Location: Reston
Top Things to do in Reston
- 1. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
- 2. Great Falls Park
- 3. Frying Pan Farm Park
- 4. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
- 5. Surf Reston - Stand Up Paddleboarding
- 6. Reston Town Center
- 7. Meadowlark Botanical Garden
- 8. Escape Room Herndon
- 9. Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole
- 10. NextStop Theatre Company
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Top 10 Things to do in Reston, United States
Reston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The population was 58,404 at the 2010 census. An internationally known planned community founded in 1964, it was built with the goal of revolutionizing post–World War II concepts of land use and residential/corporate development in suburban America. The Reston Town Center is home to many businesses, with high-rise and low-rise commercial buildings that are home to shops, restaurants, offices, a cinema, and a hotel. It comprises over 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m) of office space. Municipal, government-like services are provided by the nonprofit Reston Association, which is supported by a per-household fee for all residential properties in Reston. In 2017, Reston was ranked 29th in the Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine.
Restaurants in Reston
1. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 587 reviews
The only national park dedicated to the performing arts, with spaces for indoor and outdoor performances.
Reviewed By Alberta S - Washington DC, District of Columbia
We went with a group of friends and sat upstairs in the balcony are. These were perfect seats, you could see everything with no obstruction. This is not a large building so the performance was intimate. Loved the rustic atmosphere.
This was a great location for a music performance.
The seating was comfortable. Parking was easy.
2. Great Falls Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
An 800 acre park located just off the Potomac river.
Reviewed By Bodacious123 - Atlanta, Georgia
This place is a real treat.
Its easy to find- you have two choices, depending on where you are coming from. We were on the Virginia side, so we got the full visitors Center experience.
Start your visit at the visitors center. Learn about what you are about to see. The history of the are is surprising- the use of locks on the river for navigation of the river for trade, life in the area, animal life, etc.
The falls themselves are beautiful. The sheer power that you feel as you watch the water thunder down the rocks is impressive. We were luck y to visit the park after some rain, so the water was in full display.
Families can visit this are in less than an hour- depending on the attention span of everyone. We spent about 2 hours there and didn't see everything. Bring your hiking shoes
3. Frying Pan Farm Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Working farm, live farm animals, playground, Country Store, wagon rides($), antique carousel rides ($), Kidwell farmhouse tours (select days, call), children's concerts (10am, Wednesdays, June - August, Visitor Center Pavilion), family concerts (7pm, Thursdays, June - August, farmyard), bluegrass concerts (select Sundays, September - April, Visitor Center), farm stand (May-Sept, Wednesdays 8am-12:30pm)
Reviewed By Sue L
We used to bring our kids there when they were little. Seeing that Frying Pan Farm Park is still thriving makes me happy. Have great memories going in the past.
4. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By MamaAyinde - Stanford, CA
This museum is amazing! I even prefer it to the Air and Space museum on the national mall. It has the most amazing aircraft, including the Concorde, Space Shuttle Discovery, and even the Enola Gay. It's a real stroll through history. Don't miss the Blackberry (I think that's what it is called.) It flew from coast to coast in about an hour in the 1960s. I wonder what amazing feats today's secret technology is able to do. Very entertaining and highly recommended.
5. Surf Reston - Stand Up Paddleboarding
Overall Ratings
5 based on 74 reviews
Our stand up paddleboard sessions are guided by certified instructors on calm, flat water - the perfect place to get started and build your skills for more challenging waterways. Discover the beautiful lakes in Reston, Virginia right outside Washington, DC
Reviewed By susanP4777YT
I wanted our family to try out stand up paddle boarding. I searched online and found Surf Reston. The website was well organized and we arrived at the starting point with no trouble. Steve Gurney gave an excellent, articulate, easy-to-follow instructions on how to use the paddle board. My teenaged kids and I had such a good time that we can't wait to go back to Lake Anne or try other lakes with his organization.
