The Heritage Farm Museum is one of my favorite ways to entertain a toddler on a rainy / hot / snowy…read moreday! You can spend a full morning here, running around, playing, and exploring all the different exhibits and not get bored. The general store is a personal favorite and my kiddos love putting on an apron, stocking and restocking shelves, and pretending to purchase bread and potatoes. There is also a little interactive farm, one room school house, and recreation of an old timey kitchen that are a big hit with our toddler set. In nicer weather days, they have actual farm demonstrations and lots of tractors and other wheeled contraptions for kids to look at. The cost of a morning of fun? $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and FREE NINETY NINE for the two and under set. You can tire your kiddos out, grab lunch at nearby Ridgetop Coffee (which has an indoor playroom), and have a peaceful car nap home. Truly one of the best hidden gems for families here in Nova.

Great spot to spend a few hours with your toddler! The museum is small but perfectly sized for…read moresmall toddlers that need to burn energy on a hot or rainy day. The woman at the front desk was incredibly nice and helpful. The play areas were clean and creative. There farm area and general store were our toddler's favorite! Would definitely recommend and we will be back soon

This little museum is charming and free to visit, so well worth visiting if you're in Loudon County…read moreor Leesburg for the first time. It's on the smaller side, but has exhibits that explore the history of the county in the civil war and revolutionary war periods. It also had an exhibit of artworks by local and county artists when we visited. The staff member there when we visited was really friendly and answered several questions we had when we walked around. It's a great introduction to the county, and I'm glad we stopped by - even though we only had time for a short visit!

If you live in a Loudoun and is interested in local history, this museum is a great. Currently…read morethere is a free admissions for a civil war exhibit. First Fridays in Leesburg has great restaurants and drinks. You can feed your mind and tummy!

It's a second time we visited that place and its even better than I remembered…read more The amount of history under one roof, plus all the space travel and discovery, kids had a blast. And honestly, we did too. I cant even tell how great it is, no picture does justice to the whole history of aviation. But I did took one that shows it. Free entrance, donation based. Parking is $15. Benches to picnic in a shadow right by the entrance. Official picnic area is in full sun so we avoided going there.

What a great place to learn about the aviation history of our country and the rest of the world…read more Very fitting that some of the most iconic aircraft of generations past are housed at our capital. It was really cool to see an authentic space shuttle, concord, blackbird and some many war birds including the Enola Gay herself. Living history that you can see with your own eyes, all with fascinating stories to share with those who visit. My kids had a great time exploring each nook and cranny, lots to see here. I will admit that I lasted longer here than my family, but I really enjoy aviation history so I was like a kid in a candy shop. As a plane enthusiast, I appreciated seeing some very unique, one-of-a-kind prototypes and test aircraft. Some of the planes housed in this museum are found nowhere else in the world. Very cool. On top of the great museum, staff are very welcoming, helpful and engaging. You can tell they love the planes and their history just as much as any other enthusiast. The gift shop was pretty big and offered a lot of items to browse through. There is a cafe that serves deli and quick grab and go items and a Shake Shack that has an exclusive menu to this location. The museum is free and close to the Dulles airport. You can't walk or bike into the museum, so you will either need to drive our get a bus/car app ride to visit. Well worth it though, especially if you are looking to spend some layover time from the airport.

What an energizing place...a space for community to gather, learn, grow. I went to a fall festival…read moreof sorts at the Grounds of Livev and it was lovely. Plenty of parking, then a short walk down a path led into this pasture where there was a band playing and lots of unique vendors set up. I also walked around the grounds and it was so calming and peaceful. Met the co-owner Celeste and she's a powerhouse! So cool how she and a partner built out this concept--looking forward to coming back for more events.

The Grounds of Livev is a community space in the heart of Oakton where you can connect with over…read moreart, cooking, yoga, meditation, and much more! The state of the world and motherhood has heightened my anxiety over the past few months so I was feeling completely frazzled and fried when I walked into my block printing class. Two hours later ... I felt like an actual person again! The experience was a lot cheaper than a therapy session and to be honest, a whole lot more fun. There is something about learning something new, making art (good or bad!), and connecting with neighbors of all walks of life that really fills your cup. The comfy little cabin, green pastures, and little menagerie of horses, baby goats, and llamas helped as well. The Grounds of Livev just opened with plans to expand into an event space, gardening center, and more over the next few years. I am so excited to have found such a wonderful little space that is not too far from home to relax, learn, and grow. We got to meet the owner and several of her family members, and they are very passionate about creating a space for the community. They offer classes for children and adults, so there truly is something for everyone here.

