kids

kids

You Can Find Fossils on the Beaches of Calvert Cliffs State Park

This is well known in Southern Maryland, but I had no idea until recently: some of the beaches there have tons of fossils! The Calvert Cliffs, located south of Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County, Maryland, contain sedimentary deposits from the Miocene age (6 to 20 million years old), and those fossils wash up on the beaches. The…

September 12, 2016

Reston Events in September 2016

The arrival of September means that it’s time for two of Reston’s most fun events: the Lake Anne Jazz Festival and the Reston Multicultural Festival. Both are Modern Reston favorites! Other highlights this month include the Herndon Labor Day Festival, ChalkFest, Dulles Day, and some of the last summer concerts. Here’s what’s happening in September in the…

August 31, 2016

Outdoor Apps That You Should Try if You’ve Enjoyed Pokemon Go

It’s been so fun to see crowds of people gathering at local landmarks to play Pokemon Go this summer. As I learned through many conversations with players, Pokemon Go has inspired lots of people to spend time outdoors when they would ordinarily be sitting at a screen inside. If you’re one of the many people who…

August 25, 2016

We Tried It: Indoor Skydiving at iFLY Loudoun

Flying — you know you’ve dreamed of it. If you’ve ever envied a seagull soaring over a cliff, or imagined yourself leaping like Ironman, here’s the chance you’ve been waiting for. An indoor skydiving center called iFLY Loudoun opened earlier this year in Ashburn, and we’ve been eager to try it. This facility offers the sensation of…

August 8, 2016

Volunteers With Kids R First Are Delivering Free School Supplies to Thousands of Needy Kids

As I walked in the Kids R First distribution center at Rachel Carson Middle School, I was stunned by the seemingly endless boxes of school supplies. There were towering packages of pencils, scissors, crayons, highlighters, binders, glue sticks, and much more. “Oh, this is nothing,” said Susan Ungerer, president of the non-profit organization. “You should have…

August 3, 2016

Reston Area Events in August 2016

Now that summer is winding down, this is your chance to try everything you’ve missed on your Summer Bucket List. Get out there and enjoy! Here’s what’s happening this month in the Reston area of Northern Virginia, including Herndon, Great Falls, and Chantilly. MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 Mr. Knick Knack! Children’s Performance 10:30-11:15am: Reston Town Center…

July 29, 2016

There’s a New Weekly Petting Zoo and Children’s Play Area at Reston Town Center

As we mentioned last week, Reston Town Center is offering new summer events this year, and the Pavilion is now reserved for dogs on Wednesday evenings. Families will be glad to learn that Tuesdays are for the kids! On summer Tuesdays from 4:00-7:00pm, the Pavilion hosts Zoosday, a free play area for young children that includes…

July 25, 2016

The 2016 Guide to Free Summer Movies in the Reston Area

Summer seems to be slipping by faster than ever this year. If you’ve missed out on this season’s free family activities, there’s still plenty of time to catch up. Here is a schedule of this summer’s free movie screenings, both outdoors and indoors, in the Reston area of Northern Virginia.   LAKE ANNE: SUMMER FILM…

July 22, 2016

What I Observed While Talking to Dozens of People Playing Pokemon Go

I’m sure you’ve seen them, staring at their phones while wandering around Reston Town Center, Lake Anne Plaza, and just about every other landmark in the country. Pokemon Go players seem to be gathering everywhere. This phone game was launched last week, and within a few days its daily usage has exceeded that of Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, or Tinder. Whether or not…

July 15, 2016

Photo Gallery: Surf Reston Demonstrates Paddleboarding for a CBS TV Show

Residents of Lake Anne Plaza woke up Tuesday morning to discover a paddleboarding party happening outside their windows. (And some of them hurried out to join the fun.) Dozens of local SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) enthusiasts had gathered to demonstrate variations of the sport for the CBS morning show “Great Day Washington.” The show’s lifestyle correspondent, Meaghan Mooney, interviewed Steve…

July 13, 2016

Reston Area Events in July 2016

Mid-summer is here, and the Reston area offers lots of fun ways to distract you from the heat. Now is the time for free concerts, outdoor movies, free children’s entertainment, and more. Here’s what’s happening this month in Reston, Herndon, and Great Falls. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 Friday Night Live – Turtle Recall + Southbay 6:30-10:30pm: Herndon Town Green, 777…

July 1, 2016

The 2016 Reston Summer Bucket List

Reston really shines in the summertime. This season of fun always slips by too quickly — don’t miss it! Here’s a list of some of the best things to do during summertime in Reston and nearby parts of Northern Virginia. How many of these things can you check off this year? You’ll want to bookmark this page and refer to it…

May 31, 2016