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...
Family friendly New Year’s Eve events
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun How do you plan to spend New Year's Eve (NYE) weekend? Maybe you'll be taking it easy watching one of the college football bowl games. Or starting a new year on a healthy note by participating in a hike or a race. Many people will be celebrating, of course, and if you have kids and are keeping things easy with a party at home, we have some ideas for kid-friendly New Year's Eve decorations, crafts, and Continue Reading...
Wassail the trees at Claude Moore Farm for a good crop
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun During this time of year when we wish our family and friends well, don’t forget the trees! Yup, winter is a time to show a little love to the trees with the old English tradition of a wassail, which Claude Moore Colonial Farm will celebrate on December 11, 2016, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Wassail happens in winter to give apple trees “encouragement to bear well during the coming year,” as the farm website 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...
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...
Bull Run Festival of Lights: drive-through family fun!
UPDATE DEC. 21, 2016: Win a car pass to this amazing display! See details below! By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com You can't miss the lights while driving on I-66 (especially traveling east from Manassas): the Bull Run Festival of Lights is back! Visiting this annual holiday lights display at Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville is a tradition for many local families. This year, the Continue Reading...
VRE announces dates for Santa Train ticket sales
Originally published Oct. 25, 2016 By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun We don't like to put one holiday ahead of another one, so it seems odd to write about Christmas in October. But when it comes to the Santa Train by Virginia Railway Express (VRE), you have to plan ahead! Each year VRE hosts a series of “Santa Train” rides that serve as a public safety awareness campaign and a fun family outing. This is a very popular event that ALWAYS Continue Reading...
ICE exhibit will showcase world traditions
UPDATE November 15, 2016: Get a sneak peak at this year's show with the photos we recently added! By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Whew! It is really hot out there this week! As the metropolitan Washington DC area suffers through a crushing heat wave this week, where the heat index is making temperatures in the 90s feel like they're actually in the 100s, suddenly winter is not looking so bad! Of course, when winter hits -- and this Continue Reading...
Winter weekend away at Wintergreen Resort
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com We were running out of winter but still wanted to play in the snow. We were a mix of skiers and non-skiers who wanted to have fun together in one place. And, oh, we didn't want to drive too far. Thankfully, in Northern Virginia there are several opportunities for easy winter getaways, and that's exactly what we enjoyed at Wintergreen Resort. This all-season resort is about three hours from just about Continue Reading...
