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Category: Fun Stuff

Fun things to do and see in Northern Virginia near Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church. Includes parks, shopping, sightseeing, recreation and events.

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Reston Town Center

I went here over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do in such a small area.  Reston Town Center is situated right off the Dulles Toll Road and hidden behind some pretty tall office buildings.  Your first impression would make you think you were in a major officeplex that is designated just for businesses.  In any case, walking up and down the street was pretty impressive.  I spoke to a few people along the way and they said that it was a beautiful place to come during the holiday season.  They have an ice skating rink that is open during the winter season and it ends around mid-March.  Although, I’m not one for skating, the fact that it was outdoors appealed to me. I enjoyed the outdoor shopping experience.  We decided to get a bite to eat and settled on eating at Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food.  I liked the décor of the restaurant and it seemed extremely warm and inviting.  The hostess was real nice and it wasn’t too crowded when we went, so they were extremely attentive.  The menu was uncomplicated and I like how you weren’t overwhelmed with choices.  We started off with a cocktail which was delish.  Since we were starving, I skipped the appetizer and went right for the main course.  I decided on their grouper on top of a cauliflower mash.  The funny thing is that I hate cauliflower!  However, I didn’t even think it was cauliflower, since it appeared like mashed potatoes. It was the best vegetable I had eaten in a long time.  We finished our dining experience with their white chocolate bread pudding.  Let me pause for a moment and have a moment of silence……..for the best desert I believe ever existed in a chain restaurant.  Maybe it was the way the caramel puddled in the center of the mini Bundt cake?  Or perhaps the vanilla bean ice cream melted on the side since the desert is served warm.  In any case, it was an out of this world experience.  OMG, how could I forget the complementary bread basket we received at the beginning of the meal?  It was simply awesome.  Needless to say we left there completely stuffed and satisfied with the $90 bill we received. We left the restaurant and continued our stroll.  People seemed to be pretty excited about what the little strip had to offer and they had every reason to be.  If you are ever in the area and need some place new to try or experience, I would suggest giving Reston Town Center a go.

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Taste the Middle East without leaving Tysons Corner

Alf Laylah, Tysons Corner

Alf Laylah is located at 8605 Westwood Center Drive #100 in Vienna, VA 22180.  If you are looking for a fun time around the Tysons Corner area, Alf Laylah is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights.  Alf Laylah is a restaurant that on these nights turns into a lounge.  It is a great place to listen to live Arabian songs and get familiar with the Middle Eastern culture.  The lounge has a dance floor, a full bar and has a variety of hookahs available for customers.  The social scene is a fun and youthful.  The prices are modest for the lounge and the food is amazing. A great fact about Alf Laylah is that when you go you feel welcomed since the staff is very friendly and the restaurant is very chic and has a modern feel to it.  It is not something that you would expect from a typical Middle Eastern restaurant, and the live music is just spectacular.  The fun fact about the weekend nights is that they have live belly dancing performances, which is a very exciting experience for most.  It is a great place for a date or for a group of friends to go eat, drink, dance and smoke.

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Chantilly Regional Library in Chantilly VA

The library that caters to all

The Chantilly Regional Library
Located just off of Stringfellow road: 4000 Stringfellow Road Chantilly, VA 20151-2627, The Chantilly Regional Library is a short commute for local Chantilly residents. It is nearby Greenbriar Shopping Center containing several restaurants, stores, a gas station, and a Giant grocery store. Bus stations are located across the street and as you are entering the library as well as bike racks making transportation simple and very accessible. The Chantilly Regional Library is designed to fit the needs and desires of kids, teens, and adults of every age group. Equipped with internet stations containing free wireless internet, researching and web surfing are available at the touch of a button. Quiet atmosphere, group tables, and stocked book shelves containing thousands of genres loaded with information create a great combination for those in need of a study area. Also available are meeting rooms open to the public perfect for discussions of any kind. The library isn't just limited to studying areas and meeting rooms, there are plenty of activities available too! Author events, musical performances, book sales, and discussion groups are had on a monthly basis. There is even a children's area filled with books that will interest any young mind. It is definitely safe to say this is a full service library.

