Annandale | Marijuana Travel Guide

Source: Fairfax County

The “downtown” of the small town is Mason District, a region where small shops rub elbows with parks, nature areas, and Civil War markers. Mason District is best known for its Arts in the Park live performances, free of charge and fun for children and parents alike, featuring everything from swing dancing to stand-up comedians to puppeteers. Bring a good pair of shoes and a water bottle because many walking trails lead in or out of the park district.

Source: WikiVoyage

The largest and most famous Korean district in the broader D.C. area, Annandale’s downtown is often known as Koreatown. With nearly 1000 different Korean-owned businesses, Annandale’s Koreatown is one of the largest ethnic neighborhoods on the entire eastern coast. Visitors can find everything from restaurants to antique stores. However, some may be frustrated by how few English signs appear in many businesses – an initiative the city council is trying to redress.

Source: Annandale Chamber of Commerce

One of the oldest parts of the entire town, the Wakefield neighborhood takes its name and much of its identity from the 1899 Wakefield Chapel, a Methodist church whose steeple can be seen from as far away as the Potomac River. The chapel itself was named for its first preacher, who had fought for the Union in the Civil War. The surrounding neighborhood features other historic buildings, sites, and monuments, especially those connected to the Civil War.

Source: Fairfax County

The main visitor’s center within the 52-acre Annandale District Park is a perfect way to get acquainted with the nature of the eastern seaboard and the specific species that call Annandale home. Hidden Oaks is an ideal first destination for a day spent in the great outdoors and offers visitors a wide variety of information on activities, from hiking to horseback riding. It features many different nature exhibits, including animal displays, a rain garden, butterfly crossings, and a pond with a walking circuit. Visitors can learn about conservation efforts with data on the surrounding area for everything from soil chemistry to water pH. The center also offers guided tours on its many trails.

Source: Fairfax County, Virginia

See your favorite bands play in a show at the State Theatre! Located in the Falls Church's Historic District, the theatre is a premiere concert and event venue featuring live music and theatrical stage performances. The theatre is located just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. and Tysons Corner Center for easy access from different parts of the area. 

Source: Fairfax County

Northern Virginia is a small cluster of towns like Annandale surrounded by miles and miles of some of the best farmland in the country. Produce, fruit, meat, cheese, beverages, snacks, spices, and baked goods are all available at the seasonal farmer’s market on Columbia Pike Road. Running until November is the perfect place to pick up a treat that will taste great once you’re returning to the hotel, airport, or even when you’re back home. On Thursday mornings, the market offers the best of nearby farms.

Source: CannaBliss

Holistic Wellness is the first black-owned dispensary in D.C., and perhaps the most prominent black-owned dispensary in the United States, on U Street in the East Ward and open from Monday to Saturday. Part of the larger CannaBliss business chain, Holistic Wellness, is run out of a renovated Dave Brown liquor store. Owner Norbett Pickett was disabled in a car accident and became a cannabis ally after seeing the first-hand damage that painkiller addiction could do. Today, Holistic Wellness features a friendly staff, a “Cannasseur” bar, budtenders’ best picks, and a community outreach program to help develop the surrounding area.

Source: Anacostia Organics

Washington D.C.’s only licensed grower-dispensary, Anacostia Organics is all home-grown and features a huge variety of products. Open daily and located on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Anacostia was the first medical dispensary in the area, and today sells both medical and recreational cannabis. They’ve been a success story in a hard-up area, the first dispensary to serve Ward 7 and Ward 8 customers and the first dispensary to have a license awarded to a woman of color. Anacostia features everything you’d expect, from flowers to edibles to tinctures, all locally sourced, with local art hanging on the wall for those who get inspired to support the neighborhood. First-time customers get 25% off their orders.

Source: Kinfolk

As the name suggests, Kinfolk aims to make its customers feel like family as soon as they step through the door – but if you’d rather order online for curbside delivery, their service is fast and efficient. Kinfolk is part of a wider chain steadily taking over many 420-legal states, from Oregon to Colorado. While the D.C. branch is an offshoot instead of the main center, it nevertheless provides excellent products for its customers, many of which are grown locally.

Source: Beanetics

Launched in 2007, Beanetics hoped to compete with the biggest names in the coffee market, and while it hasn’t yet become a global brand like Starbucks, it remains the most famous coffee place in the town. Their micro roaster takes up half an entire room and comes with a demonstration and explanation by their brew crew. The store also contains coffee accessories, from French presses to custom creams to travel cups. The café features a bakery for morning breakfast or an afternoon snack with your cup of joe.

Source: Arts Fairfax

In a smaller town like Annandale, artists have to work together to get their work seen, noticed, and purchased. The Artisans United Craft Gallery is the town’s central hub for just that: a spot where local artists can sell their goods, from coffee mugs to paintings. First organized in 1987, it remains the central artistic venue, featuring art lectures, classes, and demonstrations for visitors.

Source: Collector's World

Collector's World is a favorite stop on an Annandale vacation if one of your hobbies is collecting rare items, from comic books to autographed baseballs. With sports cards, vintage memorabilia, rare books, and historical objects, the shop is a perfect place to step back in time or to look for the piece that might complete an entire collection. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, able to discuss a bit of trivia or the value of a part of a collection you might be looking to sell.

Source: Annandale Chamber

As the name suggests, the Manor House Tea Shop is indeed a tea café located within a colonial-era manor house, giving its customers both a delicious midday meal and a history lesson on the region. Built in 1784 by John Moss, the manor house features beautiful gardens, pouring ceremonies, and private parties on top of its world-class teas and treats. In addition to the drinks themselves, the house sells books, presses, and even table etiquette lessons for those who want to make tea into a hobby.

Source: Yechon

There are many different Korean restaurants in Annandale, but Ye Chon is rated as the best, and it’s not hard to see why. With an overflowing assortment of meal items, including traditional Korean barbecue, Ye Chon features everything from spicy squid curry to kimchi soup to sundubu tofu casserole. Furthermore, the food is delicious, affordable and available 24/7

Source: Annandale Chamber

You might not expect to find a southwestern restaurant in Virginia, let alone a southwestern restaurant that is considered one of the best in town. Still, Silverado makes you think you’ve just driven through the Mojave and are ready for fajitas and a margarita. Their food features many southwestern favorites, like chicken quesadillas and barbecue burgers, and off-the-beaten path choices like salmon salad, crab cakes, and chipotle pork chops. The homemade horseradish gives any dish a particular kick.