Our readers voted for their favorite entertainment venues where people of all ages can explore, learn, and play. Next time you’re looking for something to do with the whole family, check out these great spots and get ready to have some wholesome fun!
Mini Golf
Winner
Perch Putt
Forget the old-timey windmill. Perch Putt takes the 18-hole mini golf experience up a notch. You are on the roof of the Capital One Center taking in the Tysons skyline as you play. In addition to golf, Perch Putt hits a hole-in-one with adult beverages and food trucks. It’s popular, so book ahead for a tee time. 1805 Capital One Dr., 11th Floor, Tysons
Runner-Up
Upton Hill Regional Park
6060 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Museum
Winner
Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum
This hands-on farm museum can’t be beat for spurring the imagination. The interactive children’s farm lets kids milk a lifelike cow. Learning opportunities include what’s in a kitchen before the days of electricity and what life was like for Loudoun’s first inhabitants. New garden areas this year will feature apples, grapes, and more perennial fruits. 21668 Heritage Farm Ln., Sterling
Runner-Up
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly
Bounce/Trampoline Space
Winner
Flight Adventure Park
This indoor trampoline park will have you bouncing with glee. At the Springfield location, you blast off on different space-related adventures. You can climb a space shuttle, bail out of a plane, or jump to see the planets. The Junior Pilots Zone is a play space for kids ages 4 and younger. 7200 Fullerton Rd., Springfield
Runner-Up
Sky Zone
Multiple locations
Campground
Winner
Lake Fairfax Park
Rev up the RV and take a staycation or pack the tent and head out for an adventure. Campsites at Lake Fairfax can be rented for up to 14 consecutive days from April through November. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring/grill combo. The bathhouse has hot showers. Small and large groups can be accommodated. 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr., Reston
Runner-Up
Algonkian Regional Park
47001 Fairway Dr., Sterling
Ice Skating Rink
Winner
Ion International Training Center
It doesn’t have to be winter to put on your ice skates. Ion offers public ice skating year-round. You can learn to ice skate or play ice hockey here. The facility trains skaters on multiple levels and offers camps for figure skating and ice hockey. Private lessons are available. 19201 Compass Creek Pkwy. SE, Leesburg
Runner-Up
Ashburn Ice House
21595 Smith Switch Rd., Ashburn
DUAL WINNER: Indoor Kids Entertainment; Kids Party Venue
Winner
Sportrock Climbing Centers
The climbing centers, with locations in Alexandria and Sterling, take the top spots for Indoor Kids Entertainment and Kids Party Venue. Both locations have an open climb time, a breakfast club climb on Sunday mornings, and a regular Friday night climb. The centers have weeklong indoor climbing camps for kids ages 8 to 14. Sportrock’s summer day camps made our list of the best day camps in 2022. Birthday party events run 90 minutes and teach the basics of knot craft and belaying. Parties are limited to 20 people in Alexandria and 10 in Sterling. 5308 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria; 45935 Maries Rd., Sterling
Runner-Up (Indoor Kids Entertainment & Kids Party Venue)
Children’s Science Center Lab
11948 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax
Kids Class
Winner
The Heartfelt Workshop
Kids apply their creativity to both hand and machine sewing. In class, they learn how a sewing machine works, different stitches, how to reach patterns, and how to sew buttons and zippers. The weekly class for kids 8 and older runs one hour and 15 minutes. Summer camps start at age 7. 6721 Curran St., Ste. 100, McLean
Runner-Up
Progressions Dance School
8797 Commerce Ct., Manassas; 410 Rosedale Ct., Warrenton
Place to View Animals
Winner
Frying Pan Farm Park
At Kidwell Farm, you learn about life in the 1930s while on a working farm. See a host of farm animals, including horses, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and cows. There’s cow milking at 4 p.m. every day. Admission is free. Birthday parties there include meet-and-greets with the animals. 2709 West Ox Rd., Herndon
Runner-Up
NoVA Wild
