Friday, 23 July, 2021

Have you ever taken a vacation so exhausting you needed another vacation? Don’t do it again. You don’t need to go far or have a complicated itinerary to have a relaxing weekend. Take some advice from your friends at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai. Stay close to home, find somewhere relaxing, and keep it simple. Have a staycation.

Here in the Washington DC area we have so many ways to unwind. Whether you’re into history, sports, water, food, or pampering yourself, you’ll find a way to unwind without going far. So load a few friends into the Santa Fe and create a memorable but easy weekend. Which will you choose?

Salamander Resort and Spa

Less than an hour from Washington Dulles airport you’ll find a hundred luxury rooms plus seventeen exclusive suites. The Salamander Resort bathrooms feature marble showers, body jets, and pedestal tubs. The resort sources herbs, fruits, and vegetables from their own garden. You can take a cooking class as part of your staycation. 

This is a great location for fans of equines. The Equestrian Center includes a practice ring, a twenty-two stall barn, nine paddocks, and full-service boarding facilities. It hosts over four hundred events annually. You can take a riding lesson or guided tour. They even have gentle ponies for young children. The spa offers The Rider’s Relief Massage specifically for soreness from saddle time. 

Harrimans, their equestrian-themed restaurant, serves eclectic fare such as Georges Bank swordfish and crispy sesame cauliflower. Dining options and chances to learn from the chefs abound. Other available activities are as varied as golf, paintball, and military off-road driving.

Visit the resort at 500 North Pendleton Street in Middleburg, Virginia. Call (540) 326-4000 for reservations.

Foster Harris House

Steps away from the The Inn at Little Washington and a short ride from the Shenandoah National Park, you’ll find a small B&B dedicated to food, wine, and cycling. The owners also operate Tour d’Epicure Virginia Cycling Adventures. Its bike tours incorporate food and wine tastings along the way.

Stay in one of it’s five sophisticated guest rooms. Start with a four-course gourmet breakfast. Enjoy climbing, horseback riding, art galleries, and hiking. Then treat yourself with a rainfall shower, and Gilchrist & Soames bath products. You can balance rest, exercise, and indulgence.

Find this B&B at 189 Main Street in Washington, Virginia. Call (540) 675-3757 to plan your getaway.

Goodstone Inn & Restaurant

Just an hour west of the Capitol are 265 acres of rolling Virginia countryside ready for a horseback ride or just a leisurely stroll. You can stay in one of five guest cottages or in the main inn, which includes four suites. The Manor House contains the kitchen, which produces award-winning French cuisine for three meals a day.

A renovated barn subtly houses the spa, where you can get deep tissue or prenatal massages. Borrow a bike or canoe and explore. Goodstone is also a popular choice for weddings and corporate retreats.

Goodstone is located at 36205 Snake Hill Road in Middleburg, Virginia. Call (540) 687-3333 for reservations. 

Turf Valley Resort

If your idea of the perfectly relaxing day is on the fairways, investigate Turf Valley. You’ll find two championship golf courses and over 1,000 acres of Maryland countryside. Both courses just went through an extensive renovation. In addition to luxurious rooms and suites, you can choose an extended stay villa. Each two or three-bedroom house has a private entrance, a walkout balcony, and a full bathroom for each bedroom. 

Rejuvenate at the spa with packages like Ultimate Girlfriend’s Getaway or Spa Romance Package. With five ballrooms and multiple conference spaces, Turf Valley is ready to host your wedding or corporate retreat.

Come play at 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City, Maryland. Call (410) 465-1500 to plan your stay.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Perhaps a step back in time will help you forget about all your modern stress. See the former home of Robert Harper’s ferry company. Ask the locals about the roundabout journey John Brown’s Fort took to return to Harpers Ferry. The down is thick with history, but it’s also a great place to hike. The National Historic Park contains 22 miles of trails of various levels.

If you’re looking for a real challenge, Harpers Ferry is the near midpoint of the Appalachian Trail. You could hike for a thousand miles in either direction. The town’s been party to important journeys throughout the nation’s history. It was part of both the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Underground Railroad.

Visit this historic gem about sixty miles northwest of DC, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. 

Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Maryland

If you need to taste the salt air, head east from DC for about an hour. You’ll soon be at this 786-acre park on the Chesapeake Bay. Bring your boat or rent one. Catch flounder, redfish, sea bass, and more. At the park you’ll find playgrounds, bathhouses, shelters, and picnic areas. When the season is right, you can catch blue crab right from the dock. Fishing from the shore is permitted 24 hours a day.

The swimming beach gets over a million visitors a year. History lovers should see the Sandy Point Farmhouse, built in 1815, or the Shoal Lighthouse. The latter was built in 1874 on a former caisson foundation. The lamp has been powered by everything from oil wicks to incandescent oil vapor to electricity. Both landmarks are on the national Register of Historic Places.

Take a trip to the sea at 1100 E College Parkway in Annapolis.

Get Ready for a Road Trip at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai

Any direction you go from the DC area you’ll find a great staycation opportunity. Are you ready to drive this weekend? If you’re from Fairfax, Chantilly, Alexandria, or the greater DC area, come visit the Koons Family in Woodbridge, Virginia. We’ll take the stress out of servicing your car or buying a new one. Your vehicle has never been worth more, so come see us to talk about selling. Your old car can fund your next staycation.


Image via Flickr by Ron Cogswell

Monday, 19 July, 2021

Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs have been a favorite choice for many looking for both a comfortable vehicle with plenty of interior space as well as a sleek exterior design. Santa Fe delivers a powerful 2.5-liter engine and a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in some models while maintaining fuel economy decent for an SUV. Safety comes at a priority with the Santa Fe’s long list of driver-assistance technology. Compare each of the five trims available to find out which one is best for you and your family.

