Deer Forest Recreation Area in Reston, VA!

Since the weather will not make up it's mind I decided to post about Deer Forest Recreation Area located in the Deer Forest neighborhood in Reston. Deer Forest is a neighborhood in the North Point District of Reston and is also known as District 3 to the Reston Association. The park is located off of Reston Parkway just down the way from the North Point Village Center.

The Deer Forest Recreation Area includes a large piece of play equipment and two sets of swings for younger and older children. Even in the winter time the park has tons of shade. There are a few benches and a picnic table to stop and take a break. Right next to the play area is a large grassy area big enough for the kids to run around and play ball. Sadly there is not a restroom for the area but if you have a potty training kiddo you could head over to the North Point Village Center for a public restroom. As in many parts of Reston walking trails cross by the area and wind through the homes. So if you live in the area you may just be able to walk to the park along one of the great trails that wind through Reston. But in case you have to drive to check out the park just  park along Deer Forest Road off of Reston Parkway.

This Fairfax County park is a great community park and located in a very nice neighborhood of single family homes with great older trees and large yards. Just another example of why Reston is a coveted area to settle down.

Stratton Woods Park in Reston, VA!

Since the good weather is still upon us we checked out Stratton Woods Park in Reston, VA. This cute park is located off of Fox Mill Road and Fairfax County Parkway.

The 30-acre park has lot of different activities including baseball fields, soccer fields, a tennis court, volleyball court, basketball courts, hiking trails and a playground. The playground equipment was in great shape and in the summer time would have plenty of shade since it sits back in the middle of a nature area. Once you park in the lot you head down the trail to reach the equipment. I didn't see any restrooms but according to the Fairfax County site they do have facilities on the park property.

There are a few picnic tables around the playground so the little ones can take a break or enjoy a snack. My kids really loved this park and I can't wait to take them back in the spring time when the trees are filled out. The great part about this Fairfax County park is it's location to single family homes and townhomes so if you live in the area you should check it out!

Walker Nature Education Center and Trails in Reston, VA!

Yesterday we checked out the Walker Nature Education Center in Reston, VA. The Walker Education Center is located amongst 1300 acres of open space in Fairfax County and maintained by the Reston Association.

The Nature House located off of Glade Drive has a small collection of reptiles and fish for the kids to check out. Also a few exhibits for them to touch and sort. They also had a nature scavenger hunt sheet while you're out walking the trails. The Nature House has super clean restrooms and a parking lot.

The best part of the education center was the 2 miles of loop trails throughout the open space. The trails are clearly marked by logs with resting benches throughout. The trails are either gravel or dirt and can accommodate bikes, strollers and wagons.  If you're a geocacher there are lots of hidden caches found in the area.

For us the Nature House wasn't much but the trails were great and in the summer time would be completely in the shade. If you live nearby you should check it out on a nice day!

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!

Lake Audubon in Reston, VA!

Reston has 4 artificial lakes with many different planned communities surrounding these lakes. The original purpose of these lakes was for stormwater managment to capture rain run off which then heads toward Difficult Run watershed and eventually out to the Potomac River on it's way to the Chesapeake Bay.

Last week we checked out Lake Audubon in South Reston. This Fairfax County lake was built in 1979 and covers 44-acres. We parked at the Lake Audubon Pool parking lot and headed out on the trail that surrounds the lake. This is near the Beacon Hill and Lake Audubon communities off of Twin Branches Road. There is a great website called Reston Paths that helps you navigate the trails since most of it winds through neighborhoods and has you crossing small roads.

No swimming is allowed on the lake but a boat launch ramp allows you to launch boats for fishing. As you walk the paved trail around the lake you'll find many private boat docks for the lakeside homes, condos and townhomes. We headed towards the dam area where we were stopped by a large set of stairs. Since I had the stroller we stopped at a picnic table in the wooded area right at the waters edge. The kids had a great time eating a snack and watching the fish come up to the edge looking for food. The picnic table was completely in the shade and allowed the kids to take a break from their walk.

