TUESDAY
27
OCTOBER
The Best Parks and Playgrounds for DMV Families
Three agencies run the DC area's best family parks — Fairfax County, NOVA Parks and Montgomery Parks — and each prices by its own definition of a local, per ride, with no unlimited wristbands anywhere. Clemyjontri is the one every family should know. Where the fee depends on where you live, we say so.
Updated October 21, 2026 · refreshed weekly
- Clemyjontri Park: McLean, VA — free, 7am to dusk, free parking; rides $4–$5 each
- Huntley Meadows Park: Alexandria, VA — free; half-mile boardwalk to an observation tower, 200+ bird species
- Brookside Gardens: Wheaton, MD — free; gardens sunrise to sunset, conservatory 10am–5pm, Children's Garden
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens: Vienna, VA — $9 adults, $5 ages 6–17 and 60+, free under 6
- Burke Lake Park: Fairfax Station, VA — train $5/$6, carousel $4/$5; $12 weekend parking for non-residents
Clemyjontri: the one every DMV family should know
Clemyjontri in McLean is the region's default park for mixed-ability groups, and it is free to enter and to park. Only the carousel and the train cost anything.
Clemyjontri Park — McLean, VAVisit official site →
A “boundless” playground built for mixed-ability groups: ramps up to the elevated play components rather than steps, rubber safety surfacing instead of mulch, lowered monkey bars, sensory-rich equipment and four color-themed play areas.
Dates
- Open 7am to dusk, daily
- Carousel weekends only through late October, 9:30am–3:30pm
- Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat, Sunday, Oct 18, 11am–5pm, $20 per trick-or-treater
Tickets
Park and parking are free. The carousel and the trackless train are $4 per person per ride on weekdays and $5 at weekends and on holidays, charged per ride with no unlimited option.
Know before you go
- Free parking in an 81-space lot with a drop-off zone, plus overflow at Langley Forks Park across the street
- The Liberty Swing is Virginia's first wheelchair-accessible swing, and not all chairs fit on it
- The trackless train has a wheelchair-accessible caboose car and does not run in rain, thunderstorms or below 40°F
- Accessible restrooms with baby changing tables at the picnic pavilion, which has wheelchair spaces for sixteen
- Call 703-388-2807 to confirm the train is running before you drive out for it
Who it's for
Mixed-ability groups, children who use wheelchairs, and a two-year-old on an ordinary Tuesday
Free nature, four ways
Four places here charge nothing at all, and between them cover a wetland boardwalk, a conservatory, lotus ponds and a wooded island.
Huntley Meadows Park — Alexandria, VAVisit official site →
A half-mile raised boardwalk through a beaver-created wetland out to an observation tower — the best introduction to nature in the region for a three-to-ten-year-old, with more than 200 bird species recorded.
Tickets
Free — no admission and no parking fee
Know before you go
- Beavers, frogs, dragonflies, herons and deer are all commonly seen, best at dawn and dusk
- The stroller-friendly surfaces are the boardwalk and the one-mile paved hike-bike trail from the South Kings Highway lot, which is also the only place bikes are allowed
- The two-mile interpretive trails are natural-surface
- No dogs on the Restoration or Heron trails, including the boardwalk
- The only restrooms are in the Norma Hoffman Visitor Center — closed Tuesdays, and open noon to 5pm at weekends
Who it's for
Three-to-ten-year-olds, and anyone pushing a stroller who still wants a real wetland
Brookside Gardens — Wheaton, MDVisit official site →
Free public gardens with a conservatory and a Children's Garden on site.
Tickets
Free
Know before you go
- Outdoor gardens sunrise to sunset
- Visitor center 9am–5pm; conservatory 10am–5pm daily
Who it's for
A warm indoor hour in winter, with a garden to run in afterwards
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens — Washington
Lotus ponds in Northeast DC that bloom through the hot humid summer months.
Tickets
Free, and no entrance pass at all
Who it's for
Summer mornings — the blooms are the whole point
Theodore Roosevelt Island
A free, wooded Park Service island in the Potomac, walkable from Rosslyn.
Tickets
Free
Know before you go
- 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Rosslyn Metro across Key Bridge
- Driving: the lot is reachable only from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway
- US Park Police ticket cars parked on grass
Who it's for
Walkers — leave the car in Rosslyn if you can
Where the money actually goes
Two agencies use two different definitions of local, and conflating them is how a day out goes wrong. Rides are never included in anything.
