Begrudgingly, I am rating Lake Fairfax with 4 stars. Let me preface by saying I am not an…read more"outdoor-sy" type of gal. Spas and sparkling rosé...more my speed, but I am always up for different experiences. Having said that...I've experienced it, and umm...with mosquito bites still itching, this was cool...not sure if I would say, "yes" again. While he set up the tents, I went to grab a margarita. Upon my return, I was impressed with the setup. Who knew camping could be "chic"? lol. After sending my daughter pics, she said it was, "glamping," not "camping." Lol Honestly, I enjoyed. Just hated the bugs. I love to read. If you do too, bring a good book. The camping ground is spacious. You're assigned a lot where you set up your tent(s). Seems like he had the entire gamut -- blow up couch, blow up bed, portable grill, speakers for music, bug repellent, food, and libations ;-) You will hear everything that is nature at night. I swear I heard a fox howling/barking. All-in-all, it was a cool experience...five days later, still itching from those bites. Oh! There's a water park too...arrive early to get in because they do have a capacity limit.

Wayyyyy back in the day, my dad bought a RV, and the one place that I can explicitly remember us…read moregoing, was Lake Fairfax Park. I also remember having a great time on the lake paddle boating and swimming in the big "L" shaped pool. Fast forward decades later, I have taken a liking to camping. I still consider myself a novice, and over the last 3yrs, I have accumulated some cool stuff. I have an annual camping trip with a large group next month, but I wanted to do a small intimate trip to one of my favorite childhood places. I must say, Lake Fairfax has one big change from when I was a child. It now has a HUGE waterpark that has giganic water slides as soon as you enter. I was a little disappointed to hear from the check-in Park attendant, who had the personality of a disinterested teenager, that the L shaped pool I referenced was no longer there. My picture of laying poolside or chillin in the pool were shattered, because with waterparks, comes tons and tons of young kids.. and honestly, I would just rather not..LOL! Once we made it to our assigned camping lot, I was super pleased at how close we were to the extremely clean rest rooms that were equipped with showers. The camping site was noticeably quiet, almost library quiet, so that suprised me a little. I didn't want to disrupt the flow, so I kept my speaker at a low level. :) All in all, I had a memorable experience at Lake Fairfax Park and I can definitely see myself coming back sometime next Spring/Summer!!

There are many things to like about this park. Initially I thought the park was small, until I…read morestarted exploring it. There are plenty of amenities. There's a basketball court, tennis courts, exercise stations throughout the park, a soccer field, a playground, and even a little chapel. I came here to use the trails. There is a trail that goes around the lake. It's has stunning view because the lake is surrounded by spectacular houses. Also, a portion of the Blue Trail passes through the park. The Pink and the Blue Trail run throughout the city of Reston. I was a little nervous about using the trail and crossing the streets. But there are pedestrian tunnels to cross under the busiest streets. Every time I come to this park, I always see plenty of people exercising. 5 stars.

This is one of my favorite spots in Reston. Between the baseball fields the basketball court the…read moretennis courts the random exercise equipment set up along the walking trails. This is a great family friendly environment and I usually take my dog for a walk here once a day. The view from the lake is absolutely stunning. There are at least two docks if you have a boat or a canoe you'd like to take out on the water. There's usually Little League baseball games going on for the kids and people playing tennis at all hours but not in a busy or overcrowded type of way. There's also bathrooms and water fountains for people to use which is convenient. The gazebo has two grills and is perfect for an outdoor get together or a family outing. I would highly recommend this location to anyone trying to enjoy Reston's outdoors.

SUP was a lot of fun! Our instructors were Monty and Sabrina, very young, but seemed experienced…read moreand competent. They gave us a quick 101 and then we were off! They went around Lake Anne with us checking in to see if we were doing OK or had any questions. At one point, my husband and I felt a little restless, so we just sat and relaxed. Or got on our knees to paddle board. Whatever floats your boat (board)! We'll definitely be back next year to take advantage of the returning option for $29. Nice to spend some time out on the water, especially on a nice breezy day.

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) is their expertise! I discovered Surf Reston through a friend of mine…read more She had taken SUP with them and had said great things. My first experience with SUP was at the Georgetown marina. There was no lesson. I had gone with friends who had SUP'd but it was new to me. It was scary and the Potomac is a beast to paddle. When I read and saw the Facebook photos of the classes and events run by Surf Reston, I knew this place would take care of me. Sign up was easy, it's all done online. Before I signed up, I had a few questions. I texted them and received responses right away! Once we arrived we saw the staff working diligently to get all the boards and life jackets together. We got a very detailed land lesson(about 10-15 min) and then the rest of the time was on the water. Steve and Sabrina were awesome. They know their stuff. My main issue is getting from the knee position to the Stand Up position. They had a few helpful tricks and then I was standing! They take lots of photos and sent them to us the very same day. The location is one of the Reston Lakes. We were on Lake Newport. It was very calm and we had the lake to ourselves. Once on there water we were free to paddle on our own. Steve and Sabrina were always there if we needed anything. Everything from questions, to registration to event was perfect. They offer group discounts so ask about it. If you are curious about SUP, then this is the place to try it out!

