Oak Grove Park
1606 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22207
Arlington website ~ Google Map

The Good Stuff: Shade is the biggest selling point.  Amenities include: a gazebo with picnic tables, an (older) playground structure, a (cracked) paved trail, and a playing field.

Worth Noting: I was seriously underwhelmed.  The playground was lame, the walking trail was bumpy and cracked and stopped at the top of steep steps.  No swings or sand.  No water or bathroom facilities.  Street parking available.

The Review:

Oak Grove was not on my list of recommended Arlington parks, but since I happened to be in the vicinity, I stopped by one morning with my 2 year old.   At every Arlington park or playground I’ve been to, I’ve found something to love.  Until now.

Oak Grove is tucked away, close to Washington Lee high school.  It can be found at the corner of N. Quincy and N. 15th St., but you might not know it’s there as it sits atop a tall stone retaining wall.  It can be accessed from steps on 15th St, or a driveway on Quincy. This is the view from Quincy St.:

Once I got to the top of the park, I saw why I’d never heard anything about it.  There just isn’t much to say.  The park features an aged plastic play structure that did not impress me or my son.  It actually looks better in the picture than in real life.

After relaxing for a week with the Grands, it was time to head out for our annual “Fun Fest” camping trip to Buggs Island, aka John Kerr Lake Resevoir.  Buggs Island is Virginia’s largest lake, with over 50,000 acres of fresh water and 800+ miles of shoreline.  It’s owned and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and the majority of the shoreline is undeveloped.  The dam was completed in the 1950s to provide flood control and hydropower generation.  It is a popular boating and fishing destination, and takes approximately 4 hours to get there from the DC area.

We’ve been coming down here for years – there are several campgrounds around the lake, but we always stay at North Bend Park.

You can get campsites right on the water and while the facilities are somewhat primitive, it’s a pretty nice place.  Some sites also have electric hook-ups, but since we are tent campers, we just get the regular ole sites which are super cheap at $15/night  (electric is only $20/night).

So that’s the skinny on the area.  But what about our weekend?  Well, the forecast was calling for temps 100+° and frankly, I was dreading it.

Our group, which has been as many as 18 at times, had dwindled to mere 10 (half of which was our crew).  The heat definitely played a role, as did our picking a July date instead of our usual August.   We arrived Friday evening and tried to get settled in at the campsite.

I was pleased to see our site (C-162) was quite spacious and shady.  It also got a good breeze from being close to the lakefront.  The site next to us, 161, (also ours by reservation, but unused due to our depleted numbers) was right on the point and offered gorgeous views of the lake.

We got things set up as quickly as possible then got the boat in the water and got the kids in the water.  Everyone was happier in the water.   We took a break for dinner, then went back to play in the water til about 8:30pm.

Then it was time for bed.  Mike and the big kids decided to sleep out under the stars, while Adam, the dog and I occupied the tent.

We were a little worried about how Adam would do, but apparently, if you wear a kid out enough, he’ll sleep anywhere, so long his beloved Lammie is nearby.

Saturday was hot as the dickens, but thankfully never too miserable.  We spent as much time as possible either in the water on the boat, enjoying the breeze.  Lots of swim breaks and sunscreen helped keep everyone happy.

We got some tubing and wakeboarding runs in, but no one was as gung-ho as we’ve been in years past.  We mostly just enjoyed hanging out having fun together. So, for as miserable as weekend as it could have been, we survived and managed to have a great time as always.

Here’s the pics, click to see more detail:

We spent last week down in Southern Virginia, spending time with the gramps.  The plan was to spend the week with the grandparents, then travel from there to Buggs Island, where we had plans to camp and boat with friends.   This meant we were traveling with Grandad’s boat.  And since we were in the vicinity of Smith Mountain Lake, we figured we had to check it out.

The weather and water were gorgeous and we all had a great time on the lake.

