Posted on August 7, 2024 by Miller and Smith Blog Team
One of the best parts of living in a new Miller & Smith home—other than the fantastic home itself—is its location.
Because not only do we build award-winning homes and communities, but we also select locations for those homes and communities that will provide our homeowners with fantastic opportunities.
Some of these opportunities exist inside the communities, such as pools, clubhouses, and nature trails.
Some can be found around the communities, like outlet stores and fine-dining restaurants.
And some of the best adventures await just a bit farther away from home.
These day trips celebrate the lock-and-leave lifestyle you can enjoy in your Miller & Smith home.
Here are a few of our favorites that are near two of our wonderful communities.
Birchwood at Brambleton, located in Brambleton, VA, is a 55+ lifestyle community that has everything you need right on your doorstep. Just minutes from the Brambleton Town Center, living here puts you near shopping, dining, entertainment, and more. Residents at Birchwood have unlimited access to community events, yoga, arts and crafts classes, social gatherings, and the amazing Clubhouse with indoor/outdoor pools, game rooms, a golf simulator, a yoga studio, a sports court, and loads more! And from Birchwood at Brambleton, there are so many memorable day trips you can go on.
Skyline Drive offers an unforgettable experience through Shenandoah National Park. This 105-mile road—made a National Scenic Byway in 2005, and a National Historic Landmark in 2008—takes you across the heights of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Travel the whole distance and you’ll be treated to 75 scenic overlooks, multiple spots to go on hiking tangents, waterfalls, and plenty of wildlife to spy. Your photographs will look postcard-perfect as you snap pictures of mountain vistas, vibrant wildflowers, soaring birds, and local fauna, such as deer, wild turkeys, and black bears! Plus, there are many little towns along the way you can divert to, and quite a few visitor centers, picnic areas, and lodging (including campgrounds, hotels, B&Bs, and cottage rentals) inside the park. What might start out as a day trip could turn into a whole weekend of adventure!
Head almost straight north, through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, and you’ll soon be in the iconic town of Gettysburg. As the town where the pivotal battle of the Civil War was fought, and where President Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address speech was delivered, to say Gettysburg is steeped with history is an understatement. Visit buildings from the past, tour (by foot or car) battlefields and monuments, explore the area’s gorgeous state parks, enjoy amazing produce straight from the farm, discover unique antiques, and experience all the festivals and events that only happen in Gettysburg. Staying at a B&B here can mean sleeping in a building that’s a few hundred years old!
Beacon Park Towns at Belmont Bay is a community of elevator townhomes for 55+ homeowners coming soon to Woodbridge, VA. This beautiful location puts you mere moments from the serenity of the Occoquan River. Living in Prince William County’s premier riverside community means you’ll always be near fabulous social and recreation amenities tailored exclusively for 55+ homeowners. And, of course, you’ll adore your 3-level elevator townhome that combines the ease of single-level living with the joy of having tons of living, entertaining, and storage space. But that’s really just the beginning, as you savor the lock-and-leave lifestyle Beacon Park Towns let’s you enjoy.
Curl down the coast of the Potomac River and you’ll reach Colonial Beach (commonly known as CBVA). As the birthplace of presidents George Washington and James Monroe, CBVA stretches the whole gamut of what you want a beach to be. There’s the exciting Downtown Boardwalk with shops, food trucks, and restaurants. And the farther you go from Downtown, the more secluded and quieter the beach becomes. Rent kayaks, explore history, enjoy fine arts, experience a seasonal farmers market, tour vineyards, and eat some of the best (and freshest!) seafood in the area. And with many hotels, inns, B&Bs, and vacation rentals, you can stay for longer than just a day trip too!
Keeping with the colonial theme, another great day trip is a few hours south to Busch Gardens in Colonial Williamsburg. Busch Gardens has enough thrills and fun for everyone, including the largest water park in Virginia! Coasters boast descriptions including “one of the tallest in the world,” “one of the fastest in the world,” and “first of its kind.” Enjoy food specialties from various European countries, pick up all sorts of fun souvenirs, and meet Clydesdales, gray wolves, Scottish highland cattle, and more! Plus, of course, you can always venture out into real Colonial Williamsburg to experience the actual history of the area and our country.
Every Miller & Smith new home combines an attention to detail, luxurious designs, and convenient locations. With amenities such as community centers, parks, and walking trails, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect with neighbors and enjoy your surroundings. Our communities are designed not just for convenience, but for creating a fulfilling, balanced lifestyle where you can truly feel at home.
Miller & Smith’s dedication to creating vibrant, welcoming communities means that you’ll always have a supportive neighborhood to use as a home base when planning your day trips. Feel free to pursue your passions and live life to the fullest. Discover how one visit to a Miller & Smith model home can change everything, and find your forever home—the headquarters of your lock-and-leave lifestyle—today!