By Maggie Miller, Family Finds Fun Summertime is upon us and that means lots of family time and lots of fun activities to do together. What does your family have planned this summer? I've never been one of those moms that can't wait for the kids to get back in a school routine. I feel like summer is the time we get to play, have fun, and just be a family without having to rush here and there! Will you take a few long weekends to get away Continue Reading...
BrickFair: the ultimate local LEGO fan event returns!
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com BrickFair returns! LEGO builders of all levels, from kids at play to adults who create masterpieces from the tiny bricks, can each year look forward to a huge gathering in Chantilly. The BrickFair Expo, one of the region's biggest gatherings of LEGO creations and vendors, features LEGO models, trains, and art and engineering displays. This year's event takes place again at the Dulles Expo Center August Continue Reading...
Get ready for the Great American Eclipse 2017!
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun By now you've probably heard the big news: on Monday, August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will occur, causing the day to temporarily turn into night. This rare event may happen only once in someone's lifetime: the 2017 event is the first total solar eclipse going coast-to-coast across the continental United States in nearly 100 years. See below for more information and all the special events taking Continue Reading...
Take the nature center with you: Rent a Nature Backpack
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun You spent a nice day outside with the kids, exploring nature at a local park. Your kids are enthused about the activities you were doing, and you’d love to keep the interest going, but it’s time to go home. Maybe tomorrow you’ll come back, or you’ll just find something books and other items on the subject. Or maybe you don’t need to do any of that at all… maybe someone has already put all that together for Continue Reading...
A hotel with art and a heart: review of the Wilburton Inn
Thanks to the Wilburton Inn for hosting us during Spring Break! This post is part of our series highlighting family travel in Manchester, Vermont. Also see our post on the Town of Manchester and our review of historic Hildene. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun “We’ll make you feel right at home.” Some inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and even some hotels may like to make that claim, but it’s a hard feat to completely pull off. When you are Continue Reading...
No fooling: National Capital Area Cake Show returns April 1-2
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com If you love cakes -- making them, eating, them, or both -- check out the annual National Capital Area Cake Show. The event is a bit of everything: expo, training session, and competition, all related to cakes. The two-day event (the weekend of April 1 and 2, 2017) is a volunteer-run event "with a common goal of sharing the beauty of sugar art." This year's event has three themes: Wedding Cakes Continue Reading...
STEM fun rules at Maker Faire NoVa
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Who didn't love "show and tell" as a kid? If you especially liked presentations that involved something someone conceived and created, you'll love the grown-up version of show-and-tell: the Maker Faire that returns to Northern Virginia later this month. Whether it involves technology or textiles, computers or crafts, if it's something you can think of and something you can make you probably will find it Continue Reading...
Party idea: Make your own movie night
Thanks to Oriental Trading Company for inviting us to review its holiday products. By Amy J. Holmes, CAE, for Fairfax Family Fun What to do to occupy a group tweenagers on a cold winter Friday evening? We decided to host a movie night party at home! It's easy fun and makes for a great night of fun, friendship, creativity and a lot of laughs. Yes, you could always pick up a movie, order one on demand (yawn), but we divided into groups Continue Reading...
Easy ideas for gift wrapping — creative and quick!
Disclosure: This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Some links here are affiliate links, meaning this site receives a small commission from any purchases you make when using those links. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun The holiday season is upon us and for many, Continue Reading...
Practical and thoughtful teacher gifts from At Home stores
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun The holiday season is upon us and that means that many people are out buying gifts. Most people are shopping for family and friends, but some also will be picking up items for teachers: this is a time when many like to express their gratitude, and it’s natural to want to give them something. But what do teachers really want? If you ask your teacher friends, as I did, then you know there is no doubt about Continue Reading...