A standard, fairly nice neighborhood shopping center. Has a Starbucks, gas station, CVS and…read moresupermarket (Safeway). A few eating establishments here as well, including Cafesano.

South Lakes Village Center is a community shopping center (in Reston, there are 5 village centers…read moreand 1 town center as planned by Robert E Simon--the RES in Reston) on South Lakes Drive backing to Lake Audubon. It's an outdoor shopping plaza featuring a modest selection of eateries & stores, including ABC, Safeway, CVS, BB&T Bank, SunTrust, Cafe Sano, Red's Table, Starbucks, and other stores and services. The Starbucks end of the plaza can be harrowing for pedestrians and drivers alike in the early morning hours as commuters run in to get their cup of early morning java before the workday begins. Other times there is plenty of parking with the only other real rush being during the lunch hour as drivers vie for close spots to Cafe Sano and Red's Table-- both of which have some outside seating where our patrons can overlook lovely Lake Audubon during the more temperate months of the year. A great place to get away from the office for a relaxing lunch in Spring through Autumn. In the spring and summer months, it's nice to sit at one of the benches around the little landing area at the bottom of the stairs by Red's Table to feed the ducks with leftover bits of bread. Later in the year, summer's ducks are replaced with the beautiful autumn pallet of golds, deep reds, and purpled and the crunch of troops of squirrels as they scurry around finding acorns among the fallen leaves.

Just getting into kayaking so I took some pool lessons with CKAPCO. Outstanding instruction…read more Their calculated roll progression and focused lessons had me rolling on my own in two sessions! My roll isn't quite river-ready, but I'm getting there much faster with top notch instructors helping to build the skill.

From the owner: We teach kayaking and Canoeing from beginning to advanced students in Reston Va and the nearby…read morePotomac,Shenandoah and Rappahannock rivers. Canoe too. We also lead paddling trips. All kayaks and gear are provided. See our website www.ckapco.com or call 703 850 1257

Great park with plenty of activities happening throughout the week! Lots of trails heading in north…read moredirections along the river- we walked about one mile from the visitors center and reached the Potomac dam which has great views. The trails were well taken care of. I arrived around 9am and there was plenty of parking and not too many other people on the trail

Hands-down, one of my favorite parks to go to in the Great Falls area. There's plenty of parking. I…read morelove to come here with my Doggo and hike, the trail all the way to the view of the falls.

Was here over the weekend for a fairy festival put on by the Reston Association. Parking was a…read morelittle awkward along the street but that was because they used the nature center parking lot for fun stations for the kids. My daughter enjoyed the bubbles and ribbons. I saw older kids appreciated the pine cone fairy crafting and wand making. After checking in we made our way along the walking trail through the woods to the pavilion where the fairy queen read a cute story while the kiddos enjoyed lemonade and snacks. The fairies and fairy houses along the way were adorable! Would love to come back and check out the visitors center when it isn't as crowded. I saw there was a lot of educational material about animals and plants.

Nice building with friendly staff. Trails lead off in different directions or you can stay and…read morewatch song birds at the birdfeeders.

This playground is inclusive for disabilities, has elements for all ages, and was recently…read morerenovated! It has tangible musical features like a giant xylophone, sound elements, a large communication board, several swings including an ADA inclusive swing seating, regular swings, baby swings, and a net swing. There are several small slides, and slides ranging from 1-3 stories tall.

Best playground in all of Virginia! Recently updated--highlights for my 3 are:…read more old school see saw Spinning wheel Zip line Ultra tall slides Musical area For adults Lots of picnic tables in shade Ample parking Challenge for all ages, including teens/pre-teens

I visited Great Falls NP on a spring-like day on May 30, 2026. This is a fantastic place to enjoy…read morenature on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. What are the pluses? First, the park includes waterfalls, pine trees, granite cliffs, and babbling brooks. Second, the Visitor's Center area has restrooms, staff who can answer questions, and a simple "old-school" ice cream and snack shop. Third, the river trail and waterfall outlooks provide amazing scenery without much effort - just a bit of walking. What more can you ask for? It's $20 per vehicle (for 7 days of use), or if you have an annual national park pass ($80), it's valid here. On the last Saturday of May 2026, it was crowded but parking was still available in the additional parking lot (second one past the visitor center) around 11:50am.

