Things to do with the kids - close to Northern VA

Stacy9402

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Jan 28, 2004
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We are going to Disney in August and I need something to do with my kids ages 7 (almost 8 (September)) and 2 (almost 3 (August)). My 16 yr old is gone for the month of July.

We have a membership to the National Zoo and have been there 5 times this year. We have also done DC a little. So would prefer something besides that. But I really do not know where to start. We go to Frying Pan Park alot and we are really starting to get tired of that.


Any suggestions?/ I don't mind driving a couple of hours.


TIA
 
Hey! I live in Western Prince William county! :) We have 4 boys between the ages of 4-10.

Are you looking for free/cheap things to do, or just stuff to do in general, even if you have to pay?

I know I've been wanting to check out the naturalist center
http://www.mnh.si.edu/education/fieldtrip/planned_programs/naturalist_center/index.html

Also, check out your local libraries, many have free programs for kids in the summer...in fact, I'm leaving in a few minutes to take my kids to a free craft program.

We are members at the Shenandoah Discovery museum
http://www.discoverymuseum.net/
out in Winchester. They are part of the Association of Childrens museums and also the Association of Science-Technology centers, so they have a recipricol agreement with all of those member museums--we've been able to visit the childrens museum in Baltimore, the one in Richmond, the one in Charlottesville, the Science museum in Richmond, etc. for free! Plus when we've gone on trips out of the area (Philadelphia, Houston, Louisville, etc) we've been able to visit museums there too!

Have you visited the Marine Corps Museum yet?
http://www.usmcmuseum.org/
It is VERY well done, free, plenty of free parking, and has a really nice playground/shaded picnic area outside.

National Parks? We usually have an annual park pass (ours just expired in May, but we will be getting a new one no later than August!) and love to picnic and hike in Prince William Forest and Shenandoah. Also maybe check out Ft. McHenry in Baltimore--we did that one day and then stopped at the children's museum in Baltimore. Around here, there are TONS of National Parks/monuments/etc. so you can get a lot of use out of a annual pass.

Do you like to bike? We love the W &OD trail for family bike rides
http://www.wodfriends.org/
We bring along a picnic lunch or stop at Carolina Brothers BBQ (literally right off the trail)
http://www.carolinabrothers.com/

Um....if I think of more I'll come back and post more! :)
 
We have done the Baltimore aqaurium and I do not think it is worth the price to go back to. But thanks. I think they would like to do the ducks thing in Baltimore but don't know if my almost 3 year old could do that.

VAfamily - thanks. I will definitely hit up that marine museum in August when my 16 year old is back and we are all back from disney. Sounds like something they would all enjoy.

I don't mind paying alittle but don't want it to be expensive just little cheap or free day trips.
Oh and all my kiddos are female if that makes a difference.

Would love to do bike rides but my almost 8 year old doesn't ride her bike to well on confined spaces (sidewalks). She had a foot problem and still has a little problem with her foot falling off her pedal.. No training wheels though..
 

VAFamily, I'm in western Prince William County, too! Hi.

I haven't been here yet but I hear this park is excellent http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/clemyjontri/

Also, one thing we do a lot is the VA Gateway Shopping Center has entertainment shows for kids every other Wednesday. Here is the calendar http://www.vagateway.com/images/popup_images/vagateway_special_events.htm It's an outdoor shopping center with lots of nice stores so there are places to relax and eat after.

We also do the free bowling each summer and take in the Regal free movies. Google both and they will come up.

The Manassas Battlefield is only $3, I think and you can spend a whole day there hiking, exploring and learning. We love going there (just prepare yourself for ticks).
 
Hey! I live in Western Prince William county! :) We have 4 boys between the ages of 4-10.

Are you looking for free/cheap things to do, or just stuff to do in general, even if you have to pay?

I know I've been wanting to check out the naturalist center
http://www.mnh.si.edu/education/fieldtrip/planned_programs/naturalist_center/index.html

Also, check out your local libraries, many have free programs for kids in the summer...in fact, I'm leaving in a few minutes to take my kids to a free craft program.

