Things to Do in Manassas

Taking time to stop and smell the flowers has never paid off better than it does at Seven Oaks Lavender Farm. Co-owned by the mother-daughters team of Edith, Deborah, and Dianne, the farm occupies more than an acre of land sprinkled with purple lavender and other flowers. Set back from the rustic and perfumed fields, their Lavender Shop houses myriad floral products, many of which are made by the Seven Oaks ladies themselves. Visitors can pick up soaps, jellies, certified-organic teas, and candles that all bear a fragrant, lavender aroma. In addition to its everyday operations, the farm also hosts events that include fall festivals, wreath-making classes, and lessons on using lavender garlands to ward off possessed grandmothers.

Sam Hatfield honed his gunsmithing skills in one of the most elite units in the US Army: the US Army Marksmanship Unit. He crafted customized weapons for the men of the unit and now personalizes firearms for the general public. In addition to his customized guns, he and his staff offer training classes such as a NRA basic home-safety course. Visitors can also eschew guns altogether inside the simulator, which drops users into tense situations to let them hone their skills while safely under artificial fire.

The teachers of UnWined Art ply creative works from their students with step-by-step instruction, tasty desserts, and complimentary glasses of juice or wine. Welcoming any student 18 or older, teachers select a new painting for each class they hold and carefully guide attendees through the re-creation of the images, from simple still lifes to masterpieces such as The Scream and Starry Night. In addition to snacks and drinks, instructors provide all necessary supplies because they believe the creation of a painting is more valuable than the cost of paint and canvas that go into it, despite protests from roving economists.

The instructors at Guns-n-Gear LLC dedicate their classes to developing handgun knowledge, range-shooting skills, and firearm safety in pupils pursuing proficiency in handgun sports and self-protection. The three- to four-hour NRA FIRST Steps Pistol Course, led by NRA-certified instructors, commences with classroom slideshows, discussions, and shooting exercises with dummy ammunition before students apply their newfound abilities to an NRA range session. The Learn to Shoot Pistol Class, meanwhile, condenses similar lessons and hands-on instruction into a 75-minute course, including a 15-minute open-book range-safety quiz that requires trainees to fire their answers into a scantron sheet with a no. 2 handgun.

The Osprey’s Golf Club at Belmont Bay maintains a splendid, 5,577-yard, par 70 course that fosters fore-hollering fun for golfers of all abilities. Bordered to the east by the flowing waters of the Occoquan River, the Audubon-certified course pleases the senses with cool, riverside breezes, scenic tree lines, and flagsticks that hand out perfume samples. Experienced instructors stalk the Club’s verdant grounds, helping keep swing’s sharp with private and group lessons and imparting advice about golf equipment at the pro shop. Osprey’s Landing awaits golfers looking to unwind after a day at the links or treat high-performing sand wedges to a dinner date with a menu of fresh seafood, sandwiches, and other locally inspired fare.

The Metropolitan Fine Arts Center, a multidisciplinary performing-arts organization for children and adults, fosters choreographed skills and creates performance opportunities in dance, music, and theater. Its students have gone to perform on Broadway, at The Juilliard School, and in highly esteemed companies, such as the Mark Morris Dance Company, The Washington Ballet, and Microsoft. Youth programs include musical-theater and fine-arts workshops, as well as ballet and other half-day dance camps for children as young as 3. Adult classes range from basic to advanced, including ballet, jazz, and tap lessons, plus yoga and ballet-barre fitness workouts.