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Lorton Town Center

The Lorton Town Center has retail shops and restaurants, retailers include:
Lorton VA real estate
Lorton real estate
  • Fusion Nails and Spa
  • Lorton Dry Cleaners
  • Verizon Wireless
  • Salon Red
  • InkStop
  • Curves for Women
  • Wachovia Bank
  • Lorton Station Medical Center
  • KC Pharmacy
  • FedEx Kinko's
Restaurant choices at the Towncenter include:
  • Pane e Vino
  • Daily Grind
  • Maya's Pastries
  • Subway
  • Fireside Grill
  • Corner Cuisine
  • Vocelli Pizza

Lorton Marketplace

Lorton Marketplace features retail shops, restaurants, and office space. Retailers include:
  • Shoppers Food and Pharmacy - best doughnuts in the area.  But get there early.
  • Virginia ABC Store - friendly employees who will always greet you with a smile.
  • Mattress Discounters
  • My Eye Doctor
  • Escape Salon and Day Spa
  • UPS Store
  • Lorton Marketplace Barber
  • Lorton Cleaners
  • Reflection Dental
  • C2 Education
  • Minnieland Daycare
  • Bank of America
Future plans for an Exxon Mobil gas station and a medical center are underway. The Marketplace also features a variety of restaurant and food service choices, which include:
  • Caribou Coffee
  • My Karma Indian Bistro
  • Quiznos - Great sandwiches and lunchtime deals.
  • Hong Kong Café
  • Tokyo One
  • Z-Pizza
  • Angie’s Creamery
  • Glory Days Grille

About Lorton Station

Lorton Station situated on 300 acres is located in Southern Fairfax County, Virginia. It is a new planned community that offers residents a blend of conveniences from shopping to dining and outdoor excursions. This development consists of 950 homes south of Washington, DC off Interstate 95, with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter train station within the community. Visit http://www.lortonstation.info/amenities_main.asp for additional information regarding Lorton Station.

Amenities

100 Acre Stream Valley - Joseph Plaskett Park

In the North section of the community lies an existing 100-acre Stream Valley Park. In 1999 the park was dedicated to the founder of Lorton, Joseph Plaskett. This park consists of a wooded walking / biking trail that extends through both ends of the park and the Pohick River which winds its way through the community.

Community Pools

Two outdoor swimming pools, sundecks and bath facilities, located in the North and South sections of the community.

Community Recreation Center

Located at the North pool and is the location where committee and board meetings occur. The clubhouse was designed to resemble a train station and provides a warm, rich setting for small parties and gatherings. The rental fee is $350.

Lorton VRE Station

Lorton Station has its very own Virginia Railway Express (VRE) train stop. This convenience makes Lorton Station a very desireable community. The station is minutes from any of the community's homes and offers direct access to Washington DC and Metrorail. For information regarding the VRE, please visit: http://www.vre.org/

Tot Lots

There are three tot lots within the community. Other local amenities include the nearby marinas on the Occoquan and Potomac rivers, several local and state parks, recreation facilities, museums, shopping malls, outlet centers, and fine arts and cultural foundations. This neighborhood is located in one of the nation’s top school districts (FCPS). For other inquiries regarding the community, please contact: Lorton Station Community Association 9050 Lorton Station Boulevard Lorton VA 22079 Tel: (703) 339-3824 Fax (703) 339-3825

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Pohick Bay Golf Course

Pohick Bay Golf Course is located at 10301 Gunston Road, Lorton, Virginia. The golf course is open during daylight hours, all year. The golf course can be contacted at 703-339-8585. They can also be visited at http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/hours_and_directions This scenic course is located on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Lorton, Virginia. Local golf magazines repeatedly name Pohick Bay as one of the area’s most challenging courses. Maps of the course and additional information about each hole can be viewed at http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/golf_course . Pohick Bay's Professional Golf Instructor Ferndando Martinez can help you whether you are a beginner or a skilled golfer. Let him help you take your game to the next level. Fernando has worked with men, women and children of all ages. Visit his page for more information http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/professional_instruction Men’s, women’s and junior leagues are available as well as tournament packages. Tournament rates are applicable Monday through Friday for groups of 24 or more golfers and a maximum of 120 golfers for a tournament.