We picked a beautiful day to walk the trails and it was almost always in the shade of huge older trees. The homes in the communites surrounding the lake are beautiful with awesome views of the lake and nature.

Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, VA!

This past week we checked out Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, VA. Lake Fairfax Park is a 476-acre park in Fairfax County nestled between single family homes in the Lake Fairfax Estates community.

 The park offers campgrounds, tons of trails and picnic areas under large shade trees. If you like to geo-cache there are many hidden caches in the park. The lake has paddle boats you can rent but no swimming and windsurfing is allowed on the lake. A large walkway leads you down to the small marina where you can rent the paddle boats or drop in a canoe or kayak. Fishing is permitted from the docks but not while in boat on the lake.

For the kids, The Water Mine waterpark has an admission fee and includes a lazy river and waterslides. A carousel is also available for the kids and free of charge. If the waterpark and carousel aren't enough there is a small playground for the kids.

The kids and I had a great time walking around the lake along the trails. The carousel was also a favorite along with the playground. We'll definitely be returning to camp or just walk the trails at Lake Fairfax Park!

Brown's Chapel Park in Reston, VA!

Today we visited Brown's Chapel Park located in Reston, VA in Fairfax County. The park is located near Lake Newport one of the four lakes in the Reston area. Brown's Chapel Park is located off of Baron Cameron Road and Brown's Chapel Road across from the Lake Anne Plaza.

The park includes a small tot lot, baseball fields, basketball and volleyball courts. It also has plenty of areas to exercise including paved and natural trails that are part of the trail system that runs throughout Reston. Restrooms and picnic tables are available as well. Brown's Chapel can be rented for meetings and small gatherings.

 Lake access is available for fishing and hand carried boats. Single family homes, townhouses and condos line most of the shore of Lake Newport but trails weave in and out of the neighborhoods and have plenty of shade on hot days. Also this is a great place to take the family geo-caching.

The area is beautifully wooded and the kids had fun walking trails by the lake and through the wooded neighborhoods. Markers are located along the paths with mileage for each pathway. Numerous maps are available online for the different sections of Reston. The North Point Map highlights the different paths in and near Brown's Chapel Park.

The park is a great place to take the kids for some exercise or just a leisurely stroll along the trails. Once you're done you can walk over to the Lake Anne Plaza for something to eat.

Next stop.....Popular Tree Park in Chantilly, VA!

Reston North Park

Today we visited Reston North Park located in Reston, Virginia. This Fairfax County park is sometimes called the "Home Depot Park" because it is located behind the Home Depot on Reston Parkway.

The park has two levels of play equipment and both regular and toddler swings, the upper section is for the older kids and the lower section is for the little ones. Baseball and soccer fields are also part of the park.

There isn't a lot of shade over the equipment so during the summer months it can be warm. There are a few benches in the shade to escape the heat though. A porta potty is available in the parking lot as well. Overall this is one of the many Northern Virginia parks we will visit this year.

Check out my next hiking adventure in White Oak Canyon!

Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium

Baseball is back in D.C.! We've been going to games since the team started playing at RFK stadium in 2005. In 2008 the Washington Nationals were moved to Nationals Park in Southeast D.C. The park is a great place to take the family or just hang out with friends. The stadium has a great atmosphere, food and always seems very clean.With the recent acquisition of Stephen Strasburg and Jayson Werth games are very exciting.

The stadium has plenty of things for the kids to do besides watching the game. A playground is available for the kids to play in. You can also check out the Build-A-Bear Workshop and build a Screech the Nationals Mascot Doll. Screech the mascot is usually strolling around the stadium to meet the fans and take pictures. The Strike Zone offers interactive games for both adults and kids. During the game you can root on your favorite President when they race around the outfield. The running joke is Teddy will never win a race and to this day he has never won.

The concession stands offer many different types of food for the kids and adults. If you don't want to hit the concession stands you can grab a table at The Red Porch Restaurant while you watch the game.

National Stadium is great place to visit and watch a game!

Next stop local park.....Reston North Park or "The Home Depot Park"!

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.