- Fairfax County Park Authority prices by Fairfax County residency
- NOVA Parks prices by member jurisdiction: the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun
- Only two parks here charge for parking — Burke Lake, and Bull Run, where everyone pays $8 to $14 per vehicle depending on residency and day
- Clemyjontri, Lake Fairfax, Huntley Meadows, Meadowlark and Cameron Run publish no parking charge
- There is no unlimited-ride wristband anywhere in the 2026 fee schedule
Burke Lake Park — Fairfax Station, VAVisit official site →
A county lake park whose one-third-scale replica steam engine runs a 1.75-mile loop in about ten minutes, alongside a carousel, a tour boat and mini golf.
Tickets
Train $5 weekdays / $6 weekends per person per ride; carousel $4/$5; tour boat $4/$5 with under-twos free; mini golf $9/$10 for adults and $8/$9 for juniors and seniors.
Know before you go
- Non-county residents pay $12 per passenger vehicle at weekends and on holidays from April through late October
- Weekdays are free for everyone and Fairfax residents are free always — bring a driver's license, since the surrounding jurisdictions no longer use property-tax stickers
Who it's for
Train-obsessed preschoolers — on a weekday if you live outside the county
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens — Vienna, VAVisit official site →
A 95-acre stroll destination with the Korean Bell Garden, lakes and gazebos on paved but rolling paths.
Tickets
$9 for ages 18–59, $5 for ages 6–17 and 60-plus, free for 5 and under — one price for residents and non-residents. A family of four with two school-age children is $28, and the $65 family membership pays for itself in two or three visits.
Know before you go
- Restrooms in the visitor center, and two free loaner wheelchairs
Who it's for
Walkers and stroller pushers — the paths are paved, though they roll
Skip if
You promised a playground — there isn't one
Water parks: the season ends on Labor Day
All three park-run water parks ran from May 23 to Labor Day, September 7, in 2026. The resident and non-resident gap is wider here than anywhere else in this guide.
The Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole — Reston, VA
A county water park with the Rattlesnake Lazy River, the Tenderfoot Pond tot pool, slides and tunnels.
Tickets
Fairfax County residents pay $17.25 weekdays and $18.25 weekends over 48 inches, $14.25/$15.25 under 48 inches, free at two and under. Non-county residents pay a flat $20 weekday and $22 weekend with no under-48-inch discount.
Know before you go
- Sensory-friendly hours on selected Tuesday mornings, 10 to 11am, with the louder water features off
Who it's for
Fairfax County residents, and anyone who came for a lazy river
Skip if
You live outside the county with a small child — this is the biggest resident gap in the guide
Atlantis Waterpark — Centreville, VA
The cheapest and most toddler-friendly of the three: a baby pool, a sand play area and a 500-gallon dumping bucket beside 230-foot and 170-foot slides.
Tickets
$12 weekday and $16 weekend at 48 inches and over, $9.50/$12 under 48 inches, free under two, and $7 after 4pm on weekdays. Registered Bull Run campers get in free.
Who it's for
Toddlers, and anyone who can go late on a weekday for the $7 rate
Great Waves Waterpark — Alexandria, VA
A wave pool, seven slides and a Paradise Play structure built for ages 3 to 12.
Tickets
$17.50–$20.50 at 48 inches and over. The $25 in-season Play All Day pass adds mini golf and a batting cage, and is the best-value ticket of the three.
Know before you go
- No online or advance tickets at all — day-of and on-site only
Who it's for
Ages 3 to 12, arriving early
Skip if
You wanted to book ahead
Upcoming park & nature programs in our catalog
Live from our catalog — 31 upcoming, refreshed weekly.
Scenic trail at Watkins Regional Park features QR-coded stations delivering video‑guided resistance and flexibility exercises.
Creative drop‑in play about bats in the Bird House Classroom, with hands‑on activities for early learners and families, all ages welcome.
WEDNESDAY
28
OCTOBER
Learn to identify local birds and use binoculars before combing Gulf Branch woods on a short hike, for ages 13–19.
Adults and toddlers explore nature with arts‑and‑crafts, hikes, story times, messy moments and animal warm‑up stretches at Brookside Nature Center, ages 3–4.
THURSDAY
29
OCTOBER
Touch artifacts, ask questions, and learn about animal ambassadors from the caring naturalists at Meadowside Nature Center, no registration required.
FRIDAY
30
OCTOBER
Halloween tales and roasted marshmallows around a community campfire at Clearwater Nature Center, with marshmallows and roasting sticks provided; bring hot dogs, other food, non‑alcoholic drinks.
Spooky stories and marshmallow roasting around a campfire at Locust Grove Nature Center, with costumes encouraged; registration covers one child and an adult.
Haunted mini golf and a terrifying trail wind through Pohick Bay Regional Park, offering spooky family‑friendly attractions and festive surprises.