This is a fascinating little railroad museum in a lovely tree covered setting at Fairfax Station…read more Originally the 1903 local train station, the building was moved to this site and restored in 1980. Today, the museum is opened on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00, but offers special tours for groups and scouts. Admission is modest ($5) to tour the building. The railroad had historic importance for commerce across North Virginia in the 1850's. During the Civil War, the line was used to bring wounded troops to this location, where they were nursed by Clara Barton. The line also carried supplies. Outside is a 20th century caboose that visitors can look inside. There is also a train car for the 1950s. The parking lot holds about a dozen cars including several handicapped spaces. There are a few picnic tables under the trees to have a snack. The grounds are immaculate and beautiful. This is a great place to bring the kids or you favorite history buff for the afternoon.

Cool free museum from the outside…read more Inside pay a nominal donation for an indoor exhibit. Location: Hidden in Fairfax County VA off Ox Road. Built in 1852; was a depot built by Irish immigrants--Fairfax Station!! Typically, open on the weekends. Mainly Sundays. Check the schedule on the website. For kids -- toy trains to play with inside. Build a toy train track, plenty of toy trains. Parking -- free. With overflow parking across the street.

Loved it! The trail was well decorated, and had some really outstanding lighting features…read more Went on a Friday evening that had nice weather, and it was not very crowded at all. Not sure I understand why, other than it's a bit pricey to get tickets. But I would say the lighting is worth it. The food trucks had decent food, but that part was also a bit pricey. They also have a large tent which is their tavern, and expect to pay $15 for a small cocktail. However, the cocktail was good!

This was a Christmas activity on steroids! Located in Morven Park in Leesburg, once you enter the…read moregrounds, it feels as if you are transported into a Christmas village. Tickets were around $25-35, depending on the day and parking is also included. There was signage displayed for directions on where to go and exit, in addition to plenty of helpful staff around who are able to answer any questions and/or guide you in the right direction. The various Christmas themes, little villages, and lighting were amazing throughout the entire road! The "road" (trail) itself took about an hour to walk through and it was pretty stroller friendly for the most part, although we wish we brought our jogging stroller for the gravel portions of the trail. Our baby enjoyed the visual stimulation and had wide eyes throughout our entire walk. At the end of the trail, there's a market with food, hot drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and several Instagram photo ops throughout. There is also plenty of seating for you to take a rest or enjoy your food. Overall, we had an awesome experience and hope that Holiday Road comes back again next year!

A cute little park in downtown Vienna. My dog loves being outdoors and parks but we like to avoid…read moreanywhere crowded as he gets excited very easily. We stopped by at this park today because our usual one was too full. This one was nice and empty for him. It had just enough room for him to explore and have fun. Lots of trash cans available for doggie #2 too. Parking was easy right on the street. They had a little free library as well. They had bathrooms that were pretty clean and even a doggie water fountain (and a water fountain specifically to refill your water bottle). It was a nice surprise that this little park had so many amenities. I'll definitely be back as my dog really enjoyed himself!!

There was a summer several years ago where I stumbled upon the CW sitcom "Hart of Dixie" on Netflix…read moreand binge-watched the entire series within a few days. There was something so magical about the community of Bluebell, Alabama and all of the traditions and activities they had that was very compelling to watch. I believe the Town of Vienna is the closest to Bluebell situation we have going here in Northern Virginia and I have definitely been taking advantage of all the family-friendly activities that they offer. The Vienna Town Green is home to a lot of them (including a free summer concert series). A few friends and I packed up a picnic and watched a show while our kiddos ran around with new friends catching fireflies and blowing bubbles. I honestly can't think of a better way to spend a random Wednesday night!

This is one of my favorite markets in the area…read more https://www.capitalartandcraftfestivals.com Why? It's only $10 (tickets bought in line in advance). The aisles are large, the place is never crowded. They have a great combo of art, textiles, pottery, paintings, jewelry and food. Some of my favorite vendors: True honey teas Oompah udderific cheese spread Plantation nut company Artist: Greg Stone painter New in 2022- they have beer and wine to enjoy as you wander through the stalls!