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.

What do Germans and non-Germans do in October at Ft. Belvoir? Celebrate OKTOBERFEST! The family…read moreand I attended Ft. Belvoir's Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, 10/5/2013. Logistically it was right in our back yard from Burke America; however, I think we spent just as much time driving through two gates as we followed Ft. Belvoir's MWR website to a T. We initially went through Pence Gate but were told we had to drive through the Tulley Gate. After driving in circles we finally arrived at Oktoberfest. I immediately stopped by the Bier Garten tent to purchase an official Oktoberfest mug with Dunkelweizen. The dark lager beer lived up to its billing of "toasty malt and mocha aromas, with a medium-bodied palate and subtle hop bitterness on the finish." We then waited about 20 minutes at Schnitzels & Giggles to order a bratwurst platter and schnitzel on stick. The brats were homemade but could've fooled me either way. The Sauerkraut was fresh and not too sour like from a can. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the schnitzel on stick as it was crispy and had just the right amount of pork. After round one, we ordered some German Potato Pancakes at Babci's Potato Pancakes. The pancakes were about the size of a typical hamburger patty and paired well the apple sauce. We then stopped at Carol's Concessions Classic American Fare and ordered a foot long Italian sausage, funnel cake and lemonade. Since my bier mug was empty I filled it up one more time for $5 and downed a Marzen. Overall we a good time eating and listening to German music. I would've enjoyed the opportunity to participate in their Obstacle course (Krazy Krieger) and listen to the Luftwaffenmusikkorps 2 (German Air Force Band). Perhaps next Oktoberfest it'll all come to fruition. Tschus (Goodbye!)

This fair was easy to find in Ft. Belvoir. We were able to get close enough to walk to the…read moreentrance so we didn't need to take the shuttle. This is definitely a family friendly event with free entry and plenty of carnival rides. A few of the vendors offered decent german chow and plenty of the american stuff (chicken fingers, fries, hot dogs, etc.). The fresh squeezed lemonade was pretty good (Carol's Concessions) - just the right amount of sweetness. The kartoffelpuffer was very good (kudos to Babci's), however the lobster roll was a complete dissappointment, especially at $11/sandwhich. I got about a tablespoon of lobster --they claimed this was approximatel 4 to 6 ounces of meat -- no comment on the math here, especially since I gave the cashier a 10 and a 5 and she conveniently forgot to give me my $4 in change, doh! Oh yes, I did stand there with my hand out until she figured it out. That sandwhich left me thinking that I was eating an empty potato bread sandwhich rather than a lobster roll. I watched the guy load the bun and then take more than half of the lobster back off! shame on you Lobster Maine-In! I really wish that I could have tried the chicken schnitzel on a stick over at Schnitzels and Giggles but their line was just waaay to long. It stayed that way the whole time which makes me believe that I missed out on something tastey. sad face. The Oompah Band was nice entertainment while you sat under the tent to either eat, grab ein bier(oder zwei oder drei...) or just to get away from the sun. While I was there they played a few German songs and a mix of fun ones for the kiddos (chicken dance, hokey pokey, etc.). On the carni side there were plenty of fair rides for the kiddos and the delish fair food that we all love -- funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, corn dogs, etc. The Fire Department was there handing out toy fire helmets to the kiddos at the entrance, a few vehicles were on the display and the event sponsors were active talking to people and handing out goodies. I hope that I win that gas card from GEICO! =P Unfortunately I didn't sample the German beer - I chose to be the designated driver and got the free non-alcoholic beverage instead. Over all it was a nice event and I look forward to checking it out again next year...maybe on a different day.

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.

exceptional family fun every year - great food, authentic Arabic sweets, Arabic music and dancing,…read moreopen air seating, Kid Zone that keeps the family happy all day!

23rd Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival was a great event. I missed 22 other years but I will be…read morecoming again. The staff is incredibly organized, it feels more like an organized Japanese, not Middle East Festival. Everything is presented nicely in different and multiple formats (plates, hand brochure or large food panel with pictures) so it is really hard not to know what is available. Hosts are welcoming and asking how they can assist. The only improvement would be to place a schedule of events on the website so people can gauge what event they want to attend (dance, or roasted lamb dinner or whatever else). There are many ethnic drinks offered and they complement great food. I had a Kibbeh Platter and it was so good that I wanted to meet the lady cook. This is really easy festival to remember because it always during the Labor day weekend. There is a lot of stuff for the kids (free pony rides for example) in the large backyard or you can have a church tour. The assembly hall is large and Arabic music entertained us entire time. The Sweets table is a LONG table with any baklava that you may think off (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, ...) Sweets that I tried were all very tasty. I leave this place with a satisfied belly and notion that everything was perfect and I credit the great hosts for that.

