First off extremely nice county employees. They have some amphibians and reptiles on display. As a…read moresnake guy, they take wonderful care of the animals. Also they have exhibits children will like. Could the county modernize this a bit? Yes please! However the exhibits tell a story, about animal species and nature that's in the area. I like that the folks are so approachable. The building is also pretty neat. By all means go behind it, and see what remains of older buildings. Also the pond is active with frogs and turtles. Walk on the deck and the views are pleasant. Parking sometimes on the weekends can be challenging. As for hiking opportunities, the trails are beginner friendly, and provide a way for city folks to enjoy a different experience.

Beautiful, peaceful, and vast yet dynamic, intimate, and serene…read more I came here for the first time on a winter day in the morning around 9am. With lots of open space for parking, I sat in my car and just had my coffee and donut. The view(s) from the parking lot itself was lovely (see 1st pic). The trails, too - although I didn't walk that much - also seemed nice; birds were chirping and the few people were friendly and said hello. Unlike other trails and parks which can be overwhelming in terms of its space and completely deserted at times, this place seemed is planned and paved well; it's doable for non hikers and great for casual walkers. If you are single and or have a dog, a couple, or in a group, this place seems to be for everyone, and it is a great place to come and reflect.

My kids and I call the is Royal Lake park and it's a nice neighborhood/local park. A nice lake you…read morecould kayak in (not too many ppl), with geese, turtles and ducks. Very busy Saturday mornings during some seasons due to soccer (so parking lot will be full). There's a pretty good toddler and bigger kid playground structure and basketball court. It's about a mile walk across the lake with some paved parts but other parts are gravel and dirt and stairs. You'll have to carry a stroller at some points if taking stroller. Beautiful to look at the tree line during Fall.

It's nothing extraordinary. Right off of Pommeroy St, this is a small place with a playground. The…read moreset is decent enough for little ones. The field is of substantial size to throw a football around, or maybe fly a kite, but the goose poop isn't so attractive. That alone is a reason why the Canadian Honkers have less bag limits, during hunting season so please hit 'em up. As for the view, I do appreciate Lake Royal. Only two lakes in Virginia are natural, but this one has herons and an occasional eagle. Fishing from this side is ok, but it's far more action on opposite. Parking is for the most part adequate. Can't beat the price of admission, as it's free, and the adjacent trail is a pleasant one.

Love this public park! The playgrounds and sports facilities are spaced out nicely. It can get…read morecrowded in the weekend, with limited parking onsite. Took my two year old here and had a blast, will recommend!

I so miss the rocket, and the merry go round. As one can imagine, we live in a litigious society,…read moreand best guess is that's why the latter is gone. This isn't to say it's a bad place, as quite the opposite, it's a truly safe park. Located right next to the Fairfax City police department, I have a lot of happy memories from here. Taking my kids to this park was fun, and so was sledding on the hills in winter. Some parts of the trail need to be repaired, but otherwise it's in great condition. Kids of all ages will like the skate park, and the basketball hoops. Also the fields are fun for kite or drone flying. This is a rather large park. You can get exercise on the tennis courts, or cook on the grills here. The covered patios with tables, make for a decent birthday celebration spot. Also there's a volleyball area too. If in the area stop on in, and hours are dusk til dawn.

Nice dog park... grass and separate small dog area. It's a sports complex so there's bathroom. Nice…read morewalking trails.

There is a reason this park has such great reviews. We have a two year old and she adores coming…read morehere. The splash pad is the place to be when it's hot out, and is great for kids of all ages. The playground next to the splash pad is big, new, and accommodating to littler kids. The ground is that cushioned material so falls are less devastating. This park is also always very clean. The other facilities like bathrooms, fields, trails, courts, etc all look great as well!

It's an ok park playground. Well maintained but tucked in a townhouse neighborhood so parking is…read morelimited. Toddler and big kid structures available and it's also fenced. No restrooms or swings.

Carney Park is located next to Wegman's in Fairfax. It has a basketball court, tennis court, open…read moregrass sports field and running trails that go through woods and over streams connecting the surrounding neighborhoods. It's small but super clean and pleasant. No picnic tables or grills but great place for a pickup game in the summer and snowman building in the winter! There's also a children's jungle gym type thing across the street.

This place is such a gem!! We absolutely love it. The staff is soooo friendly, helpful and…read moreknowledgeable. We are so lucky to have this near our house. My kids love visiting all the animals, the turtles, snakes and bearded dragon are the favorites! W elige that they have a pretty big variety of toys available to play with and the dress up options are always a hit! It's a great place to visit during the winter and rainy days! But also so fun when the weather is great and you can walk around the trails. The only downside is the limited parking, but if weather is good the parking by the playground makes it a fun all morning adventure!

This such an incredible gem for families and nature lovers a like!…read more 1) Trails are easy to navigate and you will almost always see some type of wildlife whether it is butterflies, bugs, or deer. 2) The recently renovated playground is large and accessible for both small and big kids. There is a covered shelter nearby which makes it the perfect spot for a birthday party. 3) The nature center is a great place to explore on cold or rainy days. You can see turtles, a bearded dragon, play with toys in a little nature nook that looks like it came straight out of the Berenstein Bears, or climb up and down their little play structure. The people who work here are extremely friendly and the price for all of this is Free 99. 4) They host field trips and birthday parties that are fun and informative for kids and adults alike. My three year old STILL talks about the frog who peed on the floor last year at her class presentation. We are so lucky to have a gem like this in our area.

The McLean Central Park playground was recently renovated and we visited one of the first opening…read moreweekends. The slide/swings look very new and there are different levels of playground for various age groups. The playground is small compared to the nearby Clemyjontri park but the "brand new" facility is attractive to kids. There are trails nearby as well which we may come back for another time. Plenty of parking nearby.

This is my son's favorite park! The equipment is new and in good condition. There is a variety of…read moreequipment for different ages and interests. There are gazebos if you want some shade. It's never too crowded and we've always had a good experience with the other families and kids that play here. There is easy parking in a parking lot with a short walk to the park. It is connected to the McLean Central Library, which is convenient.

Went to the newly added playground at the Pat Rodio Park near Van Dyck playground in Fairfax. My…read moretwo toddlers had an absolute blast, the playground is brand new, there are slides, swings, monkey bars, see saws etc that will keep your little ones occupied for an hour. They also have an existing playground across the field, of which my two todds thoroughly enjoyed. Parking is free for 3 hrs nearby the neighborhood. Will recommend!

Forgot to add photos. My error but will remember next time. Pat Rodio was an exemplary citizen. He…read morewas known as a little league volunteer extraordinaire, and served I believe 5 terms on the city council. This was once called Keith Park I believe. Yet way to go Fairfax City. A good man and rightfully deserved. This park is good for little ones. It's near where the old Paul the 6th was. There have been a lot of changes. Kids will enjoy the climbing friendly playground. I was happy for the comfortable bench after exercise. It is a decent neighborhood park.