Back to school shopping can wait. Make sure you finish your summer bucket list first. Get in one last round of mini golf, one last outdoor movie, or one last family hike before the season ends. Here are some items to check off your list.
Go mini golfing
There are lots of mini golf options in Northern Virginia to check this activity off of your summer bucket list. The unique Perch Putt, on the rooftop of The Perch at Capital One Center, is a brand-new course that also includes a Greyhound bus and London-style double decker bus that have been converted into food trucks.
There’s also Monster Mini Golf, a glow-in-the-dark, 18-hole course that’s indoors to beat the heat or a scattered thunderstorm.
Take the kids to outdoor theater
Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods is designed for kids ages 4 to12. Their August 5 and 6 show, Professor Wow’s Space Adventures, takes little ones through outer space. They’ll learn about the universe through an alien puppet and will get a crash course on the history of the Apollo 11 mission.
Have one last afternoon just being a kid at the arcade
Nothing says summer than a fun afternoon at the arcade. Swaders Sports Park in Prince George has a full arcade as well as batting cages, go-karts, laser tag, and more. There’s even a new virtual reality area.
Get up close and personal with some animals
Did you know NOVA Wild is a nonprofit that is revitalizing Reston’s local zoo? The organization is Northern Virginia’s only walkable zoo and is a drive-through safari, too. If you have little animal lovers, add this stop to your summer bucket list. They will delight in seeing cheetahs, lemurs, llamas, kangaroos, and more. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Search for critters in your backyard
Some of the best summer memories can be right in your own backyard. Potomac Overlook Park Manager Rachel Doody recommended an activity to place a hula hoop or something similar and mark off a space, then have children get a piece of paper and sit down on the ground with a magnifying glass and search that little space in the backyard.
“It’s amazing how many different things and little critters and creepy-crawlies they might find just searching in that tiny space,” she says.
Take in an outdoor movie
Before everyone heads back to school and the weather turns chillier, catch one of the area’s outdoor movie series. There’s Mosaic’s Films in the Park, which will screen Moana 2 on August 7 and Mufasa: The Lion King on August 14. The Pike Movie Nights are Friday and Saturday nights through August. Fridays at Arlington Mill include Beetlejuice, Inside Out, The Lion King (1994), and Mufasa: The Lion King. The last Saturday movie at Penrose Square will be Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on August 2.
Go on a family hike
Log some steps while you complete your summer bucket list. The end of the summer can be a great time for a hike with the whole family. We came up with a list of easy hikes for kids that you can find here. Options include the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, a 1.7-mile round-trip adventure in Woodbridge, Bears Den Overlook, a 1.9-mile round-trip hike with spectacular sunsets, and others.
Spend that summer allowance before school starts
If your children have acquired some extra money this summer from saving their allowance, or perhaps had quite a few successful lemonade stands, it could be fun to plan an afternoon shopping spree. Visit Party Depot to stock up on stickers, pencils, or party decorations before school starts.
And don’t miss the tax-free shopping weekend on August 1 through 3.
Catch some state and county fairs
There’s still time to head to some state and county fairs before the curtains close on summer. The Fairfax County Carnival and Fair runs through August 3 at Frying Pan Farm Park and the Prince William County Fair starts August 8. There’s also the Arlington County Fair that runs just before school starts from August 13-17.
Spend the day (or a long weekend) on the water
One of the beauties of living in Northern Virginia is how close we are to water. Lake Anna, less than a two-hour drive from Dulles, is Virginia’s third largest lake and has picnic areas, campsites, and a 2-acre fishing pond. If you want to extend your stay, book a last-minute long weekend at lake-side retreats like this one. Lake Anna, VA
Feature image courtesy phpetrunina14/stock.adobe.com
