Wee Play - Thanksgiving week

Special Thanksgiving Week

Open Play Sessions

for ages 1 - 5

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

9:30 - 11:00 AM

November 24, 25, 26

$5 each child enrolled families,

$8 non-enrolled children.

Non-walking siblings free.

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 :)

Wee Play Update

Wee Play in Herndon has started its Fall Classes but I wanted to make sure I corrected the Open Play schedule which has changed slightly.

Open play is now 4 - 5 PM Mondays and Wednesdays

This is better for my family since 5 - 6 pm was too late!

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.

Reston Soccer

I am really embarrassed that I missed soccer registration for my 4 year old son. Hopefully by posting this information here you won't make the same mistake for the spring season. The web site is full of information including: Spring season sign ups start in December and Fall season sign ups start in June.
From the Age information provided, I read that the child must be at least 3 by July 31st if they want to play in the Fall Season. Here is more registration information for you.

Feel free to comment if you know something else!

Udvar-Hazy Center - National Air and Space Museum

This morning we made our way to the Air and Space Museum out in Chantilly. It took me about 15 minutes to get there once I was on the toll road. It truly is a fun place to go, especially for little boys. My sister and I had four boys with us, all under the age of 7. We parked right next to the fountain in front (the easiest place to unload small children because of the sidewalk area and the distraction of the fountain). They admired it for a while, threw pennies in (they could have done that for hours) and then we were on our way. The National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor is beautiful and a great 'runway' for the kids. By the way, parking is $12 but the museum is free to all visitors. There is a bag check in front where they tell you that drinking throughout the museum is ok, but snacks can only be eaten in the McCafe area. Which is where we usually finish our museum visit. Kids will probably be very excited to get a McDonald's Happy Meal after they run and walk around the museum!
We decided to go straight to the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower where you can watch the airplanes take off and land at Dulles Airport.
After the observation tower we headed downstairs to see the other exhibits. As you can see from the picture there is so much space and we actually did not lose any children, thank God! The boys were so interested in all the planes and interactive touchscreen computers that we were there for about an hour and a half before we realized we should end the trip (meltdown time). We enjoyed eating our lunches (half packed, half McDonalds - it is a little pricey) and then we said hello and goodbye to the gift shop and made our way to the car (with another stop at the fountain).
Oh this is important! The bathroom facilities all have changing table areas and are SO clean!
So go check it out, if you click on these pictures you can zoom in and get a better idea of the place. Have fun!

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.

Lake Anne Village: updated

I wanted to add these pictures to the blog since my last post only had a tiny picture of Lake Anne. There is a fountain that kids can play in and you can also feed the ducks. They still have a few more summer shows so check it out if you get a chance! Here is the link that contains the web sites of all the stores and restaurants located there.

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!

Movie ratings

To go along with the last post this is a great web site. It is called Common Sense Media and it rates movies, books, TV shows, web sites and games. Please check it out because I would love to see it grow and have more ratings. I can look at it to see which videos are appropriate for my 3 year old and it will tell me the content just in case I haven't seen it in a while, or at all. I hope it can help you too!

Movies!

Some days you really just want to see a movie - maybe when it is in the 90s outside or raining or you just feel like some popcorn! Fairfax Corner has "G" rated movies every Saturday and Sunday morning at 10 am. This month the new Thomas movie is playing and I think my boys will love it. Tickets are $3.50 and you can get a discount at the concession stand as well. Enjoy!

Here is a link that will give you more info. There is also great shopping at Fairfax Corner. Check out their web site for all the stores.

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.

Starbucks

I am a huge fan of Starbucks. I love the treats they offer me in the middle of the day when I need an extra burst of energy. Here is a link that shows you the Starbucks close to you and even ones with a Drive-thru. It is wonderful driving to get a coffee as your little ones sleep in the back seat!

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.

Jammin Java

This is one of my favorite places to go with the kids. It is so fun to hang out, sip coffee, and watch your child dance and sing along to performers. Actually my children didn't dance for a while, they just stared, but now that they are older they participate a lot more. They have shows every weekday morning at 10:30. It is located in Vienna so it takes a little while to get there but it is worth it. All the singers are so much fun and really have a great love for kids. I am amazed at their patience! I believe it is $5 a child and then a few bucks less with each additional child. Here is the schedule.

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!

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.

Loudoun Gym

I recently went to an Open Gym at the Loudoun Gymnastics center and my boys loved it. There is a carpeted area that you see in the picture but also trampolines to jump on and even a foam pit! It is a large place so if you have more than one child you may want to bring some help, it is hard to keep track of your kids. Open Gym times vary so just check their calendar. The cost is 8 or 9 dollars an hour (it lasts only an hour) depending on the season. It is conveniently located near Dulles Town Center so maybe you can get some shopping in after your toddler passes out in the stroller :)

Wee Play!

I discovered Wee Play in Herndon through the Reston Moms Club and really enjoyed our time there. I enrolled in 2 sessions with my son and I feel like it helped him get ready for preschool the following year. They offer classes for toddlers up to age 5 but they also have Open Play times:

5 - 6 pm Mondays

4-5 pm Wednesdays

Check the web site for class descriptions and directions

Sport Bounce of Loudoun

Last week we had a playgroup event at the new Sport Bounce in Loudoun. It isn't too far a drive and your kids will love it if they enjoy trampolines and slides.

It is especially great if your children need to run and jump and the weather is terrible!

Quick note: If you have more than one child try to get them to stay together since it is so difficult keeping track of them once they enter the inflatable structures. I don't like losing my children so I had a couple stressful moments when I couldn't see them. They absolutely loved it though and napped very well afterward!

There are Open Gym Times Monday - Friday. This is the schedule and directions.

2 great web sites

If you haven't already you need to check out Go City Kids and Our Kids. I love looking at both these sites for special event information. I don't usually want to hop in the car and get on the beltway so sometimes it is too much information for me but I like to see what is out there...

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.

hello!

I'm hoping to post as much local information as I can, including pictures of parks and playgrounds so parents can decide where they would like to spend their day. Planning trips with young children can be very challenging and I hope this site will help. I would love to hear from you if you have a comment or maybe you can help this site provide more information!