We are members at the Shenandoah Discovery museum
http://www.discoverymuseum.net/
out in Winchester. They are part of the Association of Childrens museums and also the Association of Science-Technology centers, so they have a recipricol agreement with all of those member museums--we've been able to visit the childrens museum in Baltimore, the one in Richmond, the one in Charlottesville, the Science museum in Richmond, etc. for free! Plus when we've gone on trips out of the area (Philadelphia, Houston, Louisville, etc) we've been able to visit museums there too!


Have you visited the Marine Corps Museum yet?
http://www.usmcmuseum.org/
It is VERY well done, free, plenty of free parking, and has a really nice playground/shaded picnic area outside.

National Parks? We usually have an annual park pass (ours just expired in May, but we will be getting a new one no later than August!) and love to picnic and hike in Prince William Forest and Shenandoah. Also maybe check out Ft. McHenry in Baltimore--we did that one day and then stopped at the children's museum in Baltimore. Around here, there are TONS of National Parks/monuments/etc. so you can get a lot of use out of a annual pass.

Do you like to bike? We love the W &OD trail for family bike rides
http://www.wodfriends.org/
We bring along a picnic lunch or stop at Carolina Brothers BBQ (literally right off the trail)
http://www.carolinabrothers.com/

Um....if I think of more I'll come back and post more! :)

Slightly OT but there is a great Science museum/children's museum in Ft. Lauderdale too that is part of this reciprocal agreement. Try it if you ever get down there. We had a great day there.
 
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Gosh, there are so many parks - you could just pick a different one each weekend and never repeat one all summer or get bored. There's great hiking paths along the river areas (Great Falls) - we hiked when out little ones were 2, almost 3, just picked easier hikes. I also agree w/ heading over to Shenandoah area - hiking, exploring, ranger programs, etc. And look for 'picking' farms - blueberries right now, appples in the fall (Winchester area), Strawberries next spring - those farms usually have other acitivites for the kids too. OH< and come to Richmond ! Maymont park is great, the James River Park system, etc, etc.!

Goodluck and enjoy!
 
I'm from NoVA and here is what we like to do. You should be able to find out more info on these on-line.

Clemyjontri park (large, accessible playground and more)

Great Falls Park (MD or VA side)

Leesburg Animal Park

Reston zoo/Animal Park

Volcano Water Park (used to be called Downpour at Algonkian Park)

Tysons Corner Mall

Temple Farm

White's Ferry

Boating/Tubing on the Potomac at Harper's Ferry

Old Town Alexandria

Duckboat or other Boat tour of DC or Alexandria

National Harbor (this is NOT in Baltimore but across from Alexandria)

Of course the many museums, and not just the Smithsonians but other ones (with admission fees): Newseum, Spy Museum, National Geographic, National Aquarium, Postal Museum

Union Station in DC

Annapolis, MD

Potomac Mills (large mall) with IKEA

Good luck!!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions will defintely check out some of them. I would love to do the hiking but I wouldn't feel comfortable going by myself with the younger two. Especially since I have knee problems and sometimes they will go out of place and it hurts to walk afterwards for awhile.

I think tomorrow we are going to check out the clemyjontri park.

Thanks again
 
And look for 'picking' farms - blueberries right now, appples in the fall (Winchester area), Strawberries next spring - those farms usually have other acitivites for the kids too.

:thumbsup2
I was just coming back to recommend "pick your own" fruits and vegetables!

http://www.pickyourown.org/

This website lists and gives details about many pick your own farms. Sometimes the info can be dated, as farms will sometimes change their policies/close/etc. by season--so just make sure you call the farm before you head out.

Also, since you said you don't mind driving a couple hours, I wanted to recommend The Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.
http://www.frontiermuseum.org/

We went a couple of weeks ago and it is really amazing--I know the name makes it sound kind of boring, but it really isn't! Check out some of the reviews on Tripadvisor or Yelp! Also, on their facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/St...-Virginia/55813996379?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=8
they say they will have free admission this Saturday! :)

When we went a couple of weeks ago, it took us about 2 hours to get there, taking I 66 to the I 81.
 