Santa Fe SE

The Hyundai Santa Fe offers both a front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive option with its SE trim available starting at an MSRP of $27,000. The SE has a roomy interior with space for five including lumbar support and power seats for the driver. It is fully equipped with safety features such as brake assist, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Under the hood, you will find an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that boasts 191 horsepower with 181 pound-feet of torque. The front-wheel drive trim averages a combined MPG of 26 and the all-wheel comes in at 24 MPG.

Santa Fe SEL

The next trim up from the SE is the SEL coming in at a starting MSRP of $28,800. Each trim has a standard convenience package as well as a premium package to choose from. The SEL comes standard with the same upgraded 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine up from the original 2.4-liter in the last SE and SEL models. The front-wheel drive trim gets a combined MPG of 26 while the all-wheel drive gets an average of 24 MPG. It has a few extra perks on the interior such as heated seats, heated mirrors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The SEL includes a built-in vehicle anti-theft system and offers the option of a sun or moon roof. You can also get keyless entry and an electrochromic rearview mirror. The SEL trim has the option to include a navigation system, hands-free communications system as well as climate control, and dual-zone air conditioning.

Santa Fe Limited

The Santa Fe Limited brings all the options of the SE and SEL to new dimensions with its powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine at a starting MSRP of $38,750. This 2.5-liter replaces the previous 2.0-liter turbocharged engine upping the horsepower to an impressive 277 with 311 pound-feet of torque. The Limited maintains solid gas mileage coming in at a combined 25 MPG for the front-wheel drive and 24 for the all-wheel drive. It keeps you safe with blind-spot monitoring, traction control, electronic stability control, and brake assist all standard.

The Limited trim also comes with a full navigation system, hands-free communication, climate control, and an option of leather seats. You will have all you want for entertainment with satellite radio, smart device integration, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto all available with a premium sound system.

Santa Fe Calligraphy

The Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy is the top of the line in the Santa Fe lineup. This powerful and sleek SUV comes with all the bells and whistles at a starting MSRP of $40,750. The front-wheel-drive model continues to bring in an average of a combined 25 MPG. Its 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine can get you from zero to 60 in 6.0 seconds. The interior is just as impressive with quilted leather upholstery, drive-assist features, large digital displays, and seat memory.

The 8-speed auto-shift manual with OD and auto-manual will keep you going down the road smoothly. You are protected with the anti-theft system, keyless entry, and full airbag system installed. It has a roomy interior big enough to comfortably fit a family of five.

Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD

The all-wheel-drive model of the Calligraphy is offered at a starting MSRP of $42,250. It comes with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gets an average of 24 MPG. This trim of the Santa Fe comes with all the extras offered in the other models with the added benefit of HTRAC all-wheel drive.

The exterior features a premium finish grille and 19-inch alloy wheels while the interior has quilted premium Nappa leather seating with a slick seat and door accent trim. Its 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system will keep you on track along with the heads-up display and parking distance warning indicator. The panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and auto up and down rear windows are sure to keep you and your passengers comfortable.

Special Features

The Hyundai Santa Fe trims offer a variety of high-end features sure to keep you entertained, comfortable, and most importantly safe on your drive. Each comes in seven color options to give you plenty to choose from when picking out your vehicle. Each trim is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. From the SE to the Calligraphy each comes with the 8-speed automatic with OD and auto-manual transmission. The SE and the SEL come with an upgraded 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine while the Limited and Calligraphy feature the powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter intercooled turbo regular unleaded gas engine.

You have the option of choosing a premium package with each trim that gives you extras such as leather seats and a sunroof. These SUVs, even with a turbocharged engine, maintain an impressive 24 to 26 MPG each using regular gas to keep your costs down. They also feature the modern conveniences of digital displays, drive-assist features, and premium sound systems. Each of the five trims with the nine different configurations is a great SUV option to explore to get you and your family on the road in comfort and style.

Buy Your Santa Fe Today

The Koons Woodbridge Hyundai is your place to shop for your new Santa Fe. Whether you are looking for a simple but comfortable SUV to get your family around town or an all-wheel drive trim with all the added features, the family-oriented team at Koons Woodbridge will walk you through the process and find the right vehicle for you. Check out the online inventory and come into the showroom today for a test drive of your next Hyundai Santa Fe.

Image via Flickr by theKCB

Wednesday, 14 July, 2021

Most everybody looks forward to summer with great anticipation for summer vacations, road trips, beach days, and more. We prepare for the warm weather by working on our beach bodies. We buy summer outfits designed to beat the heat, and we load up on sunscreen to keep the sunburn away. But what have we done for our car? Summer can be tough on people, but your vehicle endures more torture in the summer months, too, and with very little respite. 

Rather than letting a summer breakdown ruin your trip to the amusement park, you can take steps to prepare your vehicle for the season. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of common summer-related car issues, how to spot them, and what you need to do to avoid or fix them.

Flat Tires

Your tires play a huge role in your driving safety. Tire tread should be adequate to maintain traction, and the air pressure within your tires must be within the manufacturer’s recommended range. In the summer, temperatures fluctuate between extreme heat during the day and as much as a 30-degree drop overnight. These fluctuations often wreak havoc with your tires’ air pressure. Add in the fact that your tires will lose 1-2 psi every month naturally, and you could experience lower-than-normal tire pressure during the summer. 

Low tire pressure increases the amount of tread in contact with the road. While this additional contact might give you better traction in wet weather, the steering can become soft enough to cause problems — especially during an emergency. Low tire pressure increases your chances of a blowout if you hit a pothole or curb, too.

Over-inflated tires can present issues as well. If there’s any weakness in the tread or sidewall, over-inflation puts added stress on these areas. Potholes, curbs, and other uneven road conditions can cause a blowout with over-inflated tires.

We recommend checking your tire pressure once a week to ensure proper inflation. Many modern vehicles have built-in tire pressure monitoring systems. If you have one in your car, pay attention to it and add air whenever necessary. You should also inspect your tires regularly, especially before a road trip. Look for uneven tread wear or raised portions of your tire. Bubbles that appear on your tires indicate a weak spot. 

