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...
Fairfax County Parks to offer First Day Hikes
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Start the year off on the right foot -- and the left, and the right, and the left again -- with an invigorating winter hike with other members of your community. Each year on January 1, America’s State Parks and Virginia State Parks host First Day Hike programs to encourage people to get outside and on the trail. Last year thousands of people started the new year with a community hike, and now Fairfax Continue Reading...
Winter Walk of Lights: Holiday beauty at Meadowlark
UPDATE DEC. 21, 2016: Win a set of passes to this beautiful event! See details below! By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com "Walking in a winter wonderland" is possible nearly every day this holiday season in Northern Virginia -- and snow is not required. If you want to experience a true wonderland this winter, a visit to the beautiful Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is a must-do activity. This annual lights display Continue Reading...
Richmond sampler: best kid-friendly attractions
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun I’ll admit it. I had been to Richmond but I had never really “visited” Richmond. Over my many years of living in Virginia, I had traveled through Richmond numerous times, stopped in to visit friends, and toured several attractions. Because it’s so close, just two hours from my home in Northern Virginia, we could get there easily for day trips. When we were invited to visit Richmond, Virginia, for a Continue Reading...
Local residents trying to save Cameron Run Regional Park
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Fans of Cameron Run Regional Park, a facility in Alexandria, Virginia, that includes the Great Waves Water Park, a miniature golf course, and batting cages, are trying to ensure the park will be there for the long-term with the extension of its lease. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks), which operates the park and leases the land from the City of Alexandria, has been trying to get a Continue Reading...
Fairfax County hosting Pokemon in the Park in Burke
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Inspired by the success of the Pokémon GO event Fairfax County held at the Sully Government Center in Chantilly last week, Supervisor Pat Herrity and the West Springfield District Station have planned a Pokémon in the Park event next month. Admission is free. Pokémon GO, the latest craze that has players search for animated creatures in real places with the help of their smartphones and electronic Continue Reading...
Where to go camping in Northern Virginia
Making s'mores, fishing, hiking, sleeping under the stars, connecting with nature... these are just some of the things associated with camping. Camping is a great way to spend time together as a family and it often can be a simple (and inexpensive) getaway. In Northern Virginia, you don't have to travel too far to find parks with camping facilities suitable for an overnight stay, weekend trip, weeklong vacation, or more. See below for Continue Reading...
Community and family fun at Springfield Days festival
UPDATE JUNE 8: The Cardboard Boat Regatta has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 18. See details below for the new event schedule. By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Springfield Days returns soon! This two-day event is a community-wide celebration that takes place the weekend after Memorial Day each year in Springfield, Virginia. The festival, June 4-5, 2016 this year, is actually several events rolled into one, offering fun options Continue Reading...
BioBlitz events in Northern Virginia and DC
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Kids are "natural scientists," so here is something that is perfect for them -- and really, for anyone of any age with a curiosity about our natural world: the BioBlitz coming up this weekend, May 20-21, 2016. At a BioBlitz, you team up with volunteer scientists and educators along with other members of your community to try to identify as many species of plants, animals, and organisms in one place as Continue Reading...
