By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Memorial Day weekend is here! This means the unofficial start of summer, and with it, the opening of theme parks. While there are no theme parks right in Northern Virginia, there are some great ones just a short drive away, including the beautiful and world-class Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The award-winning park is always fun and with more to do in a day than there are enough hours. And still the park Continue Reading...
Family travel: Three days in Manchester, Vermont
This post is part of our series highlighting family travel in Manchester, Vermont. Also see our post on the Wilburton Inn and historic Hildene. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun There's never enough time. If you travel as we do -- wanting to see as much of an area as possible -- there is just never enough time to see it all. Even if you are highly organized. Even if the place you are visiting was supposed to be a relatively quiet little Continue Reading...
Ringling Bros. to stream final show free tonight
If you missed the local stops for the recent (and final) tour of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, you'll have a chance to see the legendary show tonight -- right in your own home. The legendary circus marked its 146th year with a farewell tour -- the company had announced earlier this year that these would be the last Ringling shows ever. The final Ringling Bros. Circus performance, taking place tonight (Sunday, May 21, Continue Reading...
Enjoy exploring with Kids to Parks Day (and Northside shoes!)
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun This is a great weekend to head outdoors! Why? The seventh annual Kids to Parks Day takes place this Satuday, May 20, 2017! This is a great occasion to head out to local and national parks all over the United States. The goal of this annual celebration, sponsored by the National Park Trust, is to encourage everyone, but especially children, to get outside and enjoy nature. We have all the details on this Continue Reading...
Enjoy a Taste of Virginia at Kings Dominion
Thanks to Kings Dominion for inviting us to the first of three Taste of Virginia weekends! By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Virginia is for lovers – food lovers, wine lovers, beer lovers, and roller coaster lovers. This is the message (also displayed on assorted T-shirts you can buy) Kings Dominion is sharing with its “Taste of Virginia” event. The theme park is celebrating the foods and drinks of the commonwealth’s regions along with Continue Reading...
Diggerland: a day of construction-themed family fun
Thanks to Diggerland USA for hosting our visit! By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun The fact that kids love trucks is no secret. This love is why “construction worker” is a popular Halloween costume and pretend-play prop, and why touch-a-truck events are so popular. What may be lesser-known, though not really a secret, is that there is a place where kids actually can operate and even drive real trucks. Diggerland USA in West Berlin, New Continue Reading...
8 new attractions in Northern Virginia for family fun
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Lucky us! As if the Northern Virginia (and metropolitan Washington, DC, area in general) didn’t already have enough fun offerings, more new and expanded attractions continue to spring up. Not even four full months into the year, 2017 is, as the past few years have been, brining new attractions for all ages to enjoy. Below are eight of the new family-friendly new attractions in Northern Virginia that opened Continue Reading...
Go Ape Springfield: new ropes course opens next month
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Ropes courses continue to climb in popularity as great ways for people to get exercise, enjoy time outdoors, and challenge themselves. The structures that have participants walk on wobbly bridges, go through obstacles, and make their way along challenging paths from high above -- often coming back down to the ground via zip line -- are popular with children and adults. Well-known courses exist nearby in Continue Reading...
National Park Week offers free admission to all parks
Spring is here and many families are getting outdoors more -- and this coming week is an especially good times to do so as the National Park Service (NPS) and National Park Foundation celebrate National Park Week, April 15-23, 2017. Highlights of the annual celebration include: Free admission on the weekends of April 15–16 and 22–23: All national parks will give you free admission Junior Ranger Day on April 15, with many fun programs Continue Reading...
Northern Virginia polar plunge events benefit charities
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Do you find winter weather "balmy?" Are you willing to do something wild and wacky for a good cause? Each winter, some brave, good-humored, or good-natured souls jump into a bitterly cold waters for a good cause: to help one of the area "polar plunge" or "polar dip" events that benefit charitable organizations. Coming up over the next few weeks in 2017 are the Polar Bear Plunge at National Harbor on Continue Reading...