You know it’s a good day when 2/3rds of your crew is passed out on the ride home.

In addition to boating, we enjoyed Grandma’s good cooking and working in Grandpa’s garden.

Rides in the golf cart were a fun treat – even Adam enjoyed them this time.  Last time, he ran screaming in terror whenever it started up.

Too soon, it was time to hit the road again.  But thanks Grandma & Grandpa for a wonderful visit!

MPM is back!  After a two-week hiatus due to laziness and then travel, I’m trying to get my groove back and get our weekday meals planned out.

After enjoying a week of being cooked for by Grandma, then surviving a weekend of camping in the 100+ degree heat, my food cravings are a bit inconsistent.  On the one hand, I’m feeling, “It’s hot I don’t want to cook”, but on the other, I’m thinking, “it’s summer and I want to eat yummy cheap produce!”

So, with that in mind, the meal plan is shaping up like this:

• Crockpot BBQ chicken + red cabbage slaw
• Teriyaki beef + broccoli
• RR Chop Chop Salad w/ Spicy French Dressing
• TBD Pasta + Shrimp + Basil + Zucchini (haven’t figured it out yet, but something with that combo)
• Tacos /Salad

See more Menu Plan ideas at Org Junkie.

Lacey Woods Park
1200 North George Mason Drive
Arlington, VA 22205
Arlington website ~ Google Map

The Good Stuff: Shade, fenced, bathrooms, water fountain, picnic tables, sandbox, bucket swings, two play structures, basketball court, and open field, shady trail through the woods.  Lacey Woods has something for all ages.

Worth Noting: No regular swings.  Street parking along busy George Mason Dr. and N. Frederick St (must cross field to get to playground).  Beyond the playground are some woods which some curious kids may wander into, possibility of poison ivy.

The Review:

For some reason, when I plan an outing to a park, I almost always forget about Lacey Woods.  I’m not sure why, as it is a lovely little park with a variety of play options for a variety of ages.  It has almost all the ingredients necessary for a fun outing at the park.  My kids would like it better if it had big kid swings, but, aside from that, there is plenty to do.

All in all, this is a great little park that stays quite shady, which makes it a great destination on a hot summer day.

Clarenford Station Park
1300 N. Vermont St.
Arlington, VA 22201
Arlington Website ~ Google Map

The Good Stuff: Shady!  Enclosed, small, sand lot, two play structures, small merry-go-round, baby swings, picnic tables.  Good for younger kids.

Worth Noting: No bathrooms or water, no big kid swings, not suited for bike riding.  Street parking.  Small enough that older kids might get bored pretty quick.

The Review:

While my big kids have been enjoying VBS this week, the two year old and I have been on the prowl, checking out parks.  It was a shaping up to be a hot summer day when we stopped by Clarenford Station.  Although the playground has a tiny footprint, I was happy to see it is very nicely maintained and quite shady.   It’s nestled in the Ballston – Virginia Square neighborhood, which is mostly zoned for permit parking, but we found plentiful parking along 13th Street, which is zoned for 2 hours in front of the playground.  The park abuts I-66, which adds a little white noise, but otherwise wasn’t noticeable.

This is a great park for younger kids.  It is completely enclosed with a chain link fence and has a mulch surface.   There are two play structures, the larger of which says it is designed for ages 5-12 (this did not deter my 2 year old from playing on it).  Adam enjoyed the bucket swing, but I know my older kids (6, and 5) would have been bummed by the lack of regular swings. The small sand area looked clean and had several diggers and buckets left for community use.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a small merry-go-round at this newish looking park.   Not as big as the one at the Great Falls Grange Park, but still fun. Another nice feature of this park is that it has plenty of seating — two picnic benches inside the playground and at least two benches.

All in all, this is a nice little park – especially on a hot day when you want to get out of the house and find some shade.