Great Falls & National Parks, Oh my!! (US National Parks) worth an Annual Pass…read more Do you like easy walking trails? Beautiful views? A front seat to nature...ducks, frogs eagles and other animals await your visit to Great Falls Park. It's really 2 parks in 1, or is that 1 park cut into 2? Let me explain, Great Falls is a national park that sits in the border of Maryland and Virginia. The trails were relatively easy, in regular sneakers. Apparently, if you get up in the morning you can see an amazing array of wildlife and a huge amount of birds. There's even a man made waterfall, areas to enjoy water sports and fishing. It cost $20 per car, $15 per motorcycle and $10 on foot. It cost $35 for Annual Pass (only for Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park). There's also an America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which cost $80 for US residents and citizens. For nonresident it cost $250. There are even a senior citizen resident annual pass for $20 and lifetime resident pass $80. For the cost of a one year annual pass, you can visit many times in a year. It's cheaper than paying each time you go...if you are into physical fitness, trails, nature and the great outdoors. Did you know the US National Parks include a rainforest and a Spanish Fort located in Puerto Rico, a US territory. Yes, for such a small area Washington, DC has 30 National Parks (including historic sites, memorials, and parkways). But wait there's more, The Greater Capital Region (DC, MD and DC) has 86 Parks in total with all parks and sites maintained by the US Parks Department. Are you going to Great Falls or will you hit all the US Parks this summer? Get a pass and get out in nature.

Race fees. During…read morethese tough economic times some might consider this a luxury item. Anyone can just hop on their bike or throw on some running shoes and get a great workout for free. So what do you really get for your race fee? "a Date". That's right.... you have a date on your calendar. We all say we're going to get up and go for a 6am run on Monday, but how often does that happen? Once you commit to the race, you're much more likely to get your butt out of that warm, comfy bed and put your running shoes on. "the Experience". Sure, you can join various local running or cycling groups, but where else can you meet up with a few hundred other like minded athletes to push and challenge yourself to run or ride your hardest and fastest? How cool is it to give your child the opportunity to watch from the side lines as mommy or daddy races past them, sometimes giving out a high-five as they go by? "aid stations". Multiple aid stations are set up every few miles on the course ready to offer water, Gatorade and medical attention, should you need help while out on the course. Staff and volunteers are set up with radio communication for any possible situation that might arise. "action photos". High hopes to be the fresh face for Nike or Under Armour? Brian Knight Photography is out on the course catching your athletic endeavors.... leaping across a creek, tumbling down shock-a-billy, scrambling up the rocks at Rocky Gap, or your relieved expressions upon seeing the finish line. "a marked course". Feeling apprehensive about checking out a new area by yourself? Afraid you might get lost out in the wilderness? If you're like me, I never trail run or mtn bike by myself solely for safety purposes. Too bad all the trails I ride don't have "XXX"danger signs when approaching a crazy rocky descent! "post race party". Fresh, hot Papa Johns pizza awaits you at the finish. Instant gratification for getting out of bed early in the morning. Fruit, granola bars, yogurt, cookies, M&Ms, and other refreshments are provided at every race. Great prizes such as Ipods and gift certificates to running stores like VA runner, and the Bike Lane are also given out during the awards ceremony. "fond memories". You'll always remember picking up your pace to pass the girl in front of you so that you could get on the podium. You'll remember your off road 1/2 marathon finish time. You'll remember how you felt when you rocked shock-a-billy in front of a crowd of spectators. When you bump into a complete stranger wearing the EX2 hat, or race T-shirt, you'll find yourself curious as to which race he or she participated. I've raced in a few EX2 events, and volunteered for many more. I have had the pleasure to see the race experience from both sides, and I know how much hard work goes into putting together a well run race with high levels of support. I also have experienced the feelings of camaraderie with fellow athletes, the joy of crossing the finish line after a particularly difficult physical challenge, and the satisfaction of knowing I was able to push myself farther than I ever imagined. When you consider all of this, the race fee becomes more of a long term investment in yourself.

EX2 Adventures trail running and mountain biking races are awesome!…read more These races are planned by runners, for runners. This isn't some elementary school fundraiser or overcrowded destination race where all they care about is your entry fee. If you are a runner, you know what I'm talking about. These aren't the kind of races where they charge inflated entry fees for a crappy cheap t-shirt with a hundred logos on it, a couple cookies and a warm bottle of water, and lines around the block for overflowing port-o-lets. Oh no, the people at EX2 Adventures are very well organized and actually care that you have fun. Case in point, in April I ran the final race of the 2010 Spring Backyard Burn series out in Prince William Forest Park, Virginia. The EX2 Adventures sponsors gave away so much post-race food and prizes, I really felt like I came out way ahead of what I paid in registration fees. Beyond gorging myself on pizza and other goodies after the 10 mile trail run, I also randomly won a gift certificate for a half hour massage for having the worst race injury; a set of ridiculously bloody nipples. I've only ever participated in the Backyard Burn races, but have heard great things about the Cranky Monkey mountain biking and Greenhorn Adventure races. If you are looking for a fun and challenging adventure you can't go wrong with an EX2 event.