Posted on March 8, 2023 by Miller and Smith Blog Team
Spring is a time when we jump ahead an hour to get more done during the daylight.
More adventures, more work, more fun. And all from the starting point of your new Miller & Smith home.
And all our communities where we build in have unique opportunities for springtime fun right outside their doors.
Come with us as we explore a few of our communities and some of the fun spring things to do near your new Miller & Smith home.
Birchwood at Brambleton is a 55+ Active Adult neighborhood inside the already bustling Brambleton in Ashburn, VA. We’re proud to offer three different type of homes in this wonderful community: elevator single family homes, elevator townhomes, and courtyard homes. Birchwood residents enjoy community events, yoga, arts & crafts classes, and other social gatherings. Plus, the exclusive 55+ Clubhouse offers amenities including indoor/outdoor pools, game rooms, a golf simulator, yoga studio, sports court, community garden, trails, and even a quaint fishing pier on Lake Birchwood. So much to celebrate spring here, but what else is nearby to explore in this joyous season?
Catch the Go-Carting Leprechaun
Put some zip into your St. Patrick’s Day at Autobahn Indoor Speedway just down the road in Sterling. Throughout the day on March 17, a Leprechaun will race around the track. If you can pass it, you get to draw from the “Magic Pot of Gold” and win prizes! Plus, they have a St. Patrick’s Day special where you get 4 races for the price of 2. Because nothing says, “Hello spring!” like racing around a track after one of the most memorable creatures from Irish folklore.
Purcellville Farmers’ Market
Head west just a bit into the hills of Virginia for a beautiful escape into nature every Saturday in March, and pick up some delicious goodies at the Purcellville Farmers’ Market. This special market takes place on the grounds of the Western Loudoun Farmers Market a month before the latter opens. Get ready to find all the local fresh produce and artisanal products your heart desires and then bring them back home to your Birchwood sanctuary.
Afternoon Tea
Celebrate spring in at the Oatlands Historic House and Gardens with a spot of tea! On March 19, Oatlands is having a St. Patrick’s Day-themed traditional English Tea in their historic Carriage House. Make your reservation today and then get ready to enjoy English scones, Devon cream, classic tea sandwiches and sweets, local preserves, and Oatlands’ exclusive tea blend. Guided mansions tours are also available (for an extra charge) to make the day even more memorable.
The Retreat at Westfields is a special place tucked away in Chantilly, VA. These townhomes offer brand-new designs that set the signature Miller & Smith kitchen as the home’s heart and radiate out from there. Seamless spaces, upscale comfort, and unmatched convenience make these homes hidden gems in Chantilly. Enjoy a neighborhood oasis decorated with trees, green space, and a perimeter pond. With quick access to major transportation routes, finding your favorite dining, shopping, entertainment, and more is easy. It’s also easy to get to these refreshing spring events:
Observe the Cosmos
On March 11, from 11am–2pm, head to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and observe the Sun. You’ll get to look through filtered telescopes at our closest star and learn from the center’s knowledgeable staff who can answer questions and guide your observations. Of if you’re more of a night owl (or just want to spend a longer day at the center), enjoy stargazing from 6:30–8:30pm. Telescopes will be provided and museum staff and members of the Northern VA Astronomy Club will be on hand to help you observe the Moon, other planets, and distant stars.
Super Pet Expo
Spring is about celebrating all the fun things your whole family gets to do together outside—including your pets. Head to the Dulles Expo Center on March 17-19, and enjoy the Super Pet Expo! Here you can shop, play, and learn about all your favorite pets. You’ll get to see celebrity dog shows, reptiles, cat, agility demonstrations, and learn how you can get your pet into show business. Plus, friendly leashed pets are also allowed, so it really can be a fun full-family day out.
Spring Capital Art and Craft Festival
Also taking place at the nearby Dulles Expo Center, the Spring 2023 Capital Art and Craft Festival is three days of handmade fun. From March 24 to 26, explore the talents of local artists and take some of their handiwork home! Over 230 artists and artisans will showcase their unique treasures, including clothing, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paintings & prints, photography, pottery, specialty foods, and wood. Tickets are already on sale online, so make sure to visit and shop the largest craft event of the season in Northern Virginia.
With a carefree, low-maintenance lifestyle and abundant amenities, Cascades, the exclusive 55+ Active Adult section of Embrey Mill is an amazing place to call home. Stroll miles of trails, swim in one of our community pools, socialize at our clubhouses, pick fresh vegetables and herbs from our herb garden, and enjoy a menu that changes with the season at our very own Grounds Bistro & Café. Here, Miller & Smith offers the ease of main-level-living in a luxurious, two-level townhome with an optional basement. These homes triumph relaxed and spacious designs, with an abundance of storage and entertaining space perfect for a vibrant lifestyle. And near these homes, you can enjoy an abundance of spring fun:
Wine Exploration Course
This two-day course—March 15–16—is with the University of Mary Washington’s Continuing Professional Studies. Taught by Skip Causey, Owner of Potomac Point Winery and Vineyard, this course will increase your knowledge of all things wine, and the confidence to use that knowledge. You’ll explore taste, presentation & storage, tradition, Terroir, growing methods, and the Aroma Wheel. When you’ve completed your wine training, you should be able to explain the right way to store and present wine, the process of growing grapes and making wine, and Terroir. Plus, you’ll be able to navigate a wine list like a pro!
St. Patrick’s Day at Adventure Brewing Co.
On March 17–18, head to Adventure Brewing Co. for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to remember. Just down the road in Fredericksburg (two locations, actually), Adventure Brewing Co. pours love into every craft beer made and poured. Enjoy visiting food trucks and live music to round out the experience. Though their St. Patrick’s Day festivities haven’t been finalized yet, we just know it’s going to be a good time.
Cascades Clubhouse Grand Opening
On Saturday, March 11, from 1–4PM, celebrate the Grand Opening of the 55+ Cascades Clubhouse! It’s time to see all that this brand-new, private club has to offer. Tour the event kitchen, lounging area with fireplace, yoga room & weight room, multi-purpose room, and sundeck with multiple outdoor grills and two fire pits. Plan your first pickleball or bocce ball game and imagine which part of the nearby playground your grandchildren will want to play on first. RSVP today and get on the list to learn about all the special event information—coming soon!
Spring is always a fun time to get back out into the world and start connecting after the cold of winter. These fun adventures above are just some of the magnificent events nearby the fantastic communities in which we build our award-winning homes. And of course, the best thing about having fun in the spring near your Miller & Smith home is once the experience is over, you get the added joy of coming back to your Miller & Smith home!