Ummmm, okay Arlington County -- I mean you already kind of ruled the roost in terms of boss…read moreplaygrounds, and then you had to go and outdo even yourself?! Mosaic Park in Arlington (not to be confused with Mosaic District in Merrifield) is located near Ballston and is a totally unique, amazing, super fun spot for kids and adults like!! The entire playground is made out of that awesome squishy rubber stuff, but it's not just used as flooring, they've built mountains and molehills for kids to zoom around on - making it an even more unique space than it already is! There's a large rock wall, rope climber, and soccer field as well to appease older kids, but the play structures with slides and stuff are actually pretty perfect for the younger kiddos, which as the mama of a 1 and 3.5 year old, I appreciate immensely. There is a small dedicated parking strip as well as street parking all around the large playground area, and benches lining the edges. I can see how the lack of shade might possibly be an issue in the hotter months, but for a spot to get outside to when it's chilly, it's pretty perfect. Just bundle up your babies and let 'em go! I hear there will be even more stuff added to this already very impressive playground, and I can't wait to see what else they come up with. Mosaic park is definitely being added to our regular playground rotation!!

A great urban park with great potential. Good greening initiative of the county. However there's…read moretoo much concrete and too little greenery. Instead of concrete or tarmac there should be more grasses, lawns, and shade. Plant some trees please especially around the children's playground. It's so hot! No one felt like coming here when it's so hot. Very little shade as well in other parts of this small park.

This is a lovely park with a unique and well kept playground! There are areas for kids of all ages,…read moreand we had a great time playing here for hours on the different slides and climbing structures.

I have been going to this park for some time now and it is one of the nicer parks right in the…read moremiddle of the city. There is plenty of parking by the library or even the street. Plenty to do around and a lot of restaurants and bars. My friends and I have been coming here to play tennis. They take many courts pretty well kept! And roughly 10 minute way to get to Ballston Quarter.

Nice shaded park with a very cool, nicely designed and consistently engaging multi-faceted climbing…read morestructure for kids of various ages and abilities to enjoy, plus a smaller play area with a more traditional wooden play set for the younger children and/or those seeking calmer, lower key play activity for any reason. A covered picnic area with several tables and benches located right between the two play areas provides excellent visibility for caregivers keeping track of kids playing on both sides and serves as a perfect snack/rest spot or pre/post playtime picnic location. It's also great for small birthday parties and other gatherings. Beyond the playground area, the park also offers a full size playing field with soccer nets on each side and even a small four level stand of seats on the far side of the field for viewing games and activities held there by neighborhood sports teams and whatnot. A very nice paved bike trail loops around the entire park and is perfect for kids to ride, scoot and run around on and maintain a view of the park and their grownups at all times. My kids usually bring bikes or scooters when we go, and then they switch between playing on the playgrounds, riding around the trail, running and playing on the fields, and snacking/hydrating at the picnic tables...and then back through all of those again as many times as they can before it's time for us to go home. It's one of our favorite parks in the area. And there are tons here so that's saying a lot.

Not far from Quincy Park is another public park easier to miss since it's nestled within a…read moreneighborhood. Park on the street and follow the signs for this medium-sized park. There's a track around the playground and green space that kids ride scooters and bikes on. The playground itself is built more for older kids with ropes to climb to access the slide. There's enough shade and places to sit. Sadly, there aren't restrooms.

Arlington isn't short on parks and green spaces spaces but the "parks" can be a bit of a stretch…read moredepending on where you go. But not Rocky Run Lark. Great park for kids plenty of activities to do. And it's right near a us stop and there's some street parking.

Great park for our 4 & 2 y.o. Grandchildren. Play area is segregated by age/ability and lots to do…read more Be aware that there is ample, but somewhat limited shade and seating. All the same a great morning adventure!

I love this sweet little tranquil spot. It's small, but a nice little pocket to walk through.read more

This park is nothing significant to Arlington County parks. It is a small stretch of wooded area…read morethat causes North George Mason Drive to dead end the resumes on the other end of it. Cars cannot drive through here. It is located in the Yorktown neighborhood. It is true that it has a small drainage creek that runs through beside a paved path and two bridges to cross within the confines of the small park. It just goes straight, no real turn off except to go into other local neighborhoods that surrounded it. It's a cute walk, but doesn't have anything kid friendly in it. Just a walk through.

