Winter Activities Near Miller & Smith Homes

You know it the moment when you wrap your scarf a little tighter.

You know it when you pull your hat down more to cover your ears.

You feel it the first time you step out into the wind, and it tries to push you back inside.

And when your breath hangs in the air making you feel like a fire-breathing dragon (we all think it), you know winter is finally really here.

 Inside your Miller & Smith home, you can be sure to stay warm and cuddly under your favorite blanket, enjoying warm drinks and food, and watching the snow fall. But there are also all sorts of fun adventures you can go on just outside your home.

Here are some of our favorite winter activities near Miller & Smith homes.

Celebrate with a Toast

Living at Patapsco Crossing is on a grand scale. Featuring a brand-new floorplan in addition to the Multi-Gen design, these single-family homes boast 9’ ceilings, large square footage (5,000+), and luxurious features, so staying inside the home of your dreams during the winter is a vacation in itself. However, living in Patapsco Crossing offers so many outdoor opportunities for fun.

Visit nearby Old Ellicott City during the weekend of January 21 for the Old Ellicott City Shop Crawl. Pick up your passport at the beginning of this two-day event and collect card punches as you make purchases around town. Every three punches give you an entry into the grand prize drawing! Shop in the stores you love, support small businesses, get the things you didn’t get for the holidays, and maybe win prizes at the same time!

And top off your shopping victories (and every Saturday, for that matter) at Food Truck-Music Weekends at Linganore Winecellars. Each weekend is a celebration of live, local music and some of the best food trucks in the area. But don’t forget the wines! Linganore Winecellars features three generations of award-winning Maryland wines situated on 230 picturesque acres of historic countryside. Music, food, and wine… what could be better?

Hit the Rinks

Chantilly, VA is lovely place to live, and The Retreat at Westfields takes everything nice about Chantilly, and cranks it up a few notches. Here, tucked away amongst lush trees, green spaces, and a perimeter pond, home is a sanctuary filled with open spaces, bright rooms, and plenty of options to make your new townhome perfect.

Plus, it’s just down the road from the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion! Offering public skating every day through mid-March, this beautiful, covered-but-open-air ice rink is just the place to pretend you’re the star of your very own Peanuts winter special. And with a fully stocked skate shop, everyone from beginner to advanced skaters will find just what they need to enjoy the ice.

But don’t leave after a skate: Reston Town Center is a wonderful place to shop and dine. With shops ranging from boutique to favorite chains, every member of your family will be able to find just what they’re looking for. After skating and shopping, you’ll definitely be low on power and need some refilling. Savor all the flavors available at the many restaurants throughout Reston Town Center. Dining, shopping, and skating, all in one exciting location!

Nights Out for Adults

Proudly thriving in Ashburn, VA, the master-planned community of Brambleton shines like no other. Everything is artfully designed to provide everything for residents, from trails and parks, to schools and pools, to one of the best town centers in Northern Virginia. And for 55+ active adults, there’s a home for every lifestyle need: elevator townhomes, single-level-living courtyard homes, and elevator single-family homes in Birchwood at Brambleton.

Right in the middle of January, venture out into the cold and back in time for A Night at the Cooper’s Hawk Speakeasy. Get ready for opulence, glamour, and decadence, as you relish a three-course, 1920s-inspired dinner perfectly paired with Cooper Hawk wines and era-accurate cocktails. Dress up in a flapper dress or pin-striped suit and get ready for a night to remember at this soiree-themed event.

But if you want something a little less fancy (or just another event to attend), come to Wine & Charcuterie Board Night on February 10, at the Brambleton Community Center. Learn how to make a delicious charcuterie board with experts from The Grazing Board VA and enjoy a small board and Valentine’s Day-themed dessert. Wash it down with a wine tasting (four tastings and one full glass) conducted by Old Farm Winery. You can even bring some wine home with you, as additional bottles will be available for purchase!

Experience the Outdoors

Cascades at Embrey Mill is another 55+ active adult community where Miller & Smith homes shine. Here, our villas exemplify the ease of main-level living in an amenity-rich, people-focused setting surrounded by the beauty of nature. But living in Stafford County also puts you close to even more natural beauty and wintertime outdoor adventures.

Begin with a Winter Wonderland Trail Ride at Willowdale Farm just a short drive away in Fredericksburg. Saddle up for a horseback ride over 5.5 miles of trails through the farm and surrounding private lands complete with water crossings, moderate hills, optional jumps, and prime canter locations. Add even more fun on the ride by participating in the scavenger hunt. Every rider gets a t-shirt, and all proceeds go to Campfire Critters Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit animal rescue providing a loving home to animals in need.

And then enjoy a mile-long hike through woodlands, fields, and the historic ruins of Gari Melchers Home and Studio’s past with a Guided Woodland Hike at Belmont. Gari Melchers (1860–1932) was an American artist and one of the leading proponents of naturalism. Guided by Virginia Master Naturalists, you’ll experience the wonder and creativity that make this 27-acre estate so unique.

Miller & Smith Homes: Always Something Exiting to Do

As you can see, no matter where your new Miller & Smith home is, it will always be near fun exciting things to do. You’ll be warm inside your home with all the features and rooms you want, and close by all the amenities and adventures else you desire. Check out all our new homes, and remember, one visit can change everything!