’s arts scene is a wonderful way to escape the frigid temps outside. But why not be part of the show? Sharpen your left brain with a drawing or printing class at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. Unleash your inner artist and learn how to paint a beautiful masterpiece at Muse Paint Bar in Ballston Quarter. Express yourself at a theater seminar or explore Broadway performances at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Shirlington.

Two women pose for a photo at Signature Theatre in Shirlington

Visit Signature Theatre in Shirlington

7) Sharpen Your Culinary Skills

Don an apron and pick up your chef’s knife for a whole new kind of culinary journey. From classes at Cookology in Ballston and Sur La Table in Pentagon City, to learning about the secrets of the hand-made chocolate masterpieces at Artisan Confections in Clarendon, you’ll leave with new skills and pick up some tips for your next dinner party.

Group of 9 women hold up dishes they made during a cooking class at Cookology in Arlington, Virginia

Learn New Skills at Cookology

Credit | Cookology via Instagram

8) Indulge in Retail Therapy

There's certainly no shortage of places to get out of the cold and into the midst of great bargains. Arlington has indoor shopping galore! Peruse the shops at Ballston Quarter and find luxury goods and clothing at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.

Woman shops for sunglasses at the Fashion Centre in Pentagon City

Go Shopping at Fashion Centre in Pentagon City

9) Grab a Local Drink

Whether you like craft beer, a cozy wine bar, or creative cocktails, Arlington has a little something for every taste! If you like to play while you drink, get the gang together for a board game, snack on tasty apps, and tip back the award-winning craft beer made at The Board Room in Clarendon. Experience Speakeasy vibes at the funky cocktail bar, Salt in Rosslyn. Spend some time "across the pond" at Ireland's Four Courts in Courthouse for Irish pub fare, beer on tap, and the best soccer viewing party location in the DMV. Cozy up at Screwtop Wine Bar down the way for thoughtful pairings in an adorable atmosphere.

Two friends cheers pints of beer at Bronson Bierhall in Arlington, Virginia

Grab a Drink at an Arlington Brewery, Wine Bar, or Cocktail Lounge

10) Test Your Deductive Skills

Arlington has three escape rooms where you can use your powers of deduction to solve clues to an eventual getaway. At 5 Wits in Ballston, immerse in hidden secrets that incorporate sound, lights and special effects. Bond’s Escape Room in Clarendon is the largest in room venue on the East Coast with 15 challenges that range from Art Attack, at level one, to the terrifying Sleepover Slaughterhouse, level five. Escape Room Arlington in Columbia Pike changes themes with the seasons but always challenges your talent for logic and strategy. No matter what Escape Room you choose, it’s going to be a test of skill and cooperation that leads to unforgettable fun!