Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, VA!

Today we checked out Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, VA! This time of year is great because local Northern Virginia Farms have Fall Pumpkin Festivals and Ticonderoga Farms is one of them.

With a small admission fee you can play on the playground equipment, go down the large slides, rope bridge, climb up into forts, enjoy a hayride and walk the barnyard area. The best part is you recieve a small pumpkin with each paid admission. My kids always get a kick out of picking out their own pumpkins.

The kids had a great time. Ticonderoga Farms is not as large as the Cox Farms Fall Festival but there is still plenty of things for the family to do at this Loudoun County farm.

Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA!

A friend of mine told me about a great little farm in Western Loudoun County named Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA.

The working farm is 200-acres and was started as a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA). A CSA is a program where members support the farm and in return share in the crops. The farm is also a U-pick farm where you can take a wagon ride out to the fields and pick fresh vegetables or fruit depending on the season. There is a small admission fee but the farm is lovely and well worth it.

Besides the fresh vegetables, fruit and kettle korn Great Country Farms has a lot to offer the family while you visit. The cow train, large inflatable pillow, and Gem Mining are just a few things you can do at the farm. They offer plenty of play equipment all over the play area along with a barnyard for the kids to see goats, chickens and pigs.

We had a great time and will definitely come back!

Kutner Park in Fairfax, VA!

Kutner Park in Fairfax, VA is located off of Jermantown Road near Route 50. You can enter the park either at the entrance on Jermantown Road or walk in from the East side of  the park located in a small single family home development. At the Jermantown Road entrance there is a small sign with an arrow pointing towards the parking lot. You drive a short distance between the 7-Eleven and the soccer fields to locate the parking lot.

The park offers several pieces of newer equipment including a swing set, sand box and picnic pavilion. The park also has a tennis court, volleyball court and hiking trails. A porta potty is located near the parking lot and when we were there the potties were clean and in the shade.

This was a cute park that is tucked in between Route 50 and Lanier Middle School. If you didn't catch the small sign driving by you would never know the park was located among the busy area near Route 50 and Route 29 in Fairfax County!

Van Dyck Park in Fairfax, VA!

A few days ago we checked out Van Dyck Park in Fairfax, VA! Located in Fairfax County the park sits right next door to the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center and the City of Fairfax administration building.

The park equipment was great. There were several different pieces with little sets scattered around. Some were in the shade and others were in the sun. I did notice a small sandbox set up and several people had brought their own sand toys to play with. There was a large pavilion that offered lots of shade along with several benches. The park offered porta potties that when we were there were in the shade and clean. A basketball court sits alongside a large grassy area where the kids can run around. One part of the park that my oldest enjoyed was the small fenced in skate park. We headed over and watched the teenagers go up and down the ramps and perform tricks. The best part about the skate park is it's far enough away from the playground that the little kids won't hear any profane language or see anyone smoking.

This is a great park with plenty for the kids to do! The neighborhood that it's located in is filled with great older homes and newer developments with convenient access to elementary, middle and high schools. The sign is really hard to see from the road because it's behind trees and a wooden fence but you can see the playground clearly from the road.

Ellis L. Barron Neighborhood Park in Manassas, VA!

Several weeks ago we checked out Ellis L. Barron Park in Manassas, VA. This Prince William County park is close to several apartment complexes and condos.

The park didn't have any shade over the play equipment and the equipment is made of metal so in the summer months it's probably going to get pretty hot. There were two swings but no toddler swings. A small picnic pavilion is located nearby the playground and offers shade and a nice place to eat a snack. The park also has a basketball and tennis court. When we were there they had a porta potty that was set up in the shade.

Ellis L. Barron is a cute neighborhood park so if you live nearby you should check it out!

Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA!

A few weeks ago we checked out Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA! This Fairfax County park offers a lot of different activities for everyone.

Bull Run park has large fields where you can hold events and lots of different picnic pavilions and shelters. One large shelter we checked out was called "The Barn" and had a small playground nearby just outside the fence and across the small parking lot was a sand filled playground with clean lit restrooms nearby. The sand filled playground had a lot of older metal equipment and a swing set. There were benches near by with some shade.

Once we were done playing in the large sand playground we walked around on some the trails. There are miles of trail throughout the park with some being paved road and most be equestrian/hiking trails. If you like to camp the park had many spots for tent, RV or cabin camping. A newer large playground is located near the camp grounds and favorite of my children.

Also part of the park is Atlantis Waterpark which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Near the waterpark you can find the Disc golf course which is open all year.

Near the entrance of the park, NVRPA constructed a Civil War Winter quarters and camp site for the public to see a little bit of history about the The First Battle of Manassas where Bull Run was crossed to engage in conflict.

Bull Run Regional Park is a great spot if you love to camp, host events or hike around. The older playground is supported by the newer equipment throughout the park. My kids and I saw lots of wildlife including turtles, geese and deer. Great park with lots to offer!

Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park

The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is better known as the W&OD Trail to most in Northern Virginia. Labeled as the "skinniest park in Virginia" it is one of the longest parks at 45 miles.

Most of the W&OD Railroad Regional Park is sitting on the same site as the old railbed of the retired Washington & Old Domionion Railway. The 45 miles of trail are asphalt paved with crosswalks and or lights where the trail crosses major roads. Alongside 35 miles of the trail is gravel base path for equestrian riders. The trail takes you from Shirlington, VA in Arlington County and if you travel the entire 45 miles you end up in Purcellville, VA in Loudoun County. From Shirlington to Purcellville you pass through the cities and towns of Arlington, Ballston, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Paeonian Springs, and Hamilton, VA.

The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad closed it's doors in 1968. The last large project the failing railroad company faced was the installation of Washington-Dulles International Airport. Many supplies were brought to the area via the railroad company. After the Washington-Dulles International Airport project was completed the railroad company closed it's doors unable to compete with other railway companies in the region. Shortly thereafter the railbed property was sold to Virginia Department of Highways and then portions were sold to Virginia Electric and Power Company for the installment of electric transmission lines.

The first portion of the trial opened in 1974 in the City of Falls Church when Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority leased the rights from the power company. When the trail became popular they purchased this portion and other segments to continue the trail. The trail eventually reached Purcellville and was completed in 1988. Other small segments were then added with the last being paved in 2007. Small remnants of the railroad remain along the trail along with small exhibits/displays that talk about the history of the railroad company and trail. Companies like Norfolk Southern Railway and others have donated three cabooses that are displayed along the trail and two of them house small displays about the W & OD Railroad and Trail.

The W & OD Trail is great place to walk, jog, bike and or horseback ride. Many cyclist use this trail to ride to and from work since it crosses many towns and cities. Of course the trail is the safest in the day light hours but you pass through many scenic and natural areas so it's wise to take precautions when using the trail alone.

Happy Trails to you!