Should you see anything unusual with your tires or need help adding air, our service center technicians can help you. You can drop by any time or schedule a service online.

Engine Overheating

Regular oil changes help prevent your engine from overheating, but your engine needs more than an oil change. The summer heat can put added stress on your engine’s cooling system. While the internal temperature of your car’s engine operates at much higher temperatures than the actual air around us, the added heat still puts a strain on your cooling system. Your engine coolant runs through the engine block to cool down the components during operation. The coolant then goes through your car’s radiator, which re-cools the liquid before returning it through the engine, and the cycle continues. 

Old engine coolant breaks down over time and often picks up debris from the system, further weakening its cooling properties. The older the engine coolant, the less ability it has to cool the engine. If you haven’t changed your engine coolant in a while, doing so before the peak of summer can protect your engine from overheating. Most cars should have their engine coolant changed at least every five years. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s specific requirements. 

Our service department technicians can flush your radiator and replace your engine coolant in minutes, getting you back on the road and off to your next summer adventure.

Air Conditioning

Your car’s air conditioner works harder in the summer than at any other time, tirelessly cooling the air inside your vehicle. No one wants the A/C to start blowing warm air, so take the time to get your A/C checked out before the summer heat arrives. Your car’s air conditioner uses chemical gases to cool the air, and that system can run low. We recommend having your vehicle’s air conditioner serviced once a year before summer arrives. 

Many car owners believe they can do this themselves, and some can — but not without special tools and equipment. The government has strict regulations on handling and disposing of the chemicals used in your air conditioning unit. Therefore, it would be best if you had a professional handle service on your air conditioning system.

At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we will inspect your air conditioning system for leaks and make sure you have plenty of coolant to help your summer adventures go smoothly. We can also properly handle and dispose of any extra coolant to help preserve and protect the environment.

Battery Service

Your car’s battery does so much more than provide the power to start your vehicle. It helps run other systems and stores energy for future use. Unfortunately, the summer heat can affect your car’s battery, draining its reserves and weakening it to the point of ineffectiveness. You should test your battery before summer arrives as well as before any road trip. A weak battery can put a strain on your alternator, which costs hundreds of dollars more to replace than the battery alone.

At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we can test your battery and determine whether or not you should replace it before it becomes a problem. Our technicians can quickly determine if you need a new battery, and we have plenty of new batteries in stock to get you back to your busy life quickly. 

Everyone should enjoy summer. Taking trips to the beach, booking vacations to the lake house, and visiting far-away relatives make the season one to anticipate and enjoy. Don’t let your car’s performance suffer because you haven’t taken the proper precautions to keep it running smoothly. Bring your vehicle in to Koons Woodbridge Hyundai for a pre-summer service and let us make sure your Hyundai has all it needs to make your summer a special one.


Image via Flickr by Crown Star Images

Thursday, 08 July, 2021

Alexandria is home to many seafood restaurants that serve fresh seafood straight from the ocean. Whether you want a raw bar, a classic take on seafood, or some unique twists on your favorite mollusk or shellfish, there is no shortage of tasty seafood in the area. Here are some of the top places to enjoy seafood in Alexandria, courtesy of Koons Woodbridge Hyundai.

Blackwall Hitch

This is a coastal-inspired restaurant that is seasonally driven and uses locally sourced ingredients.  They offer menu options like starters, handhelds, and entrees as well as soups and salads. For families, they also offer kids meals and serve brunch on Sundays.

To start your meal at Blackwall Hitch, some of the seafood offerings that they have include fresh oysters, flaming crab dip, crispy calamari, saffron mussels, and spicy crispy tuna tartare. They also offer an extensive selection of oysters flavored in a variety of different ways. If you prefer soup as a starter, they serve a Maryland crab soup and oyster stew.

For the main course, Blackwall Hitch offers handhelds like a jumbo lump crab cake sandwich, soft shell sandwich, and mahi-mahi tacos. Their menu also features entrees from the bay, which include Maryland crab cakes, scallops, shrimp saffron risotto, rockfish, shrimp and grits, the chef’s fresh catch of the day, and the Trident Broiler, which has crab cakes, shrimp, and salmon.

While Blackwall Hitch is coastally inspired, they also have many non-seafood dishes. Be sure to check out their website for the full menu.  The restaurant is located at 5 Cameron Street in Alexandria.

The Wharf

Found in Old Town Alexandria, The Wharf offers authentic seafood that focuses on celebrating the historical roots of Alexandria. Some of The Wharf’s specialties that you must try include their miso tuna, oysters on the half shell, and linguini Portofino. Almost every menu item on The Wharf’s menu includes seafood. From their raw bar to their appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and platters, you are sure to get your fill of seafood at this restaurant.

Starters that are offered at The Wharf include jumbo shrimp, tuna poke, a seafood platter, oysters, crab cakes, mussels, scallops, and calamari. They offer three different soups with seafood and also have seafood that you can add to your salads.  For the entrees, you can choose larger versions of the seafood platter or jumbo-fried shrimp. There are also dishes that offer crab cakes, salmon, bacon-wrapped scalloped risotto, and a whole lobster.

In addition to their standard menu, The Wharf has a sandwich and brunch menu that includes sandwiches like crab cakes, a lobster roll, a Virginia rockfish sandwich, and a po’ boy roll. Brunch is also available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  You can visit The Wharf’s website for full details on all the menus that they offer. The Wharf is located at 119 King Street in Alexandria.

Hank’s Oyster Bar

If you are looking for seafood, Hank’s Oyster Bar is sure to be a hit. This restaurant has award-winning raw bar options and classic seafood dishes like lobster rolls, fried oysters, and crab cakes.

Diners who want a taste of a variety of seafood can try the seafood platter, which includes clams, oysters, jumbo shrimp, seafood ceviche, mussels, and Maine lobster. If you want to try dishes from the award-winning raw bar, there are oysters, seafood ceviche, shrimp, and tuna tartare.