6. Reston Town Center
Overall Ratings
4 based on 573 reviews
Reviewed By csserious - Chantilly, Virginia
Reston Town Centre was the jewel in the crown for Reston and the surrounding area with fine dining, fashion shops, ice skating, and what not. An evening of enjoyment come easy here. Parking has always been free here until recently. Since there are plenty of areas nearby for dining and entertainment, many regulars have embraced other options to avoid the parking fee. People will just not go there for having a cup of coffee or lunch and pay a parking fee. Same goes for shopping and passing time, there are Tysons Galleria, Fair Oaks Mall and One Loudoun, among others.
7. Meadowlark Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Reviewed By Jeff_and_family - Vienna, VA USA
Meadowlark is a serene park to stroll and appreciate the flora. They have a huge variety of plants and flowers. Most have signage but in some cases you are left scratching your head to figure out what you are looking at. It's a marvelous place for photographers in warm weather with the flowers in bloom, and waterfowl in the pond. There are also koi and turtles in the pond, fun for the younger ones to see. I don't have young children anymore but I would think that a visit of any longer than an hour would bore them; there aren't activities or sites particular geared towards kids. There is a small Korean garden funded by donors.
In the winter they set up what must be hundreds of thousands of lights, some animated, for a stunning after-dark spectacle. I believe it takes them months to set it up. The walk is accessible, on a continuous asphalt walkway, but it's dark so someone who needs really solid footing may have an issue.
With their gorgeous natural backdrops, they host a lot of weddings and photo shoots for proms.
8. Escape Room Herndon
Overall Ratings
5 based on 65 reviews
Engage your team with a heart pounding and unique offsite adventure, and join in on the new craze sweeping the globe to see if you have what it takes to crack the codes and make it to the end. Artifacts, clues, symbols and unexpected interactive materials placed in each room guide players along a story line, in this immersive adventure.
Reviewed By kimmelgjc - Herndon, Virginia
Five adults trying an Escape Room for the first time. While we did not "escape" in time, we found our time trying great fun! The guys working the room and desk couldn't have been nicer or more encouraging, answered all questions when booking and very helpful in explaination while we were there also!
9. Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Sara_sakflva - Arlington, VA
We hadn't been to the watermine in years. We showed up on a Tuesday at 11 without a line. The watermine had activities for all ages. A big slide for adults and kids. Yep smaller slides for kids then a lot of toddler slides. There is a great lazy river that runs around the park. There is a spray park with a small slide as well. There a lot of large umbrellas for shade. You can also reserve areas for lunch and parties. There are a few standard food options : pizza, hot dogs and chicken fingers. We'll come back.
10. NextStop Theatre Company
Overall Ratings
5 based on 56 reviews
A professional live theatre company less than 5 minutes from Washington's Dulles Airport where none of the 114 seats is more than 25 feet from the stage.
Reviewed By Ben_Theretoo406 - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Our first attendance at Next Stop Theater was for a performance of “A Man For All Seasons” which we found quite as profound as it should be. This occasion was to see and hear “A Grand Night For Singing”, a musical presentation which is a recital of the more memorable songs of the legendary Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. The sketches were so very well done, and formed a concert well worth the applause with which they were followed.
We must admit that if we told our grandchildren that we had driven to Herndon to see Rogers and Hammerstein they would have asked “Who do they play for?”. Their loss. Someday I may be able to treat them to DVD’s or Original Track LP’s. Again I quote “LP’s?”.
Entertainment on television has been a not-so-modern miracle, but it has been a death knell to the giants of the Great White Way. As a matter of fact, that latter phrase is no doubt another anachronism to be explained to our millenial offspring
The pit rendered a score worthy of excellent kudos and the choreography was extremely well matched to the performance of the quintet of voices.
Evidently, “A Grand Night For Singing” is a traveling show, so if you love Rogers and Hammerstein as we do, check the web to see if they will be doing their thing in your neck of the woods.
Next Stop Theater itself is a commodious and comfortable black box theater, right at the Reston edge of Herndon and central to some wonderful eateries for before or after show meals.
Mrs Too and I would love to see you there some afternoon or evening. You will have a great time.
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