1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna
Pick-Your-Own Farm or Orchard
Winner
Great Country Farms
Who can resist a fresh blackberry, peach, or apple? At Great Country Farms, you can have the satisfaction of knowing each fruit is its freshest because you’ve picked it. The farm does not plant genetically modified crops and minimizes the use of synthetic fertilizers. You can go for a day or get an unlimited farm pass. 34345 Snickersville Tpk., Bluemont
Editor’s Pick
Wegmeyer Farms
Wegmeyer’s primary crops are strawberries and pumpkins. It has strawberries at three locations, two of which are you-pick areas: its primary farm in Hamilton and at the Oatlands Historic Mansion. At Gilberts Corner, you buy pre-picked berries. The farm grows more than 50 varieties of pumpkins, and it also offers you-pick sunflowers. 38299 Hughesville Rd., Hamilton; Little Oatlands Ln., Leesburg
DUAL WINNER: Picnic Location; Public Park
Winner
Great Falls Park
The National Park Service suggests you arrive early because on beautiful days, cars line up to get in. The park opens at 7 a.m. The picnic tables and grills are first come, first served. Either before or after your burgers and hot dogs, take a hike to one of the three overlooks for gorgeous views of the Potomac River. Note: You’ll want to pay your entrance fee online. The park has limited cell service. 9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean
Runner-Up (Picnic Location)
Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station
Editor’s Pick (Public Park)
Cherry Hill Park
The park sits not far from the heart of Falls Church on the grounds of the historic Cherry Hill Farm. It is where most of the city’s special events and activities take place. It has a lighted basketball court, two lighted tennis courts, a horseshoe court, playground equipment, and a picnic shelter you can rent by the hour. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church
Place to Stargaze
Winner
Sky Meadows State Park
Starry, starry nights are best seen at this International Dark Sky Park. The views at parks with this designation are considered exceptional. During monthly programs, astronomer volunteers guide you on a visual tour of the skies. Located on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park has hiking trails and camping accommodations. 11012 Edmonds Ln., Delaplane
Runner-Up
Shenandoah National Park
21073 Skyline Dr., Front Royal
Playground
Winner
Clemyjontri Park
The colorful playground at this Fairfax County park is great for younger kids. The playground is designed for children of all abilities, with rubber surfacing and wider openings so wheelchairs can easily get around. There are several play areas. The park’s old-fashioned carousel and trackless train are kid favorites. 6317 Georgetown Pk., McLean
Runner-Up
Gwen Thompson Briar Patch Park
21660 N. Sterling Blvd., Sterling
Pottery Studio
Winner
Clay Cafe
Try your hand at throwing pottery with Clay Cafe’s try-it classes for adults and kids. You can paint your own ceramics at its studio or take an acrylic canvas painting class. For kids, the studio has summer camps and birthday parties. 14511-G Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Chantilly
Runner-Up
Paint Your Own Pottery
Mobile/pop up
Pumpkin Patch
Winner
Cox Farms
In the fall, there’s fun for everyone at Cox Farms. In addition to pumpkins galore, the farm puts on a fall festival with a cornfield maze, hayrides, several giant slides, and farm animals, including goats you can pet. Kids can learn farm chores. (Maybe that will help around the house!) And, of course, don’t miss the cider. 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville
Runner-Up
Great Country Farms
34345 Snickersville Tpk., Bluemont
Water Park
Winner
The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole
Your prospects of getting wet at this family water park based on the Old West Gold Rush are 100 percent. You can soar down the three-story Prospectors Plummet waterslide or float around the 725-foot lazy Rattlesnake River. Still not satisfied? Try the Big Pete and Little Pete waterslides or a game of water volleyball. 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr., Reston
Runner-Up
SplashDown Waterpark
7500 Ben Lomond Park Dr., Manassas
Feature image courtesy Cox Farms
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
