When you think of Centerville, the initial image might just be a neighborhood with many houses and schools, where people commute to DC.

However, after living here and visiting the surrounding areas every weekend, I found that there are surprisingly many historical sites.

If you have even a slight interest in the American Civil War, the areas around Centerville are definitely worth a visit.

The most representative site is Manassas National Battlefield Park.

This is the actual battlefield where the very important First Battle of Bull Run and Second Battle of Bull Run took place during the American Civil War.

When you first visit, it's surprisingly peaceful. People are walking on the wide lawns, making you think, "Did a war really happen here?"

Entering the Henry Hill Visitor Center to see the exhibits and then coming outside makes everything much clearer.

You can also see the statue of General Stonewall Jackson and the Stone House, where wounded soldiers were treated at the time.

Experiencing American history in a book versus standing in the middle of an actual battlefield feels quite different.

If you love airplanes, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is a must-visit.

This is a branch of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and you'll be amazed by its size as soon as you enter.

The SR-71 Blackbird is prominently displayed, and the actual Space Shuttle Discovery is also on exhibit.

With the Concorde included, airplane enthusiasts can easily spend two to three hours here. The fact that admission is free is also a plus, although there is a parking fee.

In the U.S., when a family plans to go somewhere, admission fees can easily reach several tens of dollars, so being able to see this level of exhibition for free is quite nice.

If you want to go back in time a bit more, there's also the Sully Historic Site.

This site features a mansion built in 1794, showcasing life in early Virginia.

It's not a flashy tourist spot, but it's nice to stroll through at a leisurely pace.

The Manassas Museum is also worth visiting in conjunction with it. You can learn about the role this area played in the Civil War, railroads, and local development, so visiting the Battlefield first makes the information more digestible.

I used to think that museums meant I had to go all the way to Washington DC.

However, getting into DC means dealing with traffic, finding parking, and then facing traffic again on the way back. Sometimes, a quick trip can take up the whole day.

What I like about the areas around Centerville is that there are places you can visit for an hour or two without that burden.

Especially for families with kids, showing them these kinds of places one by one is better than just going to shopping malls. Parents can learn alongside their children.

While Centerville may initially seem like an ordinary suburb with just houses and shopping centers, if you broaden your perspective just a little, you'll find everything from Civil War battlefields to 200-year-old mansions and even an actual space shuttle.