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 :)

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

The last time I visited these gardens was about two years ago and I thought it was so beautiful. Last week was the second time and- WOW - I think I went at a perfect time. It seemed like so many of the gardens were in bloom and they were so amazing. Here is a list of the gardens that are blooming at different times of the year. The gardens are located in Vienna and admission is $5 for you (age 18 - 54) and free for the kids. We had a wonderful time walking around, looking at the flowers, seeing the turtles and the fish in the water, and saw some great birds. My kids love being outside and they were able to run ahead of me but I knew they were safe and I could usually see them. This is a great place to walk or jog and get lots of exercise. Here is their web site.

Lake Anne Park

What a great park- right here in Reston! This is located down the street from the village center and it has so much to offer. My boys were able to control the fountains with a button, and there is a mist that comes from the sides of the structure. They loved it! You can see that behind it is a fun playground and down a path is a volley ball court where the kids can play in the sand. It also has a covered area with picnic benches, tennis courts, and a basketball court. There is just so much to do for kids of all ages. Go see for yourself! Here is the Reston Association's info about it.

Reston Zoo

I was pleasantly surprised when I went to the Reston Zoo a few months ago. There was so much space for the kids to run around and my 2 and 3 year old boys loved it. It was just the perfect size for a fun morning activity. They had some animals I had never seen before too! Check the web site for admission prices and hours.

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.

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!

Reston North Park

With the warmer weather we have been able to get outside a lot more - thank goodness! Sometimes we get to the playground and my kids just end up kicking the dirt, but I don't mind, it's just nice to be outside again. Reston North Park is the park behind Home Depot on Reston Parkway and Stevenage Rd. It has swings and 2 playgrounds. Here are some photos:

MOMS Club of Reston

If you are home with your children at all during the week I would encourage you to join the MOMS Club of Reston. It is a great group of women who are looking for playgroups and support. It also offers a babysitting co-op, mom's nights out, and monthly activities. Click and email here if you are interested.