Smaller/Younger Play Structure:

Big Play Structure:

Swings:

Sandbox:

Merry-go-round:

Picnic Bench:

Great Falls Grange Park
9818 Georgetown Pike
Great Falls, VA  22066
Google Map

The Good Stuff: Lots of shade!  Big playground, lots of equipment for all ages, swings, slides, play structures, old skool merry-go-round.  Mulch surface, lots of picnic tables.

Worth Noting: Port-a-potty on site, no water fountains, area is not enclosed (split rail fence).  Smallish parking lot, though you could easily park next door at the public library.

The Review:

One morning early into our summer break, we needed to get out of the house but had nowhere to be.  I remembered hearing good things about the Great Falls Grange playground, so we headed out to check it out.  The 20ish minute drive from Arlington was worth it – we were all wowed when we got there.

The park has one big structure designed for the 5-12 age group and a smaller structure for 2-5.   It also has 4 big swings, 4 baby swings, and a tire swing!  The real gem of the park is an old school spin-til-you-fall-off merry-go-round.   The kids loved it!  I also loved how shady everything was.  We had a great time playing until we took a break for lunch.  Then my kids were thrilled to be invited to join a kickball game on the field adjacent to playground.  Everyone gave the park two thumbs up and gave mommy two thumbs down when she made them leave.

The Big Structure:

Swings:

The Smaller Structure:

Merry-go-round:

Other Fun:

Last Sunday, we made a date to meet up with old friends and check out the Flying Circus Air Show in Bealetown, VA.  Since our group is scattered across Northern Va, Fredericksburg and Culpeper, the aerodrome, which is 14 miles south of Warrenton, was the perfect location for a rendez-vous.  It took us a little over an hour to get there from Annandale, VA.

Prices are quite reasonable – $10/adult, $3/kid (3-12), and under 3 is free.  If you visit their website, you can also get a coupon for $2 off the adult admission, so that saved us even more.  They only accept cash at the gate, so be prepared for that.

We were the first to arrive, nearly two hours before the 2:30 show started, so we had plenty of time to snag our seats and check the place out.   There’s no such thing as a bad seat — it’s all bench seating and wasn’t crowded the day we went.  However, the only shade provided is from the select umbrellas that set up along the back row, so we made sure to snag one.  We also set up a sunshade over our back row seats, which came in handy as it was a hot and sunny day.

The kids were immediately awed by the presence of the planes, especially the two-year old.   I was pleased that it  never got too loud, as he is noise sensitive.

Some planes were in the field in front of the bench seating, and some were in the air, as you can purchase rides before and after the show.  We did not spend the extra money on this (ranging from $40 to $130 for an 8-15 minute ride), which left my kids bummed, but they got over it.

I was looking forward to enjoying the picnic lunch I had carefully packed, but when we got there, I asked Mike where he put the cooler.  He looked at me and said, “Where did *you* put the cooler?”  Doh, apparently I put it on the floor of the kitchen and that is where it stayed.

Fortunately, they have a small snack bar with reasonably priced food.  The kids got hot dogs for $2.50 each and Mike & I had a cheeseburger and pork BBQ sandwich for $3.50 each.

While waiting for the show to begin, we enjoyed the old timey music piped through the speakers.  Frisbees and wiffle balls from home, plus a birthday celebration, and just catching up with old friends made the time pass quickly.

The Flying Circus performs on Sundays from May through October.  Check out their schedule page, they frequently have special events, like a Hot Air Balloon Festival the weekend of 8/21-8/22.  It’s a great way to get out and enjoy your day!

The Flying Circus
5114 Ritchie Rd.
Bealeton, VA 22728
(540) 439-8661
http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com

Alcova Heights Park
901 S. George Mason Dr.
Arlington, VA 22204
Arlington website ~ Google Map

What I Loved: Shade!  One of the few parks that is truly surrounded by trees and shady.  The creek is fun for wading in.  Big play structure, swings, even a tire swing.  Bathrooms across the footbridge from the playground.

