The space shuttle in front of me, nicknamed Disco, has an impressive flight history. With 39 missions and 365 days spent in space, the eye-catching shuttle is none other than Discovery. It has found an apt landing home at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. The museum has almost 3,000 memorabilia, artefacts, and archival materials that take you through aviation history.
Spaceflight buffs rejoice seeing the numerous exhibits on display. Other than Discovery, there is a NASA android and the record-setting SR-71 Blackbird. I am in awe of the artefacts placed in the spacious aviation hangar that is almost the size of three American football fields, and I marvel at the space hangar. Going on an adrenaline ride in the simulators and ending with a virtual reality spacewalk is a thrilling experience.
After soaring to the skies, it is time to come back to Earth for a musical journey spanning rich vocal ranges. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is the USA’s only National Park devoted to showcasing the performing arts. There’s something for everyone, from enticing musicals, energetic dance, sophisticated opera, and soulful jazz to foot-tapping country music.
I feel fortunate to attend a concert by multi-award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo. After seeing the movie Wicked, watching the power-packed Cynthia perform live is a dream come true. She effortlessly sings Broadway hits to the beats of the National Symphony Orchestra. The sold-out concert has families lounging on the grass overlooking the stage. At one point, I glance around and see an ocean of light. The audience has switched on their mobile phone flashlights that sway rhythmically to the soul-stirring music being sung by Cynthia.
After aeronautics and a musical odyssey, Fairfax County takes me through the marvels of Mother Nature. Great Falls Park is a scenic 800-acre park centred around the Potomac River. I walk along the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to admire the dynamic river, its gushing falls, and exposed metamorphic bedrock. The best photo stops are the three Overlooks that provide stunning vistas of the mighty Potomac River. Exploring Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and its unique Korean Bell Garden, calm lakes, lush forests, and an immersive walking trail leaves me famished.
GreenFare Organic Cafe has a plant-based menu prepared using local, seasonal, organic produce. No added oil, salt, or sugar ensures that the food nourishes the body. From a delicious organic jackfruit BBQ sandwich served with apple coleslaw and mixed greens to the wholesome organic vegetable paella packed with brown rice, saffron, oyster mushrooms, artichokes, leeks, olives, and bell peppers, I savour my nutritious meal. A scrumptious organic strawberry chocolate muffin rounds off the meal.
Being a self-confessed chocoholic, I am excited to visit River-Sea Chocolates, a chocolate factory known for its sustainable Fairfax County-made chocolate bars, truffles, and beverages. The Bean-to-Bar enterprise offers a chocolate tasting of five single-origin artisanal chocolates. I relish crafted chocolate made at the Virginia factory from cacao sourced from Tanzania, Peru, the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, and Southeast Asia. The cherry blossom dark is a clear winner. The session ends with a tour of the production room, where I get to learn how small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate is made.
Each exquisite piece of truffle from River-Sea Chocolates that I carry back home will not only satiate my sweet tooth but also unwrap priceless memories of Virginia’s Fairfax County.
