By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com With plenty of animals to see outside, some exhibits and a fun playground inside, and many special events, Leesburg Animal Park offers fun outdoor and indoor options for kids of all ages, all year long. On the grounds, visitors can meet (and sometimes pet) dozens of animals, including barnyard and exotic ones. Inside, you'll find more animals on display and large play areas: there's a spacious "discovery Continue Reading...
Is a visit to Disney World educational? Yes – here’s how
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun This trip was inspired by my visit to the 2017 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Okay, let’s be honest… no one is going to Disney strictly for education. Whether you’re all about the rides, the shows, the character meets, or the overall “Disney magic,” chances are good that your visit to Walt Disney World is purely for fun. But who’s to say you can’t also learn a little along the way? Anytime you Continue Reading...
See Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus one last time!
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Circus fans, take note: the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to town soon, and this will be the last time for you to see "the Greatest Show on Earth." Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey bring its latest production, Out Of This WorldTM to the Washington, DC, area, with shows at the Verizon Center in downtown DC March 31-April 2 and at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA, Continue Reading...
Light City Baltimore festival to set the Inner Harbor aglow
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Baltimore always makes for fun trip. With so much to do, it's a great place for families to visit. Here you can enjoy numerous museums, historic spots, the Baltimore Aquarium, ship tours, and more. And now you have an added incentive: Light City Baltimore, a free nine-day free festival of light, music, and innovation, starting March 31, 2017. The festival, which made its debut in 2016, is the first Continue Reading...
Annual reenactment and living history events
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Virginia is full of reminders of historic battles, mostly from the Civil War. Historical markers, battlefields, and commemorative events abound, and it’s no wonder: with more than 2,000 "military events" recorded in Virginia during the Civil War, the commonwealth, in all its regions, is rich in military history. The historic markers, sites, and events make Virginia a great place for history buffs and Continue Reading...
What’s new at Busch Gardens Christmas Town
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun It often has been named the most beautiful theme park in the world, and that's during the regular operating season. During the holidays, Busch Gardens tops itself with millions of lights and decorations for the annual Christmas Town event. Open now through January 2, 2017, Christmas Town makes for a lovely way to get in the holiday spirit. This year, the theme park is giving visitors more attractions to Continue Reading...
See Christmas around the world at ICE!
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun Want to travel the world this Christmas? ICE!, the annual ice sculpture display at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor in southern Maryland has an international theme this year, and after touring it recently, I can tell you that it is simply adorable. Larger-than-life frozen ice figures "dressed" in clothing symbolic of their lands put a different spin on this bright and Continue Reading...
Tall ship El Galeón to visit Alexandria, Virginia
Another tall ship is coming! The French tall ship Hermione, the exact replica of the ship that brought the Marquis de Lafayette to George Washington, visited Alexandria, Virginia, in 2015. And now in November 2016 our area is getting another visit by a tall ship, this time “El Galeón,” an authentic replica of a 16th-century Spanish Galleon. The ship will visits the City of Alexandria from Wednesday, November 9, through Monday, November 14, Continue Reading...
Thanksgiving eats and sweets in Northern Virginia
By Patricia L. Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Thanksgiving is coming in just about six weeks! Maybe you love cooking a big meal at home and everything that comes with it: the pride and joy, the aromas of the food... and even the mess and the hassle and the clean-up. But for families who don't have the time or the space or the inclination to prepare a big meal at home, dining out at Thanksgiving is an option. And it's more common than you might Continue Reading...
Northern Virginia festivals and fairs 2016
Yeay! It looks like the warm weather has FINALLY arrived for good, and that is great, because festival season is upon us! In late spring through early fall, you can expect to find dozens of festivals and fairs in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia, and the general Washington, DC area. But there's no need to hunt them all down -- we've put them all for you in one place! Our Fairfax Family Fun festivals guide, now in its sixth year, has all the Continue Reading...