At Hank’s, they offer small and large plates of seafood. Some small plates include lobster bisque, clam chowder, popcorn shrimp and calamari, and fried oysters. They also have crab dip, crab cakes, and BBQ oysters. If you prefer a hand-held meal like a sandwich, you can try an oyster or shrimp po’ boy, lobster roll, smoked salmon Reuben, fried fish sandwich, or crab cake sandwich.

Large plates that are available include a fried oyster dinner, crab cake dinner, and catch of the day. There is also the choice of fish and chips or shrimp pasta primavera. One of their specials is a mixed seafood grill that includes a variety of seafood on one plate.

Hank’s Oyster Bar is unique because they offer family meals for takeout. Their family dinners include a lobster roll kit, crab cake dinner, and surf and turf dinner. Be sure to check out their menu at their website.

At Hank’s, they serve brunch Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, and there is a market where you can buy fresh seafood. Hank’s Oyster Bar is located at 1026 King Street in Alexandria.

Fish Market

At The Fish Market, you will find many dishes featuring seafood items. In addition to classic seafood dishes, they serve some unique takes on seafood.

To start your meal, you can try clam chowder, crab soup, seafood stew, or lobster bisque. Appetizers that are available include classics like raw oysters, crab dip, calamari, and /. For something a little different, you can try lobster avocado toast, crab-stuffed avocado, or hot and spicy Buffalo oysters or shrimp. They also have salads like lobster BLT salad, seafood Cobb salad, and classic grilled salad.

Some of the main dishes that are available include a variety of seafood tacos, a salmon BLT, lobster rolls, and an oyster po’ boy. The Fish Market offers lots of different platters that are both grilled and fried. Platters include items like shrimp, salmon, scallops, oysters, and crab cakes. You can find the full menu on the Fish Market’s website. Some of the specialties at The Fish Market include a fresh whole Maine lobster, crab Norfolk, and seafood jambalaya.

If you are interested in brunch, you can visit on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Fish Market is located at 105 King Street in Alexandria.

Visit Koons Woodbridge Hyundai

Want to drive around town in style when you head out for your next seafood meal? Koons Woodbridge Hyundai will buy or trade your vehicle! Be sure to stop by and check out our new and used inventory. While you’re here, let us know where your favorite seafood stop is.


Image via Flickr by South African Tourism

Friday, 25 June, 2021

What’s better than pan-fried chicken sitting on freshly made waffles and drenched in sweet and spicy honey? We can’t think of anything that can beat it.

Ah breakfast — there are so many possibilities for that early morning good stuff. If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet or tangy, head to any of these ten restaurants that offer healthy breakfast choices to refuel your body every day.

Best Buns Bread Co

If your idea of breakfast is homemade bread, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, or croissants, you can have them here, at Best Buns Bread Co. Their hearth-baked breads are made by skilled bakers, and sweet treats are served by a friendly team. Order blueberry muffins, chocolate croissants, and sticky buns while still warm and pair these delicacies with coffee or a latte.

Bayou Bakery

Stop here for a yummy beignet served with steaming coffee, steel-cut Irish oatmeal, or Avocado Benedict.  A lively, contemporary restaurant with a funky setting, Bayou Bakery offers you a broad menu prepared from locally sourced ingredients. Their service is good even when the restaurant is busy. Their chocolate is thick, creamy, and complex but not too sweet. Lots of vegan-friendly options are available too. You’ll love their NOLA vibe and professional staff.

Bob and Edith’s Diner

Saddle up and head down to Bob and Edith’s Diner for a good breakfast to power through your hectic day. Enjoy freshly cooked eggs served with fries, grits, and hash browns, toast, and jelly. Two eggs and country-fried steak is their signature breakfast. Hotcakes, waffles, and French toast are served with eggs. A variety of omelets prepared with green pepper, tomato, and cheese are available. Side orders range from corned beef hash to scrapple and regular ham, and all served hot. See their board for daily specials.

Ted’s Bulletin

They’re open every day for all-day breakfasts. Choose from classics such as the Big Mark, breakfast burrito, avocado or salmon toasts, and crab benedict. Sausage patties, applewood bacon, Virginia ham, and seasonal fruit on the side. Friendly waiters welcome you to your table with a smile, ready to serve you a hot breakfast to fuel your day. Dining spaces are open and social, creating a versatile place for you to start your day. Whether you’re having a hearty breakfast or a weekend brunch, Ted’s Bulletin offers tasty, all-day meals.

Kaldi’s Social House

If your idea of breakfast is having a gluten-free smoothie at an inner-city style coffee shop, walk into Kaldi’s Social House and enjoy their healthy and flavorful specialties. You can add plant-based protein powder to any of their options.  Toasts are a crowd favorite and are served with your choice of field greens or roasted potatoes. Fried egg and bacon sandwiches, freshly-squeezed juices, and in-house baked goods are also featured in their breakfast menu. Try out their breaded chicken glazed with maple syrup, a choice of sweet corn or buttermilk waffles, and wash it down with freshly brewed coffee. You’ll keep coming back every morning to savor their simple, hearty, yet incredibly tasty food.

Ruthie’s All Day

A special neighborhood restaurant with a custom-built hearth, Ruthie’s All Day is open for breakfast and coffee at the counter. This restaurant emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and has an ever-changing menu based on the season.  Their open floor plan with gigantic windows on all three sides and outdoor seating brings the outdoors inside. Come by Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and enjoy the yummiest mushroom scrambles and apple pie pancakes in town.

Cafe Kindred

Having a great breakfast at Cafe Kindred is a good way of recharging your body. And they have lots of tasty dishes ranging from sweet to savory. Take a few minutes to survey all the options available.  Gary and Jennifer, the owners, have a long working history as pastry chefs. So, they know what can tickle your fancy for breakfast.

