• Check the yellow pages of the phone book under "churches" "synagogues" and "religious organizations"
• Also check the religion pages of any newspaper for "places to worship," the Web, or any other sources for other places to visit
• Call first to find out the schedule of what the group does and when is a good time to visit
• you may "buddy up" with a classmate (but each of you should write your own report)

Adat Reyim Congregation (Conservative)
6500 Westbury Oaks Ct, Springfield, VA 703-569-7577

Congregation Ahavat Israel (Chabad Lubavitch of Northern Virginia - Hasidic/Orthodox)
3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax, VA 703-426-1980

Agudas Achim Congregation (Conservative)
2908 Valley Dr., Alexandria, VA 703-998-6460

Beth El Hebrew Congregation (Reform)
3830 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA 703-370-9400

Congregation Beth Emeth (Conservative)
12523 Lawyers Rd., Herndon, VA 703-860-4515

Temple Beth Torah (Reform)
Centerville, VA 703-263-2252
(meeting at at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 5649 Mt. Gilead Road, in Centreville, VA)

Temple B’nai Shalom (reform)
7612 Old Ox Rd., Fairfax Station 703-764-2901

Congregation Etz Hayim (Conservative)
2920 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 703-979-4466

Congregation Sha'are Shalom (Conservative)
19357 Evergreen Mill Rd.,  Leesburg, VA 703-737-6500

Congregation Ner Shalom (Reform)
14010 Spriggs Rd., Dale City, VA 703-878-6904

Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (Reform)
1441 Wiehle Avenue Reston, Virginia 703-437-7733

Congregation Olam Tikvah (Conservative)
3800 Glenbrook Rd., Fairfax, VA 703-425-1880

Temple Rodef Shalom (Reform)
2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church, VA 703-532-2217

OR you might join a Jewish family for Sabbath or holiday celebration (Passover Seder would be an ideal opportunity)

Locate other synagogues at: www.synagogues.com/ (search parameters allow for national and international searches)
Synagogues in the Northern Virginia area: http://gunston.gmu.edu/hillel/synagogues.html

Christian: try to avoid the more familiar common denominations. These will not be as interesting and you won't learn much new. Focus on the less familiar such as...

• Orthodox Christian (Russian, Greek, Romanian, Serbian, etc.)

• Brethren

• Mennonite

• Friends (Quaker)

• Seventh Day Adventist

• Christian Science

• United Church of Christ (UCC)

• Unity Church (Oakton, Burke and Alexandria, VA)

• Jehovah's Witnesses (are they really Christian? Ask them)

Christian sites of special note

LDS (Mormon) Temple Visitors' Center
    9900 Stonybrook Dr., Kensington, MD 301-587-0144

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
    Mich. Ave and 4^th St. NE, DC 202-526-8300

Cathedral of St. Thomas More  (seat of the Arlington/Northern VA Catholic Diocese)
    3901 N. Cathedral Ln., Arlington, VA 703-525-1300

Washington National Cathedral (Episcopal)
    Mass. & Wis. Ave. NW, DC 202-537-6200

Directories for locating churches of various denominations in your area:
(these directories are not necessarily a complete listing of local churches; the yellow pages of your phone book remain the most complete directory: look under "churches" for a breakdown by denomination)

WorshipQuest.Org
Church Angel

Other Western faiths

Ohev Yisrael (Messianic Judaism) 8196-R Terminal Rd., Newington, VA 703-550-0888
Unitarian Universalist  (Arlington, Burke, Mt. Vernon, Manassas and other locations) Locate other UU churches
Wicca/Neo-Pagan
Scientology
Eckankar

Muslim (just about any time. Try to time visit so as to observe prayer - call for current prayer times)

Locate other mosques at: 

Baha’i Faith

Some local Baha'i groups (ask about "fireside" gatherings):

Woodbridge area: 703-491-4286
Manassas area: 703-368-5737
Sterling area: 703-406-0900
Herndon/Reston area: 703-715-8833

Zoroastrian

Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. (ZAMWI)
2347 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, VA
Activities take place at various locations throughout the DC metro area. Check the website for upcoming events and contact persons

During your visit:

• Observe what the physical setting is like: the architecture and furnishings, the layout, art work (if any), hymnals, reading material, etc. Are there special objects or symbols? Is there a setting that seems to be the center of attention (e.g. a shrine or alter)? Is the place ornate or simple? Oriented in a certain direction?
• Note what the people do: is there reading, reciting, singing, chanting, movement, silence or meditation, manipulation of physical objects (ritual), use of foreign language, sermon or lesson? Is there a special person as leader? Do the people face a certain direction? Do the people wear anything special? Are there children present?
• What is the atmosphere like: solemn, reverent, exciting, relaxed, peaceful, etc.?
• What struck you as the most important element of the setting and activity?
• Try to talk to someone from the group. Ask them questions, ask them to explain what you saw and heard.