greenmtngirl

My husband will be going to Fairview Park, VA in June. We have a 5 1/2 yr. old and a 3 yr. old. Is this an area where I could find some fun things to do with the kids? (I am assuming it is, but would love suggestions!)
Thank you!

ronkala

where is Fairview park located?

greenmtngirl

Fairview Park, VA is near Falls Church and Arlington VA.

NewbE

I've never heard of Fairview Park and I grew up in the area. But anyway. If you are able to get on the Metro, then you're talking about visiting DC and Alexandria, and there are any number of free indoor and outdoor things you could do with the kids. There are scores of recent threads here about DC and environs, b/c of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Perhaps your hotel can tell you how far the nearest Metro stop is?

NewbE

Meant to add that Falls Church and Arlington, while very nice places to live, don't offer much in the way of fun for a visitor.

janisj

Isn't Fair View Park just the name of a street in Falls Church? I know the Marriott is there - but I don't think it is a "place" as such. Or am I confused?

Dukey

It is not the name of a street but an area, as such, located just inside the Beltway (I-495) between where it is intersected by Routes 50 and 29. The nearest Metro stop is probably Dunn Loring on the Orange Line.

If you could get to the Dunn Loring stop relatively easily you would have access to downtown DC, etc.

There is a multiplex movie theater and various restaurants in the immediate area but it is not an area which would be generally "walkable."

ronkala

Sure, come along with him. As mentioned above, metro can take you into DC. You will be a short drive from the Manassass Battlefield, and also Great Falls National Park. A visit to Burke Lake Park on route 123 was always enjoyed by the kids when family came to visit us while we were living in that area.

McAllister

Greenmtngirl, will you have a car available to use? If you are staying in Fairview Park, you will be located near many major roads that will make it easy for you to navigate. Otherwise, the hotel may offer a shuttle to the Metro station. If you have never been to DC, I say go for it!

MileKing

If you don't plan on having a car, then you really need to venture into DC via metro. The Fairview Park Marriott does run a shuttle to the Dunn Loring metro station (5 minutes). Most of the area hotels run shuttles to the metro, but I would call them to be certain. (Some only run them during the morning and afternoon rush.) The Marriott Courtyard - Dunn Loring is across the street from the metro so that is another choice. Of course, then your husband would have to catch the Marriott shuttle each day over to Fairview Park. One further caution, you will need a car to get to area restaurants unless you plan on eating at the hotel or in DC.

anneryan

Two thoughts...the traffic around the DC area can be pretty heavy, so unless you are familiar with driving in those conditions, it might be a hassle to set out by car--especially trying to go into downtown DC, park, and try to get somewhere with small children in tow.
Also, I don't know how much a 3 and 5 year old would like riding the Metro. Most of the attractions in DC probably wouldn't appeal to them quite yet.
Sorry to be a party-pooper, but I have travelled extensively in the area with my kids when they were little (grandpa lived there), so I've been there!

The one thing that we did with my kids when they were little was the Washington Zoo. You'd have to look into how to get there from where you will be staying.

Ann41

Some reporters at the Washington Post put out a book on sightseeing in DC with kids. I don't know the name, but I'm sure you could find it easily on amazon.