Under one roof, you’ll find the best burgers and coffee. Wi-Fi is provided free for those who like to work while breakfast is being served. Staff are friendly and accommodating even on busy mornings. And their food comes out pretty fast. 

Uptown Cafe

Our roundup of Arlington breakfast restaurants wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Uptown Cafe, which serves fresh and nutritious grub. It’s conveniently located at 3850 Wilson Blvd, Suite 175, Arlington, Virginia.  Toasted bagel with jelly or butter, egg and meat sandwiches, uptown platters, and various omelets are featured on the menu. Try out their yummy breakfast burritos, which have a good ratio of eggs to potatoes plus other fillings. They use fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and their chef makes everything right in front of you. Here, you’ll get a whole lot of breakfast food at reasonable prices.

Palette 22

Established in 2016, Palette 22 is a tapas-style restaurant that focuses on good food, art, and fun. It offers globally inspired street-fare and small bites within an artist-loft setting. Their open kitchen produces some of their tastiest and shareable dishes in town. For breakfast, you can have stuffed bacon pizza with eggs and caramelized onions or tacos with sausage, scallions, roasted tomatoes, and cotija cheese. Vegan plant-based cheese is served upon request.

Arlington has many awesome restaurants that serve tasty breakfast dishes. With a broad menu selection, you’ll be spoiled for choice on what to have for breakfast.  This list is brought to you by Koons Woodbridge Hyundai. Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Drop us a line, and we’ll add it to our list as soon as possible.

Visit Koons Woodbridge Hyundai 

Are you selling your car in Woodbridge this summer? Make Koons Woodbridge Hyundai your natural choice like hundreds of locals do. We offer more than a wide inventory of vehicles, impeccable service, and financing for Hyundai models. If you’re shopping for a new Hyundai sedan, hatchback, or SUV, we can help match you with a car that suits your needs at the right price. Call us at 703-910-5925 or contact us online  with your questions about selling your car.

?Image via Unsplash by Jay Wennington

Being able to step back in time is a rare and memorable experience. The story of the Occoquan Historic District goes back to the early 1700s. Its location made it a natural place for commerce and industry, and as the decades turned into centuries, the riverside town of Occoquan witnessed the birth, infancy, and growth of a mighty nation. In its most important role, Occoquan’s grist and cotton mills led our young nation in automated technology and became a place where workers harvested river ice and built long boats and schooners.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, 22 June, 2021

Do you need a compact SUV that still has lots of passenger and cargo space for your family? If you’re shopping on a modest budget, you won’t find a better option than the Hyundai Tucson. With five seats, two four-cylinder engines to choose from, and ample storage capacity at the rear, the Tucson offers everything you would expect from a family-friendly vehicle. Here’s a look at its six trims and their prices.

How Much Does a Hyundai Tucson Cost?

The 2021 Tucson‘s starting retail price of $23,700 gives it the edge over many of its compact SUV rivals for budget-conscious buyers. In its base SE trim, the Tucson is powered by a 2.0-liter V-4 capable of putting out 161 horsepower. Front-wheel drive comes standard, with all-wheel drive offered as an optional upgrade.

In the cabin, the SE trim has cloth upholstery, a 7-inch infotainment screen, and a USB port. The infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with BlueTooth connectivity. A wide selection of driver assistance features is also available, like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Behind the second row of seats, you’ll find just over 31 cubic feet of storage space, which you can increase to over 64 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The front seats provide plenty of legroom and headroom. In the second row, there’s space for two adult passengers or three kids to ride comfortably. If you need to install child car seats, you’ll find two complete sets of LATCH connectors on the outermost seats, and a tether anchor in the middle seat.

How Much Do the Tucson’s Trims Cost?

If you decide to step up to the Value trim, its starting price is $25,150. Up front, the Value trim gets heated front seats and a power adjustable driver’s seat. There’s also heated side mirrors, which will help you retain good visibility during bad weather.

You can also benefit from additional infotainment technology, including satellite radio and HD radio. The proximity keyless entry will make things a lot easier for you if you’re trying to get into your SUV with your hands full. When you’re behind the wheel, you can take advantage of blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

To get a little more power under the hood, you may want to upgrade to the SEL trim, which comes standard with a 2.4-liter V-4 engine. The base price for a Tucson SEL is $26,100.

Other benefits with the Tucson SEL include 18-inch wheels and a second-row USB port. The dual zone automatic climate control will also help you keep all of your passengers comfortable wherever they’re seated.

The starting price for the Tucson Sport is $28,250. For the extra cash, you get an eight-speaker stereo, a hands-free power liftgate, and wireless device charging. Your Tucson will roll on 19-inch wheels and light up the road ahead with LED headlights.

For a touch more luxury in the cabin, consider the Tucson Limited. With a starting retail price of $29,400, it comes with leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a power adjustable passenger’s seat.

The Limited is equipped with a surround-view parking camera, which will make it much easier for you to maneuver in and out of tight parking spaces around town. On top of that, you get a chrome grill for the front of your Hyundai.

If you want to ride in the range-topping Ultimate trim, it will cost you a starting price of $32,050. But the higher price gets you heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The addition of automatic high-beam headlights and a navigation system will also make things a bit easier for you when you’re behind the wheel. The Ultimate is equipped with a larger, 8-inch infotainment screen.

How Much Does it Cost to Add All-Wheel Drive?

All of the trims we’ve discussed come with front-wheel drive as standard. If you want to upgrade to all-wheel drive, it costs an additional $1,400 on top of each trim’s starting price. For example, if you choose the base SE in four-wheel drive, you’ll pay the retail price of $23,700 plus an additional $1,400 for all-wheel drive, giving you a total cost of $25,100.

With all-wheel drive and the larger 2.4-liter engine, you get a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The base engine’s towing limit is 1,500 pounds. In terms of gas mileage, the smaller engine does a little better at 23 mpg on city streets and 28 mpg on the highway, compared to 22 mpg and 28 mpg respectively with the 2.4-liter engine.