Right near the Reston Zoo (which is more of a petting zoo and great for little ones) is the WaterMine. Not too cheap, but pretty good. Go on a weekday, weekends are crazy crowded.

Also, Burke Lake Park (google Fairfax county parks) used to have a carosel. Don't know if they still do or not.
 
I took my dd10 to Harpers Ferry today, we had fun. It was all free and the weather was gorgeous. It was only about 45 mins ride through gorgeous farmland. If you see in my sig, I am actually from the Boston area, but we are in Herndon this week house sitting for a friend. They left us their car and we have had a BLAST going here there and everywhere!!!. Too bad we have to go home on Sunday. There is SOOOO much to do around here.
 
Historic Fredericksburg: Kenmore Musuem or Ferry Farm (Geo. Washingtions boyhood home) There's also a place called Funland here (google Central Park Funland) That's a lot of fun, there's also Pots & Palettes (you paint your own pottery..you may have a place like that up there)..Splitsville Lanes just opened..Mon-Thursday they have 2 for 1 bowling..the place is NICE. Civil War Battlefields, Chatham Manor...of course there's Kings Dominion, Williamsburg Pottery farther south. Also, there's a Bass Pro Shops around there off I-95 around Ashland and they are doing free workshops until mid July. Never been in one so???

Your kids would love Funland though. Oh..do you have a YOung Chefs Academy up that way? They have fun stuff for kids to do. There is one here. Hope I was able to help some.
 
Nature Centers have free programs, you need to register for them. One we have not made it to, and really want to do, is the night-time walk to see and learn about the bats!
Hidden Pond has a wildlife center where you can speak to a naturalist and see live samples of local wildlife. There are paths and a playground: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hiddenpond/
Hidden Oaks may be closer to you? http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hiddenoaks/

Lake Accotink has paddleboats, walking/biking paths and putt-putt.

Burke Lake has a train that you can ride around the park, an old fashioned carousal, ice cream parlor, walking/biking paths, wide open space where you can throw a ball around or have a picnic. There are also nets set up within the woods for "frisbee golf." Bring your own frisbees, you will need one for each player. There are also several playgrounds and a duck/goose feeding area.
 
Look at all the NoVa dissers :) Yay!

A few things that haven't been mentioned yet:

Vacation Bible School, if that's interesting to you.

Check out your local library, ours has different events every week, usually a show/event and then a craft. Also, see what your local Parks & Rec department has going on. Usually lots of different choices there too, and sometimes the cost is pretty low.

Port Discovery.

Lowe's & Home Depot build & grow events.

There are a few paint your own pottery places, my kids enjoy those.

Have fun! :)
 
Another suggestion is Mt Vernon. There are plenty of things to do inside and out. They have a newish center that has some interactive exhibits and several shows. In one of them it actually snows on the audience! Outdoors there are animals and gardens and a wharf where you can take a boat ride on the potomac. The round barn is kind of neat and the house tour will not take long to walk through, although the line to get into the house may be long. I am just thinking about the 3 year old here! There is a foodcourt as well as a tavern on site for lunch. My kids have always liked seeing the out buildings (kitchen, schoolhouse etc).
If you want to do something like that but possibly less crowded go south on rt 1 to Mason Neck area and see Gunston Hall (George Mason's home). They have a summer architectural sleuth program running this summer that looks really cool. http://www.gunstonhall.org/education/programs/plantation_sleuth_2010.pdf
The Air museum in Dulles area is really neat as well. The IMAX show is worth the additional cost, btw.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. We made it to the Clemyjontri Park today. We went this morning. We left at 9 am and made it there by 9:30 am. We only lasted about 45 minutes. It was so hot. It is a great park for the kiddos but they really need more shade. Everything was too hot to touch but they had fun running around in the maze and on the jungle gyms and of course riding the carosel... But my 3 year old was beat red and we even took water breaks. So hopefully we will make it back out there in the fall when it is cooler.

Can't to try some more things. I did do the Giant deal that ended 7/1 for the Hershey tickets... So we plan going there sometime this month..
 

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