If you are traveling in the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, and your kids would like a change of scenery, consider visiting Lake Fairfax Park. It is located fifteen miles west of the Nation’s Capital, in the historical city of Reston, Virginia. This was the first major city in the United States to be planned throughout before its inception, and there are plenty of bike trails and other recreational activities to participate in. Lake Fairfax is a place that is desirable to active individuals, and it is conveniently located off the major intersections of Baron Cameron Avenue and Route 7. It is a good place to spend a day, and admission fees are nominal for non-residents of Fairfax County.
Lake Fairfax Park is huge, as it covers 476 wooded acres. Immediately upon entering the park, is the brand new Watermine Water Area. This is a pool that has numerous slides, and water fountains that children are sure to enjoy. It gets crowded on the weekends, so your best bet is to try to get here early, or preferably come here on a weekday. Next to pool is the small lake, which is eighteen acres in size. What it lacks in size, it provides plenty of shaded areas, and an opportunity to rent a canoe or rowboat. Swimming is prohibited, and gas powered boats are not allowed in here, which keeps it safe and clean.
Fishing is excellent, and there are two spots, that seem to attract a large amount of fish. There is a wooden pier next to the marina, that is a great place to catch Bass and Catfish. There are slots to put your fishing pole in, and benches that provide a nice resting place after extensive casting. On a cloudy day, try your luck on the opposite side of the lake, just below the camping areas. While the fish over here are small, there are plenty of Sunfish and Perch to pull in. The best baits to use are hot dogs and night crawlers, and when there is a lot of rainfall, try the small creek area under the bridge at the soccer field. This can be full of surprises, and some people have caught Snapping Turtles here!
There are plenty of soccer fields to choose from, and they are all properly maintained. Organized games require a permit, and on the weekends, there is fierce competition on these fields. You can play volleyball next to them, and there are a couple of shaded pavilion picnic areas close by. Be sure to bring some charcoal for the grills, so that you can enjoy a steak or hamburger. The best picnic sites are located below the dam, on the Eastern side of the lake. There are plenty of trees here, and it does not seem to be as crowded here during peak periods.
If camping is your favorite activity, there are RV and tent sites to choose from. Prices are reasonable, with tent sites costing around $20 a night with electrical hookups. There is plenty of juice to plug in electrical appliances, and it is not unusual to see campers watching television. While this goes against the grain of many traditional campers, a lot of family will enjoy having this option. The campsites are on flat land, which is beneficial during rainstorms, although it would be nice to have a few more trees in this area. Each campsite comes with a charcoal grill, and a map makes your location easy to find. There are three bath houses on the premises, and the camp store next to the marina has a few necessities such as charcoal, firewood, and bug spray.
Lake Fairfax Park is a Fairfax County Park Authority facility. It is located on 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive Reston, VA, and the friendly staff can be reached at 703-471-5415. The website is www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefairfax/. Here you can find information about activities and the varying hours of operation, which is usually between 7 am and dusk. This is a good place to go fishing and camping, and families in the area have been going here for years. If you want to relax, there are few better places to do this in the area, and you might just discover that you want to spend an extra night here.