Financing Your Tucson Purchase

If you’re looking for the best deal to finance your Tucson purchase, speak to our team of financial experts here at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai and they’ll be happy to help. Whether you’re coming to us from Fairfax or Washington, D.C., we can assist you to get a loan or lease deal that’s tailored to your unique needs. If you can’t make it into our dealership, why not fill out our online application form so our team can get to work arranging the financial side of your auto purchase?

Another way to secure a great deal on your new auto purchase is to sell us your old car. With our Value Your Trade tool, provide us with some details about your current car or SUV to get a quote from us. Then, when you finalize your new purchase, we’ll deduct the cost of your trade-in from the total price.

Select Your Tucson at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai

Now that you know that the Tucson provides great value for money and an impressive range of features, it’s time to take a look at our selection of Hyundai SUVs. You can browse our online inventory, or drop by our showroom in Woodbridge to inspect a Tucson for yourself. If you still have questions about the Tucson or would like to arrange a test drive, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our helpful team of auto sales professionals is waiting to help you complete your next auto purchase.


*Image via Flickr by Richwood81

Friday, 11 June, 2021

Whether you need it for commuting to work, taking the kids to practice, heading out on vacation, or some other journey, a mid-size sedan is often the car of choice for families. One of the best-selling cars in this category is the Hyundai Sonata. Across the Sonata line, you can find features and accessories that match your style, along with excellent ratings for fuel economy and safety. At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we maintain a complete inventory of Hyundai Sonata models. Here’s a rundown of your options:

Hyundai Sonata SE

The Hyundai Sonata SE, with an MSRP starting at $23,950, offers a luxury look and feel at an affordable price. The car is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates up to 191 horsepower. The Sonata SE gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in city driving, and 38 mpg on the highway. The Sonata SE comes standard with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Inside the car, you will appreciate the premium cloth seats, including the six-way adjustable driver seat and four-way adjustable passenger seat. The rear seats come with a 60/40 style split and fold down to create the optimal amount of room for passengers and cargo. To maneuver the car or control entertainment options, you will use an eight-inch diagonal touch screen with HD Radio that is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Drivers of the Hyundai Sonata SE will get the peace of mind of an array of safety technologies, such as forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. The Sonata SE will get you where you need to go safely and in style.

Hyundai Sonata SEL

The next step up in the Sonata line is the Hyundai Sonata SEL, with an MSRP of $25,800. The Sonata SEL has an identical 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that tops out at 191 horsepower. Gas mileage is similar as well, at 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The car has a slightly larger gas tank than the Hyundai SE. The transmission is also the same, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

The interior is where the differences between the Hyundai Sonata SE and the SEL become clear. The Hyundai Sonata SEL offers an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar control and heated front seats. The car display also provides added features; the system in the Hyundai Sonata SEL comes compatible with Sirius XM, Bluelink, and HD Radio. You can opt for an alternative Bose premium audio with 12 speakers.

You also level up slightly in terms of safety features. In addition to the standard package, SEL drivers also get blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, and safe exit warning. The Hyundai SEL takes you farther.

Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus

Next in line is the Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus, with an MSRP of $28,300. The “plus” refers in part to the addition of a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that provides 180 horsepower. Consistency has its advantages, and the SEL Plus comes in with the same EPA-estimated gas mileage ratings of 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. One of the big differences in the SEL Plus is external. This model offers larger 19-inch wheels and black window trim.

The interior offers added features as well, such as heated leatherette seats and a digital key. The 8-inch color touch screen is standard in the Sonata SEL, but unlike in the two previous vehicles, you can upgrade the screen to 10.25 inches diagonally for greater readability. The upgraded system includes navigation and traffic flow information, including incident reporting. One big plus for this trim is the inclusion of standard wireless charging capabilities for Qi-supported devices.

Hyundai Sonata N Line

One level up from the Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus is the Hyundai Sonata N Line, with an MSRP of $33,300. The N Line offers a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. It gets EPA-estimated gas mileage of 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Among the major differences in the Sonata N is the addition of rack-mounted electric power steering, which will vastly improve the handling of your car.

Inside the vehicle, you will love the unique leather/suede sporty front seats, which are heated. Wireless charging comes standard, as does a rear-view monitor with parking assist. Also unique to the N Line is a 10.25-inch color touch screen, along with a panoramic sunroof and LED interior lights. 

One of the added safety features is a blind-view monitor, giving you greater visibility of the road.

Hyundai Sonata Limited

Last but certainly not least is the Hyundai Sonata Limited, with a starting MSRP of $33,950. The Sonata Limited harnesses a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that delivers 180 horsepower. This car rolls with an eight-speed automatic transmission and gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.

The payoff for the Hyundai Limited is in the leather interior seats, which are not found in any of the other Hyundai trims. It comes with six-way power passenger seats, unique to the line, and an integrated memory system for both the driver’s seat and side mirrors. Top it off with a heated steering wheel, and you are living the luxury life of the Hyundai Sonata Limited.

Test Drive a Sonata at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai

The best way to decide if a car is right for you is to get behind the wheel. Visit us at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai to test drive your favorite Hyundai Sonata trims. If the Sonata doesn’t feel quite right, you can also take a spin in any of our other Hyundai models. 

Koons Woodbridge Hyundai is committed to exceptional customer service and creating lifelong connections with drivers in the Woodbridge area, including Fairfax, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Chantilly, Virginia; other parts of Prince William County; and Washington, D.C. 

Our goal is to match you with the Hyundai that best fits your needs, at a price that’s right for your budget. In addition to sales and finance expertise, we also provide excellent auto maintenance to keep your car on the road. Call us at  703-910-5925 today for an appointment, or reach out to us online.


*Image via Flickr by DennisM2

Tuesday, 01 June, 2021

When you want a taste of the sweet life in Baltimore, Maryland, you’ll find what you crave at the bakeries that call Charm City home. From birthday cakes to buns and pastries ideal for accompanying your morning cup of coffee, Baltimore’s bakeries reflect a commitment to quality ingredients and a love for serving the community.

