Historic Clifton, VA & Hemlock Overlook Regional Park

On our way to Hemlock Overlook Regional Park we stopped for lunch in Historic Clifton, Virginia located in Fairfax County. Located off of Main street in Clifton you'll find original 100 year old homes and churches. This beautiful little town is tucked away in the woods where  you'll  find quaint little store fronts, several old churches and a few different types of restaurants. It's a great place to just stop, park and walk around on a nice day.

As you come into town you cross over active railway tracks. An old caboose is parked where the old Deveraux (Clifton) Station use to stand. My son thought this was neat to climb up on and look around. According to the history sites this station is what helped Clifton become the town it is today even though there is no stop here anymore.

The surrounding wooded areas of Clifton are a mix of old historic homes, horse farms and estate manors. Driving through the middle of the area you would never know Route 66 and a Dulles Airport were to the north and easy access to Route 28 to the west.

Once we were done with lunch we headed over to Hemlock Overlook Regional Park. The park serves as an outdoor education center run by Adventure Links. Adventure Links provides education and instruction to both private and public groups. The hiking and equestrian trails in the area are open for public use and you need no prior consent to use the trials. A small parking lot is provided just outside the entrance to the trail. The trail system that you follow is known as the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail and a map is provided near the parking lot.

It was a great place to hike around with the kids. Strollers and wagons would have a hard time getting through the trails but if you're on foot or horseback it would be a beautiful time spent surrounded by nature.

Next stop....Hidden Oak Nature Center!

Reston, Virginia

Reston is a planned community in Northern Virginia located in Fairfax County. This post war community enables residents to be within a half mile walk of the shops and eateries. Reston was developed to include five village centers and one town center. The Reston Town Center is a great place to grab a bite to eat, check out the local arts and shop. This area is convenient to live in if you're a young professional, active adult or even a family with children.

Reston is comfortably located near the Dulles Toll Road and Fairfax County Parkway. Reston is in the heart of the Dulles Technology Corridor with many employers located in Reston. Washington Dulles International Airport is also within 10 minutes of Reston. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is currently being constructed and projected to be completed in 2013. The project will eventually be a convenient way to travel east  to D.C. and west to Dulles Airport. For the active individual the W& OD Trail runs directly through Reston.

My friends and family that live in Reston are always commenting how beautiful the artificial lakes and wooded areas are. Reston has four lakes; Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, Lake Newport, and Lake Audubon. Lake front homes line the shores and many walking paths are throughout each lake area. Lake Anne Plaza is a neat place  to grab a bite to eat, check out local thrift shops or just sit outside on a nice day by the water. The Reston community also has no shortage of athletic fields and community pools. If you are looking for a condo, townhome or single-family home consider Reston, VA.