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Festivals · Kids' classes · Craft workshops · Live music
SATURDAY
31
OCTOBER
Ghost Stories Campfire (Arlington County) — Stories, animal guests, games, songs and provided S’mores around the Long Branch or Gulf Branch fire ring, all ages.
Guided 1.7‑mile hike on Milkhouse Ford trail through forest, historic Fort DeRussy, Joaquin Miller cabin, and historic ford, meeting at Rock Creek Park Nature Center; costumes encouraged.
Weed removal workday on the Capital Crescent Trail at Bethesda Pool, volunteers pull invasive plants using gloves, pruners, hand saws, with tools available to borrow.
Hike through fall foliage, identify trees, then craft a keepsake from a perfect leaf at Riverbend Park for ages 5 and up.
Artist Playground: Halloween Edition (Herndon Fortnightly Maker Lab) — Themed Halloween craft and coloring page session, materials provided, for ages 3–10.
Spooky campfire at Locust Grove Nature Center features live animal ambassadors—snakes, spiders, toads—and marshmallow roasting, with costumes encouraged; registration covers one child and adult.
SUNDAY
1
NOVEMBER
Guided 1.5‑mile hike with a park ranger through Peirce Mill area, uncovering lives of formerly enslaved and modern residents who shaped Rock Creek Park, ages 12+.
Burke Lake Park naturalist leads a themed hike exploring wild plants, animals, and destinations, teaching iNaturalist app use, with phones, cameras, binoculars welcome, for ages 8 and up.
MONDAY
2
NOVEMBER
Bike safety rodeo and trail ride at Tysons‑Pimmit Library offers an interactive skills course and a post‑course trail ride for ages 5–10.
TUESDAY
3
NOVEMBER
Creative drop-in play exploring ancient worlds through fossils in the Bird House Classroom at the National Zoo, all ages.
THURSDAY
5
NOVEMBER
Ranger‑led 2‑mile hike in Rock Creek Park Nature Center explores fall colors and the science of leaf color change, with a steep but manageable climb.
Moon-themed nature session at Gulf Branch Nature Center offers songs, games, crafts, and mini-hikes for toddlers with an adult, for ages 18–24 months.
FRIDAY
6
NOVEMBER
Squirrels at Long Branch Nature Center offers one‑on‑one nature exploration with songs, games, crafts and mini‑hikes for ages 18–35 months with adult.
Ranger-led junior naturalist hike through Rock Creek Valley, covering half to one‑and‑half miles, teaches observation skills; meet on the Center front porch, ages 8+, bring water and layers.
Old‑fashioned fun at Gulf Branch fire ring with stories, animal guests, games, songs and provided S’mores, all ages.
Nocturnal Animal Hike (Long Branch Nature Center) — Explore nocturnal animals in a classroom discussion and trail walk after dark; dress for weather.
Guided bird walk at Burke Lake Park lets participants identify native birds using eyes, ears, and binoculars, suitable for ages 6 and up.
Night hike through Maydale Nature Classroom woods, meadow, and ponds explores sights, sounds, and stars, for ages 6 and up.
SATURDAY
7
NOVEMBER
Stories, animal guests, games, songs and S’mores await at the Long Branch Nature Center fire ring, for all ages.
Ranger‑led Woodlot Trail hike at Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm explores historic people and animals on a half‑mile uneven path.
National Park Service volunteer leads a leisurely one‑mile bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, with binoculars available for loan, gathering at the visitor center, for all ages.
CANCELED: guided hike in Wheaton Regional Park with a naturalist and mindfulness‑trained staff, exploring seasonal lessons and reflection; registration required.
Birdwatching adventure during spring migration at Clearwater Nature Center, with a naturalist guide and binoculars available for use.
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FAQ
Is Clemyjontri Park free?
Yes, and so is parking, for residents and non-residents alike. Only the carousel and the trackless train cost money, at $4 per person per ride on weekdays and $5 at weekends and on holidays. There is no unlimited-ride wristband.
Which DC-area parks charge for parking?
Only Burke Lake and Bull Run. Burke Lake charges non-Fairfax-County residents $12 per car at weekends and on holidays from April through late October, and nothing on weekdays. Bull Run charges everyone $8 to $14 by residency and day.
Is Huntley Meadows stroller friendly?
The half-mile boardwalk and the one-mile paved hike-bike trail are; the two-mile interpretive trails are natural-surface. Plan around two things: no dogs on the boardwalk, and the only restrooms are in the visitor center, which closes Tuesdays.
Do you pay more at Fairfax parks if you live outside the county?
At some, and the systems differ. Fairfax County Park Authority prices by county residency, so Burke Lake's weekend gate fee and the Water Mine's admission both change. NOVA Parks prices by member jurisdiction. Meadowlark charges one price for everyone.