Destination playgrounds in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Inspired by the travel thread… what are the playgrounds in the area where you could take your kids for several hours for fun unstructured outdoor entertainment? Ideally places that suit preschoolers through upper elementary schoolers.

We are in NOVA but open to traveling to any county for a good time!

[Anonymous]

The Wizard of Oz playground in Kettering, MD, is a fun destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inspired by the travel thread… what are the playgrounds in the area where you could take your kids for several hours for fun unstructured outdoor entertainment? Ideally places that suit preschoolers through upper elementary schoolers.

We are in NOVA but open to traveling to any county for a good time!

Not in NOVA but cash lake at the Patuxent wildlife refuge might be good. It’s a 1.5m loop around a little lake. So short enough for a preschooler and the older kids can run ahead/behind a fair bit and you will still easily hear them.

Scott’s run would maybe achieve the same thing? You’d just have to know your kids re:safety by the waterfall and the river.

North beach? It’s bay, and the beach is not free. But it has some play equipment on the sand and it’s manageable supervision-wise.

[Anonymous]

Blandair in Columbia, MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Wizard of Oz playground in Kettering, MD, is a fun destination.

It’s good but unfortunately they’re really not keeping it up. But it is a lovely setting.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Wizard of OZ playground.
Adding Cabin John Playground, Wheaton Regional playground both in moco
And Blandair park in hoco. Not much shade at Blandair so don’t go on a too hot sunny day.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir and GDS playgrounds. Both open to the public when school’s not in session.

[Anonymous]

Clemyjontri in McLean

[Anonymous]

Fairlington Park (Shirlington) - don’t know about several hours but very fun, including for big kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir and GDS playgrounds. Both open to the public when school’s not in session.

We love going to Beauvoir over the winter holiday and on weekends sometimes. So much that I sometimes wish we'd applied our DD there when we had the chance!

We sometimes meet up with NoVa friends at Clemyjontri and consider that a "destination" playground just because it's so big and there is lots to do. Though definitely more for little kids. We like that Beauvoir has a lot of stuff for older kids too with the zip line and all the elaborate climbing opportunities.

[Anonymous]

My kids loved Fantasy in Woodbridge/Lake Ridge

[Anonymous]

Chessie’s Big Backyard playground at the Franconia (formerly Lee) district park, if you go when the free splash pad is open. There’s also a carousel and a nice walking path with percussion instruments at various stations throughout.

[Anonymous]

Burke Lake has a lot to do (train, mini-golf, carousel), but the playgrounds themselves aren't great; Lubber Run is a nice playground, and then you can walk on the nature trail next to a creek, which actually has fish, turtles, and other wildlife - in the summer, the amphitheater has kids programs Sunday mornings also

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Wizard of Oz playground in Kettering, MD, is a fun destination.

It’s good but unfortunately they’re really not keeping it up. But it is a lovely setting.

That’s sad to hear. How are they not keeping it up?

[Anonymous]

Clemyjontri is great. Agree with fairlington!