This is one of the best kept secrets in Loudoun County. This is a phenomenal place all the way at…read morethe end of Loudoun County Parkway and has numerous walking trails and activities for kids and adults. We hosted an annual picnic here and had a great time. This is highly recommended for morning nature walks and evening relaxation.

It would be a nice place to visit if there was more to see, that admission is not so ridiculously…read morehigh, and the grounds were better kept. We really felt that we're offsetting owners' costs by helping them get a tax break in addition to the shamefully expensive entry fee for tickets for an art festival that was, sadly, not really a festival. Probably less than 10 vendors and only 2 food trucks. No music. No party- or festival-like atmosphere. It just felt like we were walking the grounds of some wealthy people who charged us a ridiculous amount to be there for an hour or two. Bathrooms are in portable trailer, so if you're not a fan of portables, you'll want to hold your bladder. Their 250-year old house of which there was much pride sounded more interesting than the gardens, and a tour of that would have made the visit slightly more of a value. But like others have said, if this was run as a non-profit organization, it may have made the high entrance fees slightly more easy to swallow. I can't see their current business model being a successful one unless only very wealthy people take an interest in visiting, financing, and renting their facilities. They have taken landfill & turned it into a pretty place, but for the average family, it's too expensive and not sufficiently entertaining or educational to make a trek out to visit really worthwhile. BLUF: Skip it unless they put some amazing work into the property, reduce entrance fees significantly, and let the public visit more often.

Since my last review, I ended up purchasing a family membership to the Children's Science Center…read moreand it is the BEST purchasing decision I have made all year. It's close proximity means that I have a go-to spot to bring the kids on school breaks, rainy days, cold days, or whenever we simply have nothing to do. While there are a few standing exhibits, the staff does a really good job at changing things up (and keeping things topical) so each visit feels special. And the best part... SLIME. We've made slime conductors, spider slime, fluffy slime, snowflake slime, glow-in-the-dark slime .. basically alll the slime. The experiment lab always has a slime option and it is a highlight of every visit. My eldest daughter went from barely reading and needing help at the beginning of our membership to fully reading and creating experiments on her own. It is so much fun to see. For the littles, there is a small playroom with building blocks, magnatiles, books, and those large blue fort/construction material building materials. My two-year old loved spending time in this room but now that she is three she likes making her own hovercrafts and setting them sail in the wind tunnel. The staff is SO kind, SO helpful, and so passionate about what they do. I love how they offer volunteer/internship opportunities to teens and will also set up special traveling science labs to Title I schools. If you are a member you also get discounted or free visits to children's science museums all across the United States which has made this membership 100% worth it for our family. If you are looking for an experience gift to give a little one this year, I highly recommend the Children's Science Center!

Had a great time with my toddler today. She's not quite two so her admission was free and there's a…read more$2 discount for purchasing tickets in advance. I was worried there wouldn't be enough activity for her age but she had a blast playing with exhibits and blocks in the interactive room. She also made "play dough" as an experiment. The staff were all friendly and helpful, we will definitely be back.

Eakin Community Park sounds like a spectacular place. Yet as far as I'm concerned, it's a nice spot…read moreto rest legs after biking or jogging. There's a small picnic table, that's shaded for those gory hot days. This is park of the Fairfax Connection Trail System. That is impressive, as the path goes north and south throughout the county. Parking is plentiful here. Sometimes I'll drop the car here to bike either way. Do not go to this park during rainy or snowy days. It's a flood zone, and Prosperity Road can be a pain even in the best conditions. There is a small playground for kids to enjoy, along with some basic charcoal type of grills. It is decent but nothing extraordinary.

Solid park with tennis courts, a picnic/grill area and a softball field. There's also a decent…read moresized pond with lots of turtles swimming around My favorite thing is (don't tell anyone) there's a decent sized parking lot where you can join the Cross County Trail towards either Lake Accotink or Vienna. The trail has lots of trees and seems to be in pretty natural state in the park, which is always a plus. I think the trail is the biggest attraction here, otherwise it's a nice local park if you live in the area.

Pretty little park! Nice to walk and see the well kept grounds and dedication the staff has put…read moreforward to keeping it so beautiful. Photographs also posted on Instagram @3spade7star_photography and Facebook ThreeSpade SevenStar

Green Springs Gardens is one of the most beautiful parks in Fairfax County and North Virginia that…read moreI have ever visited and definitely a hidden gem among all the parks here. The colorful flowers and unique park areas like the glass greenhouse, the secret garden, and the children's library were some of the spectacular highlights in Green Springs Gardens. Admission to this park is free as well. I was impressed by the manicured lawns for picnics, meditation, and community outdoor activities. We walked all of the trails there. I noticed the happy and musical chirping of many birds there. All the flowers were beautiful . I loved the delicate orchids the most in the glass greenhouse. Many nice sitting areas all over the garden to take small breaks from walking. This is one of the finest and a definite go see garden in the DMV area. I will visit this garden again & again.