Chantilly

When planning a trip to Chantilly, it’s worth first deciding what you’re most interested in visiting. Historic buildings and tours, landscapes with hiking trails, water activities, and aerospace offer different areas of focus. You can tailor your plans to whichever of these topics matters most to you during your stay.

Historic buildings and tours

Historic buildings and tours are the focus at Sully Historic Site. The buildings were constructed between 1794 and 1801, and the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The dates describe when the buildings were constructed, while the listing identifies the site as a historic place. Paid tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you plan to take a tour, check the tour times before you arrive. This lets you plan your visit around a specific activity.

Landscape and park history

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park includes forests, streams, meadows and a pond. Hiking trails run through and around these natural features. The Walney Visitor Center presents the park’s natural and cultural history. This offers two different ways to experience the park: the natural features shape your visit on the trails, while the Visitor Center focuses on the park’s history. If you’re deciding between spending time outdoors and learning about the area’s natural and cultural history, this distinction offers a clear guide.

Water activities at the indoor water park

Cub Run Indoor Water Park has a zero-depth entry and a splash play area with slides, water fountains, water cannons and spray features. It also offers a lazy river, also known as a current channel, and a whirlpool. The activities range from the splash play area to the current and whirlpool. This is quite different from visiting historic buildings or hiking trails: here, the focus is on a variety of water attractions in an indoor facility.

Aerospace as a distinct area of focus

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center includes two large hangars housing more than 3,000 historic objects, including more than 200 aircraft and spacecraft. The collection therefore covers both aviation and space; the objects listed include spacecraft as well as aircraft. This is a different way to explore the area than focusing on buildings, landscapes or water activities. If you’re particularly interested in aerospace, you can make it a separate consideration in your trip planning. The figures refer to two levels: more than 3,000 refers to the total collection of historic objects, while the more than 200 aircraft and spacecraft are a subset of that collection.

Hotels for planning your trip

Discover more destinations: Mclean, Centreville, Annandale, Springfield, Burke, Herndon, Vienna, Lorton.

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