Charm City Cakes

Charm City Cakes owner Duff Goldman brought this tiny bakery into the culinary big leagues with a team of cake decorators who introduced the world to over-the-top cake creations. His reality cake decorating series, “Ace of Cakes,” was among the top-rated Food Network programs. Viewers tuned in to watch Goldman put his pastry skills to the test. Today, Charm City Cakes operates on both U.S. coasts; its Los Angeles location opened in 2011.

If you can conceive it, Charm City Cakes can achieve it. The bakery’s offerings include fully customizable cakes and predesigned cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. Charm City Cakes offers cake designs to suit any budget, from miniature cakes in jars to elegant multilayered cakes.

Whether you’re a native Marylander or a Baltimorean at heart, you’ll love the B’More Pride cakes featuring the Ravens’ Purple Pride, How Bout Dem O’s Orioles-inspired cake, and a Natty Boh (National Bohemian) design. Local delivery via Grubhub and pickup options are available.

Location: 2936 Remington Ave.

Telephone: 410-235-9229

Harmony Bakery

If you’re searching for gluten-free, vegan baked goods in Baltimore, Harmony Bakery is the place to visit.

Don, Renee, and Lisa Gorman are the owners and operators of this jewel box of a bakery based in the Hampden neighborhood. Don and Renee spent years selling their healthy baked savory creations and sweet goods at the Waverly Farmers Market. Harmony Bakery is the bakery business they always wanted to create to share their love for fresh-baked goodness with the Baltimore community.

Harmony Bakery uses only the finest, freshest ingredients. The staff mixes all its flours from scratch to attain the ideal blend for its delicious cakes and cookies. An ever-changing menu allows the bakery team to take advantage of local, in-season ingredients that make their way into the bakery items.

Sit down with your morning cup of coffee with a homemade Harmony Bakery bagel or slice of bread. Cap off a dinner or special celebration with a taste-tempting strawberry sundae cupcake accented with chocolate, sprinkles, and a fresh strawberry slice. If you thought matcha was only for tea, you haven’t tasted the matcha doughnuts with their distinctive green hue.

Start your day on a healthy note with Don’s homemade granola. While flavors vary based on supply, some recent additions to the granola lineup have included goji berry, chocolate-covered pretzel and almond, and maple ginger.

Location: 3446 Chestnut Ave.

Telephone: 410-235-3870

Hoehn’s Bakery

The family-owned Hoehn’s Bakery is a staple business in Baltimore’s Highlandtown neighborhood. Founded in 1927 by William Hoehn, Hoehn’s Bakery takes pride in using fresh, preservative-free ingredients in all its baked goods. When he opened this Baltimore bakery, Hoehn installed a massive brick hearth oven in the business. Today, the Hoehn’s Bakery team still uses this original oven and family recipes that Hoehn brought with him from Germany.

Highlandtown residents adore Hoehn’s crullers and doughnuts. The offerings include Boston cream and glazed honey-dip doughnuts as well as chocolate and cinnamon crullers.

A sandwich isn’t a sandwich until you make it with Hoehn’s hearth oven-baked bread. You’ll taste the extraordinary freshness in the Vienna and rye breads baked daily.

Hoehn’s seasonal specialty bakery items offer items suited for holiday entertaining. During Lent, Hoehn’s bakes dozens of hot cross buns decorated with thick buttercream crosses on top. Bunny and lamb cakes are popular among customers at Easter.

When fresh fruit is in season during the spring and summer months, you can find fresh strawberry, peach, and blueberry cakes. Fall signals the arrival of apple dumplings, pumpkin cheesecake, and an assortment of pies for Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a slice of Hoehn’s old-fashioned stollen, a German bread containing candied fruits and nuts.

While Hoehn’s Bakery doesn’t deliver, you can request curbside pickup for your baked treats when placing your order.

Location: 400 S. Conkling St.

Telephone: 410-675-2884

Midnite Confections Cupcakery

Midnite Confections Cupcakery bakes up some of the best cupcakes in Charm City. A passion for baking fueled a mother-son partnership that launched this family-owned establishment in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood.

Midnite Confections Cupcakery offers a dozen cupcake flavors for purchase daily. Its signature cupcake varieties include the decadent Black Velvet, a derivation of velvet cupcakes containing a rich chocolate base and smooth cream cheese frosting. The namesake Midnite Cupcake is the ultimate cupcake indulgence: A chocolate-chip cream cheese filling fills the center of this decadent chocolate cupcake topped with a chocolate buttercream frosting.

In addition to its signature cupcake staples, Midnite Confections Cupcakery includes two lines of specialty cupcakes: After Hours cupcakes, which get a boost from the addition of flavored liqueurs in the cupcake batter, and StrangeLoves. The StrangeLoves cupcakes combine the best of two desserts into one. A great example of this is the Apple Caramel StrangeLove. A salted caramel buttercream frosting tops a moist vanilla cake containing an apple pie filling. The Brownie Brulee is another StrangLoves cupcake, blending a rich brownie base on the bottom with the crunch of creme brulee and a homemade vanilla buttercream frosting on top.

Cookie lovers won’t be disappointed here either. Midnite Confections Cupcakery offers seven cookie varieties, ranging from peanut butter and snickerdoodle cookies to a Black Velvet cookie with white chocolate chips.

Delivery for small orders is available via Grubhub and Postmates.

Location: 1051 S. Charles St.

Telephone: 410-727-1010

Whether you’re searching for a specialty cake or a morning doughnut pick-me-up, Baltimore’s bakeries invite you to experience the tastes of their talents. What did you think about our list? Did we miss one of your favorites? Contact us at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai and let us know. We’ll be happy to add your suggestions to our list.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO SELL YOUR CAR OR TRUCK, NOW IS THE TIME! KOONS WOODBRIDGE HYUNDAI IS BUYING ALL VEHICLES! CHECK OUT HOW YOU CAN SELL YOUR CAR AND GET AN ESTIMATE!


