100 Things to Do With Kids in Northern VA: Toddler to Teen (2023)

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Northern Virginia and here we’ve pulled together 100 fun options for you.

So if you’re looking for something fun to do with kids, teens or your whole family, you’ll definitely find some options here!

Source: Fairfax County | Huntley Meadows

Alexandria

#1 Explore the hiking trails and  beauty at Huntley Meadows Park. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#2 Make art and recycle at the same time at Upcycle Creative Reuse Center.* (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#3 Winkler Botanical Preserve is a secluded area featuring a variety of nature trails, a mountain lodge & waterfall flanked by woods.* (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Source: Winkler Preserve

#4 Take the kids to Scramble, a European-style, education focused indoor playground. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#5 Get Air Trampoline Park has family fun with a variety of trampoline activities.

#6 Make a day of it at Cameron Run Regional Park, 26 acres of outdoor adventure in Alexandria, Virginia.  (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#7 Take a yummy stroll through the oldest farmers market in the US on Saturday mornings.

#8 Drop in for some regular and unusual flavors of homemade frozen custard at The Dairy Godmother.

READ NEXT: 41 Best Things to Do in Alexandria – From Nature to Action

#9 Green Spring Garden is a public park, including a historic 18th-century plantation house. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Beautiful Sitting Place in Green Spring Garden | things to do with kids in virginia
Source: Green Spring Gardens

#10 Our Special Harbor Spray Park is a great place to cool off.

#11 Great Waves Waterpark with more than 20 acres, possibilities are unlimited. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#12 Potomac Park has something for everyone.

#13 Have a playdate and date night at Paradiso. Kids enjoy a movie, eat dinner, and play with other kids while you enjoy your meal and watch them through a one-way mirror.

Source: Our Special Harbor Spray Park

#14 Take a ride on the Old Town Alexandria trolley.

#15 Explore the outdoors at Founders Park.

#16 Calling all Harry Potter fans to see the ingredients used as potion ingredients in the books and movies. 

#17 See kid-friendly band, Rainbow Rock, at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub.

#18 Take a spin on Chessie’s Carousel at Lee District Park.

Source: Apothecary Museum

#19 Get the teens climbing high at Sportrock Climbing Center with over 18,000 sq ft of walls.

#20 See real-life ingredients featured in Harry Potter, from dragon’s blood to mandrake root at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#21 Snag an organic cupcake baked with farm fresh ingredients before they sell out. 

Source: City of Alexandria | Alexandria Archaeology Museum

#22 Take the young kiddos to a free weekly storytime at Hooray for Books!

#23 From April to September attend a free Thursday concert with free food, music and kid’s activities. 

#24 Bring the family for an outdoor movie from May to September.

#25 Join in on the free crafts for kids at Lakeshore.

Source: Hidden Pond Nature Center

Annandale

#26 Practice your skate skills at the Wakefield Skate Park freestyle course with bank ramps, pyramid, 4-foot quarter pipe and more.

#27 Have a mommy (or daddy) & me date at Bakery Cafe Breeze.

#28 See turtles, snakes and frogs live at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Arlington

Source: Gravelly Point | Image by: Ted Eytan / Wikipedia

#29 Have a family date night under the stars at a public weekend show at David M. Brown Planetarium.

#30 Gravelly Point is a fun place to watch airplanes take off and land.

READ NEXT: 29+ Things to Do in Arlington VA: Best & Unique Things to Do

#31 Windy Run Park you can enjoy trails and streams.* (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#32 Skate with the Pros at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the highest ice rink above street-level in the United States.

Source: Arlington County

#33 Ocean Dunes Waterpark has slides, water buckets, and pools.*  (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#34 Virginia Highlands Park offers play equipment, athletic fields & courts.

NEARBY: Potomac Overlook Nature Center: Hands-On Exhibits, Animals & More

#35 The largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia is Pentagon Row(winter only)

#36 See the large spheres at Dark Star Park.

Source: Ocean Dunes Waterpark

#37 Take new bicyclists to the learning loop in Glencarlyn Park.

#38 Try a free fly fishing class good for beginners of all ages.

#39 Take a swing at Upton Hill Regional Park’s batting cages.

Falls Church

#40 Play in virtual reality at VR Head in the Cloud

#41 Take a trip to the Eden Center in Falls Church to enjoy Vietnamese restaurants and shops.

Source: Krop’s Crops

McLean / Great Falls

#42 Calling all stargazers! Head over to Observatory Park for Friday night star observing.

#43 Pick out some fresh produce in the summer and enjoy a hayride in the fall at Krop’s Crops. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#44 Plan a day at Clemyjontri Park, the 10-acre playground and park with a carousel, trackless train, picnic area, games, and more.

RELATED: 130+ Things to Do With Kids in Maryland

#45 A Destination for Recreation at Great Falls. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#46 Drop in for a child, family or teen yoga class at Yoga Studio & Wellness Center.

Source: Great Falls Park

Fairfax / Fairfax Station

#47 Attend a free “Evenings Under the Stars” public tour for families with kids over 5 at the Mason Observatory.

