Arts in the Parks

Starting this week at Lake Fairfax and Frying Pan Park are free shows for Families.  My friend went to several of these shows last year and thought it was so much fun, and FREE of course! The shows begin at 10 am.  At Frying Pan Park the shows begin this Wednesday and every Wednesday until August 18.  At Lake Fairfax the shows begin this Saturday and every Saturday until August 21st.  Print out this schedule and go check it out! Some of the performers are Rocknoceros, DinoRock, Bob Brown Puppets, and more!
Click on the title of this Post to find directions to the parks and more information.

Clemyjontri Playground

This park is truly amazing and hopefully you have already been there!  My pictures are very limited because the park is enormous.  But if you click on the Fairfax County link above, they actually have some great pictures and they have a small explanation of each section.  Some information that might be helpful is that if you have more than one small child you might want to consider bringing another adult.  There are so many places to go in this park and it is really hard to watch more than one child since it can be very crowded and there are so many places to wander.  The other important factor is the weather.  On a hot day this park can get VERY hot so you might want to try and get there in the early morning when the sun hasn't been out as long.  As you can see it is very stroller friendly.  There is a bathroom as well.  According to the web site the Carousel in the middle of the park opens every day starting May 31. But it is only open from 9:30 - 1 pm during the week.  Weekends it is open from 9:30 - 6:30 pm.  The fee is $1.50 to ride.  There is also a very large picnic pavilion if you would like to bring lunch. Go check it out!

Ashburn Park (Dinosaur Park)

We finally made it to Dinosaur Park in Ashburn recently.  I had heard a lot about it but it is a bit of a drive from Reston.  The park is wonderful and my kids loved it!  I tried to get some pictures that showed the layout but it is a really big park that has several different structures.  It is shaped like a circle so everything is fairly close together.  I loved the shade the trees provide and there is a picnic area as well.  It is all mulch so regular strollers might have a tough time but there is a path that is on the side.  I also failed to get pictures of the swing sets. There are at least 2 of them with toddler swings too! Hopefully this link will help you get there: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=13348122675655718407&q=ashburn+park+ashburn+va&gl=us

Baron Cameron Playground

This is one of my favorite playgrounds. It really provides everything I need for the kids at this
age. It is located right next to a soccer field so they can run around. It has a shaded picnic area. The swings are great and the structure provides slides, a fire pole and a tunnel. There is also a dog park across the parking lot that is fun to visit.
When I had a toddler that like to wander off I didn't worry that much because I knew any dangerous area (the road) was far away.

Frying Pan Park

So much to do...How do you choose? These are the words on the brochure at Frying Pan Park in Herndon. I completely agree. I wish my pictures did it more justice but it was a little cloudy that day.
When you drive into the farm there is a mailbox with brochures in it - take one! They are very helpful. It also has a newsletter that explains the events that season. When you park you should be able to see the great playground next to the country store. The playground is wonderful and usually you can see horses from it.
The country store is adorable and has some really unique items. You also check in there if you want to take a hike. They have backpacks that you can borrow and use for your hike with children. It contains a map you can follow, and other fun things (bug magnifying containers).
If you don't want to hike (not for strollers), you can go see the farm animals: horses, chickens, peacocks, rabbits, goats, pigs, sheep, and cows. There is also a wagon ride ($3) that takes you through the woods and fields of Frying Pan Park. During the ride, you learn about the plants and animals that live there.
The web site shows the hours of operation and the 2008 birthing schedule :)

Reston Town Center Sprayground

This blog title may shock you since I am not sure if Reston Town Center has a "sprayground". So I am hoping someone will tell me if this is in fact a fountain that is ok for children to run around in.
I took this picture in the middle of a weekday and it was obviously empty, but I was so excited since I had heard that in the new area of the Town Center there were fountains similar to Fairfax Corner. Well, they certainly don't compare to those, but they are closer!

Fairfax Corner Sprayground

I am a new fan of "spraygrounds". If you are a parent you probably know exactly what this is but may not have heard the word for it yet. According the the Washington Post article it is a play area of fountains. The article highlights several in the area. Two parks it mentions in Arlington are right off of 66 so it might be worth a stop in or out of the city!
You definitely need to see the one in Fairfax Corner though- The same man who designed the fountains at the famous Bellagio Hotel in Vegas designed these fountains. Click here for hours and more pictures of the fountain. They are especially wonderful for parents with multiple young children. It is less stressful than going to the pool!

Map of Parks in Reston

Reston Asociation does have a link on their web site that shows parks/ playgrounds and recreational areas. If you click on this link and then the district that you want to look at it will give you a brief description of the park and some images of the structures available. It is fairly limited but it does help!

Cabots Point Playground

I was just introduced to this playground It is a great area close to the South Lakes shopping center. Not only does it have this structure with swings and wonderful trees to give you shade but it has a field to play in as well.

If you pass the South Lakes Village Center on the right, you turn left onto Cabots Point Lane. You can't miss the park, it will be on your right when you turn down the road.

We really enjoyed our day here!

Reston Town Center

Last week we were able to see one of the Monday shows that Mr. Knick Knack performs at the Town Center. He plays there every Monday during the summer at 10:30 am. Click here to see the schedule of events for the Town Center.

Lake Anne Village Center

I have yet to see one of the performances at Lake Anne this year but here is the schedule for the summer. The performances are every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am and last about a half hour. This is such a relaxing area. The fountain is fun to play in (you may want to bring an extra change of clothes for your toddler) and it's nice to browse the used book store, grab a coffee, and look at the children's consignment store. It is also a free wi-fi zone!

You will also see the free Art classes if you click on the link, those occur on Saturdays.

Reston Regional Library

I am embarrassed to say that I just started using the library frequently a few months ago. I had gone a year ago and been so worried about the noise of my 2 sons that I left quickly. Now I love going, I am still working on the volume level with my boys but they love it too. I don't know why I ever bought DVDs! They have so many that you can borrow (Thomas the train, Scholastic, Barney, Dora, etc.) and they give you a week with them. There are also tons of books and cassette tapes if your child likes listening to stories while following along. I can also put books on hold so that they are waiting for me and I don't have to drag the kids through looking for titles.

I haven't hit the story hour yet, it doesn't quite fit my schedule, but hopefully by the end of the summer. Here is the link. You might also want to check out this event list that includes all the libraries in Fairfax County. There is a separate list for older children.

Go for a hike!

We took a wonderful walk around Lake Thoreau today, picking up trash in honor of Earth Day. If this appeals to you check out this great web site that maps out the paths in Reston!

Barnes and Noble

I have 2 boys that love trains and I love books so this is a frequent hang out for us. It is located conveniently next to the Town Center and it has a Starbucks attached! Click this link to get directions and store hours.

Storytime: Tuesdays and Saturdays 11 am (ages 3-6)

The children's area is in the back of the store with a great train table and seats for little ones. The restroom is also in the back and it has a changing station in the hasndicap stall.