Tournament packages are as follows:

Basic Package $53 per person Includes: 18-hole greens fee 18-hole cart fee Range balls Course gift (logo ball, tee package, course coupon) Outdoor tent with table and chair setup Standard Package: $58 per person Includes: All items in basic package Longest drive and closest pin markers Personalized cart signs and scorecards Deluxe Package: $63 per person Includes: All items in standard package Post tournament scoring Morning coffee setup Basic Junior/Senior Package: $45 per person Includes: 18-hole greens fee 18-hole cart fee Range balls Course gift (logo ball, tee package, course coupon) Available only to recognized junior or senior golf groups Standard Junior/Senior Package: $50 per person Includes: All items in basic junior/senior package Longest drive and closest pin markers Personalized cart signs and scorecards Outdoor tent with table and chair setup Available only to recognized junior or senior golf groups Additional Services include the Pro Shop and a beverage cart service, The pro shop features a snack bar that offers sandwiches, grill items, breakfast muffins, hot and cold beverages, candy and chips as well as inside seating. The beverage cart is offered at no charge and carry beer, Gatorades, sodas, water and snacks. Golf memberships are also available at affordable rates and offer flexible options for all kinds of golfers plus three courses for the price of one! Member benefits can include advanced tee time reservations, unlimited range balls, discounts on pro shop merchandise and even discounted or free greens fees for your guests. All memberships are for twelve months from the date of purchase.
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Mason Neck State Park

The Mason Neck Conservation Committee was formed in 1965 after two bald eagle nests were spotted. The committee, concerned about impending development on the peninsula, recommended part of the area to be used as a site for a state park. In August 1967 the commonwealth began purchasing land parcels from The Nature Conservancy.
Mason Neck
Mason Neck
Mason Neck State Park is on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. The park attracts migrating and non-migrating species of birds, including tundra swans, herons, assorted species of duck and bald eagles. The park consists of several hundred acres of hardwood forests. Several wetland areas are also found at Mason Neck State Park. The park is in southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Access to the park is via U.S. 1. From northern Virginia the drive time is approximately 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., 45 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Roanoke, four hours. Mason Neck is a day use park and has no overnight facilities. Mason Neck offers hiking, biking and self-guided trails. Four miles of unpaved hiking trails and three miles of paved multi-use trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature by the bay. Elevated walkways allow visitors to explore some of the marsh areas in the park. Ten bicycles are available for rent by the hour. Fresh and brackish water fishing are available, however, you must have a valid Virginia or Maryland fishing license. There are no facilities for boat launching via trailer. From April through October, kayaks and canoes are available for rent, an hour or all day, to explore Belmont Bay or Kane's Creek - a great way to see eagles. Other attractions the park offers include: hunting, festivals, workshops, a visitor center. The park's environmental education center has a gift shop with park-oriented merchandise and souvenirs. Educational programs include pond study, bird-watching, canoe trips, active volunteer program, night hikes, teacher workshops, hands-on experiential educational opportunities, and evening programs. Programs include: Your Backyard Classrooms program is a 40-activity curriculum guide for K-12 teachers Junior Rangers: Junior Rangers is a day-long program for children 7 to 10. It offers hands-on environmental education that covers stewardship and strong conservation, recreation and protection ethics. Several sessions with varying themes are held each summer. Contact the park for dates and fees. Wee Rangers: Wee Rangers is a two-hour program for children 4 to 6 with accompanying adults. It’s a fun, hands-on introduction to the natural world. Several sessions with varying themes are offered each summer. Contact the park for dates and fees. Accessibility include: Picnic area with handicapped accessible restroom facility; fully accessible playground; six handicap parking spaces; a fully accessible paved hiking trail. For more information about Mason Neck State Park,contact (703) 339-2385 or (703) 339-2380 (visitor center); email [email protected]
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Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings, a national sports bar chain, opened its newest restaurant in Crystal City in January. This new location is the fourth in the greater Washington DC area. Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wild Wings offers a casual dining / sports bar atmosphere. Large high-definition televisions line the walls, broadcasting the day’s best sports matchups. During major or local sporting events, the restaurant attracts large and lively crowds. Unlike typical sports bars, the Food is moderately priced, with Buffalo Wings featured as the signature menu item. A wide selection of wing sauces is offered, and many different beers are available. Recommended for folks looking for a casual dining experience or a fun place to watch a game.
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Manassas Farmer’s Market

The Manassas Farmer’s Market is held every Thursday from the 3rd of April to the 20th of November and every Saturday from the 5th of April to the 22nd of November at the Harris Pavilion located on 9201 Center Street in Manassas, VA 20110. A wide variety of home grown products can be found at Manassas Farmer’s Market sponsored by Historic Manassas, Inc. All products sold are locally grown alongside organic meat and seafood. Schedule as follows: April 3 to November 20 (7am to 1pm) at Harris Pavilion April 5 to November 22 (7am to 2:30pm) at the Visitor’s Parking Lot on West Street. The Manassas Farmer’s Market is only open in November if weather permits.