Nice little spray ground and park with a fairly good variety of play equipment and options (in…read moreaddition to the spray ground on the left side of the entrance, there's also a large sand pit/play area, a couple swing sets, several other smallish but adequate climbing structures, open grass spaces, covered picnic table area, and other elements I can't quite remember at the moment. None of these are particularly amazing or updated like the fancy new stuff at many other playgrounds in the area, but all work perfectly well for kids (and parents) looking for a place to simply run and play. The area is fenced and gated (with a relatively child proof or at least child resistant locking mechanism) which I like a lot and wish all parks offered. I did not walk all the around to the back of the grassy area on the other side of the picnic structure to check to see if the fence went all the way around the entire park though, so I can't speak to the full "security" of the park overall, but it definitely seems securely fenced on the street side where all or most of the actual playground equipment is located, and I was able to watch my three kids play in different areas on either side fairly easily from my vantage point at the central picnic structure. It's not my kids' first choice of park in the area, given so many other nearby options like Quincy, Oak Grove, Woodstock, Woodlawn, Mosaic Park, Madison Manor and others, but it's a perfectly nice neighborhood park with a number of enticing elements like the spray ground, sand pit play area, covered picnic shelter, and several tennis and basketball courts. Particularly good park choice for birthday parties, btw.

This is a little park tucked into North Arlington across from the Arlington Science Focus School…read more There is a small parking lot or street parking is available. This is definitely for the 5 and under crowd IMO. There are no big slides, no extensive climbing apparatuses. There's 2 baby swings and 2 big swings. There's a large sand pit that includes an excavator for digging and a play kitchen. There is a 3 person seesaw and a tiny pirate ship. There are two small slides. The centerpiece is supposed to be a solar system themed spray park. Currently you can climb on the "planets". Water fountains are working. There are tennis courts and a small bike circle. If you have bigger kids, go elsewhere but this is perfect for toddlers!

This park is adorable and packed with way more than I expected! I went here a bunch of times this…read moresummer and fall, and every time I was happy with the scenery and the offerings. There are several different places to park and a few different entrances, depending on whether you're interested in the fields, the playgrounds, the disc golf or the trails. So much to choose from! I went for the trails, which is connected to the W&OD that is 40-plus miles long and Four Mile Run. So, pick the one you'd like, and loop around back to your parking spot. I really like this park! You can also find a bench and just hang out near some trees or the fields. You can bring a blanket and toss around a frisbee and have a little picnic. You can bring your children and let them run around and play. What a find in NoVa!

Cute little park for walking around. Not a ton of parking, especially if there are little league…read moregames going. There is an old timey train car with a historic sign. On a nice weather day, this is a great park for a short stroll or for a longer hike along the trails.

Took a wrong turn and that's an easy thing to do in this part of town, trust me. Entering this park…read moreturned out to be a pleasant surprise. Decided to get out of the car and start walking down the trail and this turned out to be peaceful as all get out. A few yards into the tree line and you hear birds singing and insects chirping and the city washes away. The tall trees provide plenty of shade and relief from the afternoon sun. A few hundred yards down the trail you come to a clearing with a giant rock formation in the center. This is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac. There's a whole backstory to this memorial grove told by Lady Bird Johnson herself. Just press the button and listen to the recordings. From here facing east you can see the Potomac River and it's a beautiful spot. It's easy to see why President Johnson chose this location. He used to come here when he wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the White House. The Mount Vernon Trail passes through the park so watch out for joggers and cyclists. You can find restrooms and trash cans close to the parking lot and snacks are available at the Columbia Island Marina.

Lady Bird Johnson Park is a small park that takes up most of Columbia Island in the Potomac River…read morecreated in honor of the work the former First Lady did around urban beautification. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) Park: It's a larger park with lots of trees, flowers and picnic tables in shade for family getaways. There are trails throughout the park including one that leads to a pedestrian bridge to the Pentagon. 2) Parking: There's a free three-hour parking lot near the marina. 3) Memorial: In the middle of the park is a memorial for Lady Bird's husband, President Johnson. 4) Views: The views from the park are stunning. You can see the entire National Mall from across the river. If you need a park with fewer people and lots of shade, go here!

Another one of my favorite places to simply enjoy on a nice day. It's romantic enough for sunset…read moreviews on one of the many benches and scenic enough to stop and mentally relax. Highly recommended and if you're up to it, take the trail and see more of the beauty that this area has to offer. Great for cyclists, runners, walkers, and families!