#48 Visit the Children’s Science Center Lab for indoor playtime, arts and crafts, and more.  (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#49 So much to do at Burke Lake Park, places to hike, boat rentals, mini-golf, a small train ride, playgrounds, picnic spots, and more. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#50 Fairfax Ice Arena is fun for the entire family. 

#51 Cuddle cats and play with furry felines at Patriot Pawsabilities Cat Lounge.

#52 Participate in an interactive performance at Strawberry Park.

#53 Go for an adventure at Escape Room Fairfax.

#54 Bring the kids to see and learn about model trains

#55 Attend this family fun alternative to morning cartoons & videos games with Arts in the Parks at Burke Lake Park (at Frying Pan Park too).

Source: Skyzone Trampoline Park

Centreville / Manassas

#56 Sky Zone Trampoline Park are the originators of wall-to-wall aerial action. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#57 All kids are welcome at Wings to Fly Therapy and Play Center.

#58 Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run is a Atlantis-themed summertime splash zone with 1,000-gallon dump bucket. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#59 Bounce, slide, climb, and jump on a wide variety of inflatables during open jump times at Pump it Up.

Source: Splashdown Waterpark

#60 SplashDown Waterpark has it all. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#61 Skate N’ Fun Zone is the ultimate experience.

RELATED: 15 Things to Do in Manassas Va

#62 Take pictures and enjoy the bluebells in bloom in April at Bull Run Regional Park

#63 Play a low cost game of night golf after dark at Magic Putting Place.

Source: Starlight Cinema

#64 Have a picnic, cross the stepping stones and visit the wildlife preservation area at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

#65 See an outdoor movie at Starlight Cinema. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#66 Cox Farms has everything from farm animals (pigs, cows, sheep, lambs, goats) to slides of all kinds. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#67 Watch a summer performance for young audiences at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk - Wooden Walking Platform
Source: Neabsco Creek Boardwalk

Springfield / Lorton / Woodbridge

#68 The Science Place ‍is where everyone participates and everyone learns.

#69 Sky Zone – Springfield, VA has family fun with a variety of trampoline activities.

#70 Throw down in a game of dodgeball, catch air on the trampolines, practice your biggest slam dunks, and more at Flight Trampoline Park 

#71 Super Awesome & Amazing has entertainment me galore.

#72 Let the kids play at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Source: Pirates Cove Waterpark

#73 Excitement is everywhere you look at ZavaZone Potomac Mills (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

NEARBY ANIMAL FUN: 9 Best Zoos in Northern VA (& Nearby)

#74 Swing from the ropes and zip line at Go Ape. There’s even a course specifically designed for kids. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#75 Walk the ¾ mile long Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail for free.

#76 Play at the 3-level playground and jump on the moon bounces at Beehive Indoor Playground.

MORE FUN: 15 Things to Do in Woodbridge VA

#77 Go fishing at Lake Accotink Park.

#78 Have a family dinner and a movie night at Alamo Cinema where the lights are kept on low. 

Ashburn / Sterling / Leesburg

#79 Summit Ropes Indoor Adventure is the largest Indoor Ropes course in the United States. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#80 Try hockey or skating at Loudoun Ice Centre.

#81 Finally the kids learn to cook at Cookology.

READ NEXT: 21 Things to Do in Sterling VA: Family Fun Options

#82 Play pretend at this indoor center with a grocery store, castle ship and more.

Source: Leesburg Animal Park

#83 See lots of animals and stop by the petting zoo at Leesburg Animal Park. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#84 Try your hand at Indoor Skiing and Snowboarding. 

READ NEXT: 25 Things to Do in Leesburg: Ultimate Fun Guide

#85 Enjoy daring waterslides, a huge dumping bucket and more at  Volcano Island.* (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Chantilly / Herndon / Reston / Vienna

Source: Nova Parks | Korean Bell Garden of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

#86 Kid Junction offers a safe, clean and educational indoor play place for children, while providing a relaxing environment for parents. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#87 Launch Trampoline Park  is VA’s premier trampoline park.

#88 Indoor ice rink at SkateQuest. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#89 Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole is an Old West-themed water park. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Source: Nova Wild (previously Roers Zoofari)

#90 Walker Nature Center has a pond, walking trails, picnic & campfire sites. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#91 Visit the only Korean Bell Pavilion on the east coast inside Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#92 Feed the goats and enjoy the small petting zoo at Roer’s Zoofari.

#93 Play a not too spooky game of glow-in-the-dark mini golf

#94 Make your own pottery at Claycafe. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Kids at table painting their own pottery
Source: Clay Cafe Studio

#95 Take a kid’s sewing class at The Heartfelt Craft Shop.

#96 Get up close and personal Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s annex, free after 4 pm weekdays.

#97 Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is worth a trip both for yourself to relax and for your family to play. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

Source: Frying Pan Park

#98 Take the family to see a show and meet up with a ranger to get a backstage tour of  Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (October – April).

#99 Visit the baby animals (and grown ones too!) at Kidwell Farm at Frying Pan Park. (Read the Our Kids Mom’s Review)

#100 Picnic under the stars with a free concert at Arrowbrook Centre Park.

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