October 28, 2008
There is a great new playground at Brandon Park on Harrison, just off Catoctin Circle (behind the BB&T bank and across the street from the Village Lanes Bowling Center).
Even though there are no swings, monkey bars, bathrooms, or drinking fountains it still gets our thumbs up! Everything is still in mint condition and in my opinion it is one of the easier parks in town for juggling lots of kids. It is also one of the easier parks for toddlers since it has one of those rubber play surfaces made from recycled tires rather than mulch, and none of the play features are too high. The park is not entirely fenced, but it does have some strategically placed fencing to discourage kids from heading towards the street or the creek—or at least slow them down so you can catch them.
If you get bored with the playground there are picnic tables, lots of grassy space for running, and access to Tuscarora Creek. From what I gathered by googling town records, it appears that there is a long term plan in place to connect this park to Raflo Park and the W&OD via a walking trail. Many thanks to the folks who put this in the town’s plan. It was a great surprise to see it being built!
We walk to this park so I am not sure where the best place to park is… there’s some street parking and I think you can park behind the BB&T bank in unlabeled spots, but don’t quote me on that.
October 27, 2008
We have been trying to save gas and money by avoiding all the wonderful fall festivals, but we slipped up when we saw that The Seldom Scene would be playing at the West Virginia Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival. The slip up reminded us that attending these festivals is worth all the time, money, and energy expended. Watching my kids frolic to bluegrass music on a beautiful day was priceless.
The drive out there was beautiful (even though we fell off our Google map and landed in a run down neighborhood of mobile homes somewhere north of Ranson, WV) as is any drive into northwestern Loudoun and beyond this time of year. We arrived to plenty of parking, well shaded tents (they were ready for rain), and a steady stream of music wafting over the fair. The vendors were friendly and patient with our kids.
This Festival happens every spring and fall, so even though the most recent round is over you will have a chance to visit next time. Watch their website for 2009 dates.
Logistic info for you
- If you want to bring a stroller I’d recommend a jogging or off road stroller, since you’ll likely have mud to deal with.
- There are potties all over the fair and they were still pretty clean at closing on day 2 of this 3 day event. There was a hand wash station near the peanut roasting tent not far from the stage.
- There is an old-school playground on site, behind the sheriff area. They have swings, a slide, a spider web climbing thing, and a roundabout.
- $6 for adults, FREE for kids under 6. You can print a coupon from their website and save $1. We dropped $26 ($12 entry, $5 ice cream plus tip for a good cause, $5 custom painted wooden top that my husband felt obligated to buy after the artist let my daughter help make one, $4 half-peck of apples). Lots of the vendors take credit cards and there is an ATM on site.
September 8, 2008
I know I rave about most of the places my kids and I explore, but this is one of the coolest places around here. If you are looking for a fun summer day with your kids, Greenbrier State Park (map) will not disappoint. It is worth every mile of the drive, even at the current gas prices. My friend in Baltimore agrees, and her drive is even longer.
What’s so great about this place? Clean white sand, calm clean (as far as I can tell) water sans riptides, waves, sharks, and jellyfish, lifeguards on duty, perfectly placed lines denoting swimming area for little ones, sand castles, the sound of happy summer laughter…. Plus there’s more:
- camping
- boat launch
- visitor center
- hiking
- proximity to the Appalachian trail (where my children met a through hiker!)
- fishing
- and store full of junk food.
I feel so far away from my to do list here that it is easy to be completely present with my kids and enjoy a one day holiday.
As with any place that draws crowds, there as issues with litter that make me sad and mad, but Greenbrier is no worse than plenty of parks here in Loudoun in that department.
Tips for your visit
- There is a walk from the parking lot to the beach, so when you toss everything in your car make sure to consider how you will carry it all.
- The beach bathrooms are wet, busy, a bit grimy, and usually in need of a cleaning. If you decide to camp, however, the bathrooms there are incredibly well maintained.
- If you plan to camp, call and ask which loop is closer to the beach.
