By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com The weather outside has NOT been frightful, as we've had a warm winter so far, but if you need chillier temperatures to get into the holiday spirit, you've always got the ICE! show at the Gaylord National! This annual event, a holiday tradition for many area families, features large and amazing ice sculptures in a specialty-built area that keeps the frozen artwork at nine -- yes, that's 9 -- degrees Continue Reading...
Burke Lake Park to host ‘Winter Wonderland’ Dec. 5-6
As one of the Fairfax County's biggest parks with the most offerings, Burke Lake Park makes for a great place to visit at any time. The 888-acre park with trails, sporting and water activities, a carousel, mini golf course, and miniature train is especially popular in the summer. But come December 5 and 6, 2015, the park will become a Winter Wonderland! Fairfax County Park Authority recently announced this new event, which will feature a full Continue Reading...
VRE announces Santa Train schedule for 2015
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com It’s a short and simple ride, but a super-popular event with kids: the Santa Train excursions by Virginia Railway Express (VRE)! Each year VRE hosts a series of “Santa Trains” rides that serve both as a public safety awareness campaign and a fun family outing. We have been attended the Santa Train for years and can provide you with all the information you’ll need (and more details and tips beyond Continue Reading...
Bradley Farm Haunted House to close after 2016 season
UPDATE Oct. 23, 2016: Event organizers have reconfirmed that this is the last year for the Bradley Farm Haunted House. This year's dates are Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29, 6-10 pm. On Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm will be the non-scary version of the haunted house for kids. By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com We have bad news and good news: The bad news is that Bradley Farm Haunted House, a community event in Herndon that has Continue Reading...
Halloween haunt review: Shocktober (Paxton Manor)
Warning: Just reading this post may scare you! Read at your own risk! :) By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com First things first: I do NOT get scared easily. I grew up in a very normal way and in a very normal home, and we always celebrated Halloween in the same way most kids did. I am now the parent of a child who loves Halloween so we celebrate it in an even bigger way these days with a party each year. These celebrations are "spooky" Continue Reading...
Halloween haunt review: Fields of Fear at Cox Farms
When night falls, Cox Farms turns into the Fields of Fear... While this is an accurate and succinct way to describe Fields of Fear, the nighttime event at Cox Farms, there's one thing to remember: while you can't hear "Cox Farms" and NOT think of the Fall Festival, this is a totally separate thing. For decades now Cox Farms, the family-owned farm in Centreville, Virginia, has been hosting generations of families who visit its 116 acres each fall Continue Reading...
Dutch Wonderland: ‘A Kingdom for Kids’ in Lancaster, PA
There are some places that, by the time you finally "discover" them, you wonder why you'd never heard of them before. This was the case for us with Dutch Wonderland, a theme park not too far away from Virginia in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Several friends had recommended it to us and sang its praises. How come I'd never heard of this place before? I wondered. But here's the thing: we were still new parents, with a very young child. Maybe Continue Reading...
History, freebies, and fun for President’s Day 2015
UPDATE 2/16 - PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHECK FOR UPDATES WITH EVENT HOSTS FOR POSSIBLE CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHERBy Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.comPresident's Day is coming up on Monday, February 16, and it's a federal holiday and a day off for students of Fairfax County Public Schools students. Make it a day of family fun AND still keep the kids learning by attending some of these events that celebrate the life of George Washington and American Continue Reading...
Nine places for families to visit in Hershey and Harrisburg, PA
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com We recently were invited to visit Hershey and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, and while getting there was easy, the challenge was trying to figure out how to squeeze so much into one trip. If you think the Hershey area is just about chocolate (yes, it’s the home of that famous brand), you may be missing out on so much more. While Hershey attractions are numerous (and definitely worth seeing), the towns of Continue Reading...
Finding famly fun at Busch Gardens Christmas Town
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, but at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the season has been shinning bright since Nov. 21! At the annual Christmas Town™ festival, now through Dec. 31, 2014, "the world's most beautiful theme park" becomes even more spectacular with sparkling lights, spectacular shows, and fun seasonal extras. We recently made our first visit to Christmas Town and can Continue Reading...
