Take a young friend to the zoo!…read more The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has all the good animals :-). And two of us with a toddler is not too costly. (Jul 2026) We took a train ride, visited giraffes, rode the carousel a loooong time, agreed with the peacock that he's magnificent, and rode a lion! (A lion statue, silly.)

The Maryland Zoo is not nearly as flashy as the National Zoo in DC, but it is a lovely way to spend…read morean afternoon. It is a small zoo, so you can feasibly see all of the animals in one bisit. The exhibits are well maintained and the animals are surprisingly active. It's not nearly as crowded as larger zoos, so you can easily see the animals and even sit for a moment and watch them. My only complaint is that there is flat admission fee of $33 for anyone over the age of 2. Most zoos and museums have a children's rate, but I think the cost is worth the experience.

My partner and I had an amazing time at this petting zoo…read more There were horses, goats (like 30!), baby piglets, mama cow and calf that was born just that week, rabbits, llamas, emus, peacocks, turtles, and more! The farmers were knowledgeable and friendly teens/young adults. They were very sweet to the children and ensured that all the kids could pet the baby goat born that week. The best part of our visit was being followed around by Dolly, a goat that roamed the premises, scavenging for leftover corn and dropped treats.

I've been here a few times now and my toddler loves it every time. He especially loves the tractor…read moreyou can sit on (if you have a tractor loving kiddo)! This year, they had a great deal on Groupon, which comes with a tractor ride around the farm. There's plenty of animals to look at, from baby pigs, horses, donkeys, turkeys, goats, a camel, dogs, etc. Friendly staff, clean bathrooms (yup, you heard that right), and plenty of places to sit to snack. I've also seen a few families host birthday parties here!

Came today as we have driven past this sanctuary 100+ times. Finally had a chance to bring my two…read moregirls. For an adult ticket it was $30. My 6 yo was like $23 and 2 and under are free. For what we paid I'm not sure it was worth it but hopefully it goes towards the sanctuary. The space felt old and outdated. There was one indoor bathroom right by the exit and gift shop that was small and again outdated. The rest of the park was portapottys which were clean but in a hot day like today... it's still a portapotty. It was a large space and we spent about 3 hours inside. A variety of birds, snakes, tortoise, As well as sloth, zebra, lion, bison, goat, geese, swan, and fish. The highlight for the kids was the koi feeding experience. Those fish were jumping like crazy and got my kids wet which they enjoyed. There were several places to sit and eat. We brought lunch in. They had free water and snacks to purchase. There was also a safari which we did not do. Overall my kids liked it but I think it needs some TLC.

We loved going on the safari here! It is definitely worth the extra ticket to go on the safari ride…read moreto see antelopes and zebras. You get to feed some of them too as they give you a cup of feed at the start of the ride. My kids loved feeding the coy fish in the pond as well.

Reston has a zoo?!?!?!?!…read more I love it! I'm from southern California. I've been to the LA Zoo. And I have to say that this small zoo was better! Too many animals to name. The safari is really cool. You get to pet the animals. They look happy and well cared for. Because it's a small zoo, parking is tough and it can be a maze to get through traffic. The staff here is wonderful. You can cover all ground within an hour. But it's worth the ticket price. Exotic you're local. I enjoyed my visit. I went twice so I can enjoy the safari without worrying about time. Stop by, support and check it out. Thank you for a great visit.

It's a nice local zoo that can get a bit pricey. My toddler is currently in a phase that really…read moreenjoys butterflies so I paid extra for that experience. It was worth it since she could get up close with plenty of them and got to learn more about specific kinds from the staff. As I was walking in another family gave me a bucket of feed they didn't finish so my daughter enjoyed feeding the goats and cows. During our last visit by the time we were done walking around the line for the car safari was too long though so if you're interested in that perhaps you want to do that first thing in the morning before it gets busy.

The animal park is fun for kiddos, particularly for my 2 year old! Although I think she had more…read morefun going down the slides vs. looking at the animals. It's definitely not cheap, especially when you come with multiple members of the family so prepare to spend a good amount of time there to get your money's worth.

Had a great field trip here with my son's class. Such a fun experience and friendly staff.read more

Watkins Regional Park is truly a hidden gem! I recently took my 4-year-old niece, and she…read moreabsolutely loved every minute of it. The Wizard of Oz-themed playground made such an impression on her that we've been watching The Wizard of Oz on repeat ever since our visit. It was so much fun seeing her imagination come to life as she explored all the themed play areas. One thing I really appreciated was that there's something for kids of all ages. There are plenty of play structures and activities to keep everyone entertained. The park is also very family-friendly, with lots of shaded benches and picnic shelters where I could comfortably sit, relax, and keep an eye on her while she played. After the playground, we walked across the street to ride the carousel, which she absolutely adored. They also have a train ride, but unfortunately it wasn't operating during our visit. That just gives us another reason to come back! Next time, we're planning to visit the farm and meet all the animals. I can't believe such a special place is just a few miles from home. If you're looking for a fun, affordable outing with children, Watkins Regional Park is definitely worth the visit. We can't wait to go back!

Great playground for ages 3-10. Park is nice and clean with…read morea merry-go-round ($). Nice walking trail to see farm animals (free)

I hosted my son's first rodeo at Cock-a-doodle Cottage in November and my friends and family still…read morerave about it. Justyna was very responsive and her attention to detail was great. I attempted to DIY a lot of stuff and was overwhelmed on event day however, when I dropped off the stuff; she and her team took over and bought my vision to reality. Their property is so beautiful and they went above and beyond for my son's first birthday party. They even surprised us when her husband dressed up as a chicken and did the chicken dance which the kids loved. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for an amazing venue for your event. I cannot thank her family enough for such an easy event planning experience!

From the owner: We are a small boutique farm venue right outside of Old Town Manassas. When people stop by they…read morecan't believe this little hidden gem has been right next door to them all this time. Let us make your next event extra special. * Small wedding and event venue * Birthday party * Bridal shower * Baby shower