Didn't know this actually had a name. Who knew! Skip the banter, the answer is YES! VISIT! Everyone…read moredoes! It's a staple landmark in DC! Story Time! I came to the Georgetown Waterfront in my Season of YES, which apparently includes saying yes to waterfront views, questionable boat dynamics, and accidental raccoon contour. My friend wanted to show me all things water for a memorable Holiday weekend, so Georgetown Waterfront was the obvious meet‑up, because this girl was NOT driving to Potomac, MD. Boats, docks... I was getting the full tour of our brown waters of the DMV. And honestly, this area is perfect: lively, scenic, and full of characters to watch. The park area has no tie‑ups, so if you want to have a picnic off your boat, the park grassy area is a short walk away. I grew up in DC and if you did too, you already know the rule: You do NOT get in the Potomac. We were raised on stories about what's in that water; dead bodies, secrets, evidence, probably a missing chapter of DC history. And no, it's not saltwater. It's Potomac, MD water: a very specific shade of brown that politely tells you to mind your business. Fast forward 25 years... Potomac still looks brown, still looks suspicious, still looks like it has a backstory it refuses to share. But here I am, floating on top of it like I'm not fully aware of its reputation. Now let's talk about the people‑watching, because THAT is the real attraction when you come to the Georgetown Waterfront. You've got the oldies but goodies, seasoned gentlemen with boats, confidence, and clearly the budget to sponsor a whole afternoon. And then you've got the young women they're "hosting," who look like they were born after the iPhone. The dynamic is... noticeable. The math is mathing. If I feel out of place with someone who is 16 years older, I can only imagine how these college girls felt. But let me give it to these girls, they laughed at the jokes and listened to stories from these men's "good ole college days"... 45 years ago. It made for GREAT entertainment. I found myself staring like, "Should I ask their ages or just assume this is a mentorship program?" I chose silence. Once a woman can be your daughter... I don't know. It's a little off‑putting. But here I am, on a boat, sharing space with someone's grandpa and someone's young college daughter. Seasoned men taking younger women out is a thing, and here I am watching the circle of life. Very interesting. I realize in this moment older men just want companionship and they will treat women to dinner and fun for the exchange. Eeeek. At one point I caught my reflection and realized the "charcoal contour" on my face. I looked like I'd done a charcoal face mask and forgot to rinse, nope, just hair dye from a hopeful silver fox. Not sure why men do this to stop the aging. Grey is in! Stop putting in dye on your beards gentlemen! It's not cool. Suddenly the college girls' side‑eyes made sense. They were trying to figure out if I was okay or if I'd just escaped from a fight. Nope ladies, it was beard paint all over my face calling me out, like, "Let's give you more attention and Racoon Eyes." Overall, the Georgetown Waterfront is beautiful, entertaining, and full of life. Great views, great energy, and always something to look at, even when you're trying not to. Best place to come, relax, picnic, tie up (if you have a boat), and enjoy the restaurants all along the water. Tip: Use the DC Wharf or National Harbor for gassing up! Georgetown lets you tie up without a fee, chaos in the best way.

My daughter and I visited here at night, and I definitely wouldn't recommend going after dark! We…read morewere the only ones there, and with the limited lighting, it was hard to see the spider webs hanging around. I turned on my phone flashlight and suddenly noticed so many spiders above us--I'm pretty sure one even brushed my forehead, lol! I would definitely suggest visiting during the day instead. President Roosevelt was clearly a beloved figure, and after learning more about him, I can understand why. The display was meaningful, but it still felt like it couldn't fully capture his impact. The outdoor exhibit added an entirely different experience of its own. It was unique, peaceful, and offered a completely different way to appreciate the history and legacy being honored.

Overall, I thought Theodore Roosevelt was a so-so spot to go for a little walk to explore nature…read morethrough a 1.5 mile loop. Without having much information about the island prior to visiting, I was expecting (well, hoping) to see some city views of DC and Arlington from the island. However, not having these views was not a deal breaker. While the paths/trails were mostly clear, the island does not seem well-maintained. For instance, I was quite disappointed that the water fountains were not working. For obvious reasons, visitors definitely should bring their own water, but a lot of folks nowadays (including myself) are tethered to their Nalgene bottles or Stanley cups. I think this is a nice place to go for walk/run/very easy hike, if you live within walking distance or a couple of metro stops away from the island. Unfortunately, I live about 30-45 minutes away by car, so the odds of me visiting again (unless I'm in the immediate area) will be pretty slim. Also, I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning (at least during the fall, spring and summer) because parking is very limited.