Worth Noting: Not fenced.  Big enough to lose track of multiple kids if not paying attention.  Mulch surface on the playground.  Not a great park for biking.  The creek is only a few inches deep, but is still an area to be aware of.  Also, while down in the creekbed with my kids, I noticed a bunch of bags stuffed under the bridge, which made me wonder if the park had a homeless resident.  Street parking along 8th St and Randolph St.

The Review:

We visited this park at the end of June and I forgot to blog about it!  It had been recommended by several moms in my mom’s club, so when I needed to meet up with a friend who was staying in south Arlington, it seemed like a good opportunity to check it out.  It was a short ride down George Mason Drive to Alcova Heights.  I had driven by it many a time, but never seen a playground.   This is because the park is bisected by the creek.  The half that runs along George Mason Dr. has picnic tables, grills, a basketball court and restrooms.   But once you turn on to 8th St., you see the other half of the park which is a shady wonderland with a fantastic play structure.  The park also extends along George Mason north of 8th St, but the playground is in the southern quadrant (look to your right as you turn onto 8th St).  The newly renovated playground area has one of the bigger play structures I’ve seen at an Arlington park.

Hayes Park
1516 North Lincoln Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Arlington website ~ Google Map

What I Love: wonderful sprayground, soft surface, some shade, paved path, fenced, variety of play options, bathrooms

Worth Noting: parking can be difficult on a hot day,  New sprayground hours were implemented as of July 1st, in accordance with budget cuts: Mon/Tue/Thurs: 12-5; Fri/Sat/Sun: 12-8; closed Wednesdays

UPDATE: Arlington has responded to the many complaints about the hours and has revised the schedule so that there will be at least one spray park open at 10am and one until 8pm on each weekday — these new hours go into effect July 17th.  Check their website for the specific hours for each site (scroll to the bottom to see a chart with all the hours).  They are also exploring other options for keeping the water on at the parks on for longer periods, for example, possibly using a 15 on/15 off cycle.

The Review:

It was the last day of school, and so I took my boys (5, and 2) to hit the sprayground.  Parking was terrible, but we lucked out and found street parking across from the park, in front of the Arlington Science Focus school.  This day, I think parking was impacted by end of school activities, but I know when the park is popular on hot summer days, the street parking gets filled up too.  You can always find a spot, you just may have to be prepared to walk a few blocks.

The sprayground at Hayes is wonderful.  The area is mostly shady and has a solar system theme.  The center of the sprayground has a sun design in the concrete and “planets” extend from the sun and can be seen around the park.

Usually, my kids say they love the sprayground, but after a few minutes of splashing, they are done.  To my surprise, my 5 year old had a blast this time – repeatedly running through the spray and having a grand time getting wet.  My 2 year old also loved it.  It’s a good idea to bring a few buckets or balls to play with.  I always forget and then my kids try to borrow other kids toys, which doesn’t always go over well with the other 2 year olds.   Nonetheless, the kids had a great time playing.

After a snack, we hit the rest of the park.

The main play structure is fun, but gets full sun.

Adjacent to the play structure are some other simple fun things.  A caterpillar-like tunnel, and 3 person teeter-totter. A slow spinning ship-like thingee, and a spinning bucket.  (Click to zoom in on picture detail).

Adam enjoyed riding his glider through the park – I had to rein him in to keep him from running down the other tots.

Hayes Park also has a nice sand area.  It gets a little bit of shade on one side.

There are two sets of swings, one with 4 bucket swings and one with 4 regular swings.  These are set back under the trees so they are nice and shady.

In addition to all the play features, there is a nice paved path that runs around the perimeter of the park.  It’s mostly in the shade and great for young riders.  There are also water fountains and bathrooms on site.

All in all, Hayes park is a great destination park — I know many of my non-Arlington friends make the trip to come visit it.  I just hope the County can find a way to keep the water on during this hot summer.