- Call ahead to find out lifeguard hours. The lifeguards are off duty for the 2008 season already but, according to the website, swimming at your own risk is allowed until the end of September so it is not too late to squeeze in an afternoon at the beach.
August 2, 2008
17558 Dry Mill Road
Leesburg,
VA 20175
Today is the last day of the Loudoun County Fair and I have failed to visit once again. The fair seems to hit on a busy week for my family every year, but I plan to go and report back next year. In the meantime I am hoping some local families can fill us in via the website comments feature?
August 2, 2008
Dulles 28 Centre
22000 Dulles Retail Plz
Dulles, VA 20166 (map it)
(703) 904-0001
One glimpse of this play area and I came to the conclusion that the chain stores of America have realized that some of the best ways to reach folks with small children is to provide a place where our kids can safely play while we sip a beverage and take a minute to regain our sanity, and have clean bathrooms with changing tables nearby.
I made an unplanned stop because the play area looked like a fun place to kill some time, and then made an unplanned purchase at Starbucks when we needed a potty stop. (Their master plan is working.)
This play area is the perfect place for pint-size mulch-eaters to lower their fiber intake — no mulch! This outdoor playground is surrounded first by a fence, then benches, then snack spots (Starbucks, PotBelly, Cold Stone… and Pei Wei if you’re willing to walk another 50 yards), and after that the parking lot. It offers fresh air without any actual contact with nature. My two year-old had fun, there were other kids to play with — even in the afternoon when most kids are home napping — and the place seemed well maintained. I especially appreciated the latching gate which reduces the likelihood of kids straying into the parking lot.
August 2, 2008
Watching the expansion of Lansdowne and Lansdowne Town Center was one of our first Loudoun experiences… I am pleased to report that something good has come of this bit of suburban sprawl. The fountains and the live music on the green are some of suburbia’s most redeeming qualities. (And with the addition of Go Bananas Toys there is one more place to find hula hoops in Loudoun County...)
Their summer concert series seems to be advertised only by poster. Since it is not captured on Lansdowne Town Center’s website we have added it to our community calendar.
The joy on my kids’ faces when we arrive at this fantasy land of spraying water and happy children set to music (on Wednesdays during the summer anyway…) is one of those things that my words cannot begin to capture. It’s up there with Christmas morning, waking up on the day of a long-anticipated plane trip, or being told that their stingy mother is going to buy them something.
Frolicking in the fountains was only done by tot-sized law breakers and their guilty parents last year. (You can read more about it at Suburban Fizz.) Many thanks go to all those involved in making the fountains safe and legal for our kids this year. I want the folks at Lansdowne Town Center to know that the fountains and concerts are the reason we spend our hard-earned money at their shops. Thank you for listening to your community!
I also want the performers we have enjoyed the last few weeks (Westpole and Steven Palmer Band) to know that, even though our backs are turned to the stage so we can supervise our children, we appreciate and enjoy the music. It must be a rather thankless endeavor to play to an audience that keeps its distance and half of its attention elsewhere, but the music is a key part our experience. Thank you for providing the soundtrack to our summer evenings!
Click here for a short video clip
July 18, 2008
15789 Temple Hall Lane
Leesburg, VA (map it)
703-779-9372
Temple Hall Regional Farm, just north of Leesburg, brings out the cute side in kids. They have a playground, lots of animals, hayrides, clean porta-potties, and more. Jogging or off-road strollers or carriers work best for transporting little folks not up to walking, but I have seen some hard core moms make even cheap umbrella strollers work.
In trying to describe it I came up with an analogy:
Temple Hall Farm is to Leesburg Animal Park
as Eagle Tree Farm is to Great Country Farms
Basically, it is a cheaper farm animal experience less likely to overstimulate the whole family and empty your wallet than some of the private petting zoos. It is a great location for a field trip.
July 12, 2008
You’ll find this series on our community calendar. My fondest memories of our first summer in Leesburg were moments filled with music on these Saturday nights. The concerts are always family friendly, and children often gather to dance and frolic near the stage. The concerts are free so you can spend your money on gelato and/or iced coffee drinks at Market Street Coffee.