?Image via Unsplash by pratiksha_mohanty
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Friday, 28 May, 2021

Whether you’ve visited our nation’s capital once or you’ve explored Washington, D.C., multiple times, you can always find something new to see. A walking tour of the district is one of the best ways to experience the city by yourself or with a group of friends and family. You may favor a tour that emphasizes culture, history, food, monuments, or neighborhoods. Explore six walking tours you can experience in Washington, D.C.

Cultural Tourism DC’s Neighborhood Heritage Trails

For two decades, Cultural Tourism DC has enabled thousands of visitors to our nation’s capital to explore the district by experiencing the heart of its neighborhoods. The organization created the District of Columbia Neighborhood Heritage Trails program to assist visitors in finding their way around the district’s historic neighborhoods and promote community pride.

Today, 17 heritage trails exist throughout the city, connecting stories of people, places, and culture. Each trail is an approximately 1- to 2-mile trek. Poster-size signs along the way describe highlights along the trail through images and words.

You’ll encounter several diverse neighborhoods in our nation’s capital, including Barracks Row, Tenleytown, and Anacostia. When you visit Cultural Tourism DC’s website, you can download PDF trail maps and trail guide books in English and Spanish. 

In addition to its neighborhood tours, Cultural Tourism DC has created an African American Heritage Trail that features more than 200 sites detailing the contributions of African Americans to our nation’s culture and history.

DC by Foot

DC by Foot offers several walking tours focusing on various subjects and areas of Washington. Join DC by Foot’s tour guides as they take guests to Arlington National Cemetery, Historic Georgetown, and the National Mall and Tidal Basin. Special-interest tours cover topics such as “True Crimes and Scandals of D.C.” and public art exhibitions in Georgetown.

Like many travel and tourism organizations in Washington, DC by Foot has adjusted some parts of its operations in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Although many of its pay-what-you-want tours have resumed, other tours remain as ticketed-only experiences. Group sizes for public tours are limited, but guests can reserve private tours. If you can’t participate in a guided group tour, try DC by Foot’s self-guided audio tours. These tours feature the organization’s best guides presenting tours you can access via a GPS-enabled app.

DC Metro Food Tours

If you can’t tour Washington on an empty stomach, you’re in luck. DC Metro Food Tours will introduce you to the sights and tastes of the district’s restaurant scene. Plus, since these experiences are walking tours, you’ll get to walk off the calories you’ll consume along the way.

Tour itineraries pair up with neighborhoods and include well-known areas such as Old Town Alexandria, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Leesburg, and Adams Morgan. Specialty tour topics include the foods of Eastern Market and cultural, culinary immersions into the foods of Ethiopia during a visit to the Shaw neighborhood, the world’s largest Ethiopian enclave outside of Ethiopia itself.

While the restaurants included in these tours can vary based on seasonality and other factors, the tours themselves offer dynamic perspectives on the city’s cultural and culinary heritage.

DC Walkabout

If you’re visiting Washington and want to tour at your own pace, consider a DC Walkabout audio walking tour. Describing itself as a “walkumentarie,” DC Walkabout tours take participants back in time to explore the history and mystery of Washington’s personalities and places. Entertaining, engaging, and educational, DC Walkabout’s audio walking tours blend narration, music, and sound effects to offer you a dynamic experience. You’ll get the impression that the tour you’re taking was created for you alone to enjoy.

DC Walkabout’s tours cover Capitol Hill, the National Mall, and the memorials along the Tidal Basin. Special-topic tours feature themes ranging from Lincoln’s assassination and a Georgetown ghost tour to American scandals. Many of the tours average about 45 to 60 minutes. When you factor in walking time between tour stops, the estimated time for many tours ranges from an hour to 90 minutes.

Access DC Walkabout tours 24/7 on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.

National Park Service Ranger Tours

National Park Service Rangers present guided tours at major monuments and memorials. In addition to tours of individual sites, park rangers offer free guided walking tours of the National Mall and parks surrounding the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and Washington Monument during the daytime and in the evenings.

While rangers may customize their tours due to time and scheduling constraints, visitors can expect to see many of the prominent memorials and monuments during their tours. During cherry blossom season in early spring, park rangers offer additional tours concentrated around the Tidal Basin. Since park rangers offer specific programs on a seasonal basis, you’ll want to check the National Park Service website for information about current tour offerings before you visit.

Washington Walks

Although its walking tours remain virtual through 2021, Washington Walks has provided engaging walking tours of Washington since 1999. Learn about the history and high society of Embassy Row, the fashion and the Kennedy connection to Georgetown, the significance of Lafayette Park, and Abraham Lincoln’s Washington.

If you want to become more versed in the culture and community of Washington neighborhoods, Washington Walks presents a series of delightful walking tours that introduce you to them. Explore Adams Morgan, Brookland, Kalorama, Dupont Circle, and more.

Virtual 2021 tour presentations have presented intriguing studies focusing on various special-interest topics: Chloethiel Woodard Smith and her contributions to architecture in the district, America’s first female journalist Frances Benjamin Johnston, plant explorer David Fairchild, and the story of Washington’s Japanese cherry trees.

Whether you’re visiting Washington for a day or several days, make plans to add a walking tour of the district to your itinerary. What did you think about our walking tour list? Do you recommend a tour that we didn’t include? Our team at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai would like to hear from you. Drop us a line and share with us your must-experience walking tours in Washington. 

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO SELL YOUR CAR OR TRUCK, NOW IS THE TIME! KOONS WOODBRIDGE Hyundai IS BUYING ALL VEHICLES! CHECK OUT HOW YOU CAN SELL YOUR CAR AND GET AN ESTIMATE!


*Image via Unsplash by jondick91
**Image via Pexels by Pixabay