Residents love Great Falls, Virginia for its peaceful residential streets, the beautiful woodland surroundings and vibrant village center. Great Falls is home to a lively community that offers its residents the opportunity for outdoor adventure, retail therapy and worldly culinary experiences.

Great Falls on the Map

Located in Fairfax County, Great Falls is about 25 square miles in size. The Potomac River flows down the town’s border from the northwest to the south, while Difficult Stream Valley Park borders it to the south. VA-674 and 602 roughly define its western boundary.

Homes for Sale in Great Falls

Single-family homes make up the majority of real estate for sale in Great Falls. For the most part, these homes are generous in size and situated on spacious, green lawns with gardens and trees. Properties by the Potomac River are more on the expensive side, but residents here enjoy beautiful, serene woodland surroundings.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors in Great Falls

For a day of exploring and adventuring in the great outdoors, residents make their way to Great Falls Park. Enormous in size, covering about 800 acres, the park has over 76 feet of major cascades and many viewing points that overlook the falls. Rock climbers will find there are many cliffs here to keep them challenged, along with miles of looping trails. For visitors looking for a more relaxing day, the park also has a large picnic area and fishing and boating services.

Another popular outdoor attraction is Turner Farm. Located on Springvale Road, this former dairy farm is now 40 acres of open fields. A haven for horse-lovers, the farm offers free use of its equestrian facilities. Stargazers can also get their fill of looking at the night sky at the farm’s observatory. With a new facility that opened last year, the observatory has four permanently mounted telescopes and is open for recreational and educational programs. The farm also has a picnic area and many trails for jogging and walking.  

The Great Falls community comes together once a week for the farmer’s market. With plenty of vendors selling locally grown produce and dairy products, the market also has many different food stands where people can munch on hand-made empanadas, pastries and other bakery specials.  Tom’s Amish, a local favorite, has an assortment of cheeses with crunchy baguettes. The farmer’s market is the perfect place to find unique gifts, treats, live music and a chance to win many raffles.  

Things to Do in Great Falls

Great Falls Village Center is the downtown hub of the community. This shopping center is located around the lovely village green in the heart of the town, and features boutique shopping, delicious restaurants, a coffee shop, pilates studio and much more.

One unique feature of the village center is the Artists on the Green, an art cooperative that provides a workplace and gallery for local artists. Housed in a quaint, blue-painted barn house, the cooperative hosts monthly events that feature selected artists’ work.

The village center is also home to many local, family-owned businesses such as the Great Falls Creamery. Dishing out all-natural ice cream straight from the dairy farm, this creamery has many season flavors and soft serve. Once you make your selection from the many flavors, enjoy your cone in the outdoor seating area, which overlooks the beautiful village green.

Old Brogue Irish Pub is the local gathering place. The interior is cool and dark to set the mood, but outdoor seating is also available. Offering a huge range of bottles and on-tap beer selections, the Old Brogue’s menu includes the chef’s own innovations as well as traditional Irish fare. The pub has a small stage and features live entertainment throughout the week, ranging from traditional Irish bands to up-and-coming artists.

Traveling Around Great Falls

While there are limited public transportation options in Great Falls, the town is located near many major roads, making commuting from place to place a simple trip. Georgetown Pike runs through the center of the town, while VA-603, 674 and 738 are easily accessible.

Making Your Home in Great Falls

Residents of Great Falls are within easy reach of a variety of attractions and activities. From horseback riding to mountain climbing, residents love having the opportunity to try new things every day in Great Falls.