7 Must-Do Experiences in Loudoun for 2025

The New Year is almost upon us and with it comes a raft of exciting new openings and adventures!

 Here are the experiences to check out in Loudoun in 2025

Taste Tannat

The hot new wine on Loudoun’s booming oenophile scene is a little-known varietal called Tannat, which is grown to great acclaim in Uruguay, South America where it is the national grape. Indeed, Tannat has done so well in Loudoun’s well-drained limestone soils that the county has partnered with Uruguay’s famous Canelones wine region on an exchange program where a delegation of winemakers and interns from each region visit the other destination in the spirit of mutual learning and cultural immersion. A bold, flavorful, tannin-rich red that ages incredibly well, you can try it at more than five Loudoun wineries now, including Walsh Family Wine in Purcellville, winner of Best Tannat at the recent Loudoun Wine Awards. Also try it at Doukénie Winery, Fabbioli Cellars, Hillsborough Winery, Brewery, & Vineyard and The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek.

Stay in a Boutique Hotel

Loudoun has its share of luxury resorts and cozy B&Bs, but in the summer of 2025 a new boutique hotel will open: Hotel Burg. The first hotel in downtown Leesburg’s historic district in 60 years, The Burg is a 39-suite property on fashionable King Street, adjacent to the ever-trendy Goosecup Coffee Shop. The property will have a conference room, fitness center, private speakeasy and 70-seat restaurant, The Hunton, where the menu will be overseen by the team behind the acclaimed Wine Kitchen down the street. There will also be a 4,000 square-foot members club, The Chase, and a rooftop with a water feature, fire pits and stunning views of the surrounding downtown.

Hike The Appalachian Trail In Its Centenary Year

2025 marks the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the non-profit that oversees the maintenance and conservation of the world-famous 2,200-mile trail that runs from Maine to Georgia. Loudoun is home to a spectacular 13-mile stretch of the AT known as The Rollercoaster, a swooping, rocky hike along the spine of the Blue Ridge on the western border of the county. Celebrate the 100^th Anniversary with a short hike from Bears Den Overlook above historic Bluemont, opposite Bear Chase Brewing Co. The northern stretch from Bears Den across Route 7 takes you up and over rocky outcrops and boulders to the Blackburn Trail Center north of Round of Hill, a rustic 1910-built lodge and refreshment station. You can hike the trail year-round but a good time to visit in 2025 is June 7 for the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival. The festival celebrates the “trail towns” of Hillsboro, Round Hill and Bluemont.

Soak Up History

While Loudoun prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250^th Anniversary in 2026, there are historic events to celebrate in 2025. Morven Park, the home-turned-museum and public park of early 20^th Century Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis, has partnered with the Town of Leesburg and the Thomas Balch Library to create the “246 Years Project”, the first-ever genealogical searchable database of enslaved individuals in America. The project uses digitized copies of historic records to document and honor millions of enslaved peoples in a free, online, custom-built database. On a visit to Morven Park, descendants can locate information about their ancestors and trace their families’ recorded experiences. In August 2025 meanwhile, Leesburg will celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the historic visit to Loudoun of French-born Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette. In August 1825, the final month of his 18-month American Farewell Tour, Lafayette came to Loudoun to meet his old friend James Monroe and ended up addressing thousands of residents on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse. Keep an eye out for specific Lafayette commemorations listed on Visitloudoun.org.

Visit Loudoun’s New Park

Utilized for years as a source of drinking water for Loudoun residents, 300-acre Reservoir Park opened to the public in October 2024 and is the newest must-visit public park in Loudoun. The greenspace contains a welcome center, boat rental facility, picnic pavilions, scenic hiking trails, waterfront boardwalks, a bridge and educational exhibits. Operated by NOVA Parks and Loudoun Water, the park preserves, protects and educates about the county’s source water while also serving as a place for public recreation.

Horsing Around

Loudoun is a major equestrian destination and while Middleburg is the horse and hunt capital of the US, Leesburg will be home to the hottest event on the 2025 equestrian calendar. In preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Morven Park’s International Equestrian Center will host the US Equestrian Open of Eventing from October 10-12. Competing riders earn points to qualify for the Games and the event will be televised on ESPN. If October is too long to wait for your horse fix, the Middleburg Spring Races take place in April and Morven Park hosts its glittering annual Polo in the Park series on Saturdays in June and July – perfect for wine picnics in the summer sun.

Visit A Roaring New Brewery

Home of the LoCo Ale Trail, with 30 breweries and counting, Loudoun has one of the most exciting beer scenes in the country. On your next visit add this new brewery to your list. Set to open in late spring 2025, Local Lion in Hillsboro is the 26-acre farm brewery of Laura Starego and Nigel Rourke and named for two African lions buried on the property, (The lions were once part of a privately owned game park on a neighboring farm). The two-story tasting room will seat 90 guests and offer a rotating seasonal mix of 10 beers, wine, cider, seltzer and non-alcoholic beverages. The property also includes extensive outdoor seating with stunning views of farm fields, hills and sunsets, and a small apiary with acres of clover and native wildflowers. Cheers!