No series of local trail tours would be complete without this one. I think this is the most beautiful Northern Virginia trail, and if you hike only one local spot, this is the one to choose. When you live only nine miles from a National Park Service site, you should probably go check it out. If you haven’t been to…

I had no idea anything this close to the Beltway could be so beautifully serene. This waterfall along the Potomac River is located at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean, which is a Fairfax County Park located 25 minutes from Reston Town Center. It’s a gorgeous park, especially as the leaves are changing. The trail is short and…

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…

It’s been called “America’s Best Idea” and it’s having a huge birthday. On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a series of events designed to honor the Service’s century of conservation and recreation. When you think of National Parks, distant destinations such as Yellowstone or Yosemite might come…

Did you know that the National Park Service offers a program to host artists so they can create art, music, or books in beautiful locations? I didn’t, either. It sounds amazing, and I’d love to be able to take part in this program. One Reston artist had that chance earlier this summer. This year marks the Centennial of…

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…

Washington, D.C. is arguably most beautiful in the springtime, and the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin are worth their hype. If you haven’t strolled around the Tidal Basin during peak blossom season yet, you really need to add that treasured local experience to your bucket list. It’s extraordinary. But if you’ve been there and done that… eh, skip it this…

Trees are part of Reston’s unique identity — unlike many suburbs, this area has preserved several of its mature trees. When you live in a city nestled within a forest, every season is beautiful. Autumn, however, is almost magical here in Reston. As we rake the last of this year’s foliage, let’s look back on…

This article is from 2015. Please refer to our 2016 Guide to Halloween Events.  This month is full of exciting Halloween events in Reston and the surrounding areas of Herndon, Vienna, Great Falls, Centreville, Tysons, and other parts of the DC area. Here is our huge list of activities for kids, teens, adults, and even dogs! THURSDAY,…