10 Ways To Stay Warm This Winter And Still Have Fun
1. A Day at the Museum
Northern Virginia, DC, and the surrounding area is chock full of fun (and heated) museums, including a multitude that are of the famous Smithsonian brand synonymous with DC but what a lot of people don't know is that one of the hottest Smithsonian museums isn't in DC at all. The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is right here in Fairfax County near Dulles International Airport. You should also visit the National Museum of the United States Army which is one of the nation's newest and most popular museum destinations.
2. History is Always Hot
You've come to the right place if you want to brush up on your history. George Washington didn't lead this country to freedom just so we would have to stand outside in the cold to appreciate all his hard work. Mount Vernon's bevy of historic activities stays nice and warm year-round so you can concentrate on George's fascinating history and not surviving the brutal winter like he had to do at Valley Forge. Nearby you'll find another Founding Father's home - George Mason's Gunston Hall, which also has plenty to do indoors as you learn about the man whose writings inspired America's Bill of Rights.
3. Bust Some Stress
Everybody needs to let off some steam every now and then. The good news is that you can let out some of that stress in a safe and fun way with some unconvential axe throwing. Bad Axe in Mosaic is the perfect adventure for those looking to channel their inner Canadian and get into the swing of things while learning about this obscure Canada-approved pastime. See target, hit target.
4. Support Our Local Wine and Beer Makers
Winter is the perfect time to belly up to the bar at one of Fairfax County's craft breweries and winery tasting rooms. And this winter is especially a good time because of the unveiling of the Fairfax County Locally Poured Field Guide. Once you get the guide saved to your phone's home screen, you can begin your tour of Fairfax County's wineries and breweries - all you have to do is check in, get your savings, and work your way towards visiting all the wineries and breweries to claim your prize. It's really that simple.
5. Take Flight
Flight Adventure Park is a venue that features over 50 trampolines, the famous angled wall trampolines, and a series of launching decks from different heights. During this thing called open jump, there are no age restrictions, and any and all jumpers are welcome. Jumpers who are not taller than 46 inches must jump in our kiddie court. Open jump time slots on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday book up fast! Please pre-purchase your tickets online to reserve your flight time (2-3 days in advance) - and you have to be at least 13 for your adults to drop you off to bounce by yourself.
6. Play With Lasers
Ok, so we all remember Laser Tag...Well, fast forward 20 years and that whole children's game has evolved into another level of competition and fun. At Shadowland Laser Adventure Center in Springfield - you can relive your glory days as Laser Tag champion, or conversely be completely humiliated and humbled by your children and their friends. You will be briefed, equipped with a bodysuit, and given your phaser, and sent into an eerie chaos-filled maze-type arena where you'll find you and your team pitted against your competition. They also have a glow golf course for those of us who might want to avoid the laser arena. Visit their website and see their rules and recommendations for playing and get a heads up on their busy times so you can beat the crowd.
7. Act Like a Kid (With or Without Your Kids)
Say hello to Dave & Buster's Springfield Town Center or Dave & Buster's at Fair Oaks Mall! Aside from an extensive food and drink menu, this place is a perfect outing for sports watching and game playing. So come ready to play and let the games begin...and remember that games = tickets = prizes! Another option along these same lines is Fun Land of Fairfax - except they have indoor go-karts, a rope-climbing course, more games than you can shake a stick at, and fantastic food and game day treats. You really can't go wrong with any of these choices.
8. Artistic Appreciation
Tired of looking around and seeing all the drab colors of winter? We suggest you plunge into the colorful world of visual arts at one of our local art galleries! Face it, your eyes have been waiting to feast on some vibrant color ever since the summer flowers died and the bright leaves of autumn blew away - so heading to a place like the Workhouse Arts Center, the Emerson Gallery, or ArtSpace Herndon will liven up your retina's cones (look it up) and put you in a more pleasant state of mind. If you want to head across the Potomac there's also the National Gallery of Art or the American Art Museum.
9. Plan Your Escape
You might not be able to escape winter totally, but you can sure get your mind off of the cold weather by visiting one of Fairfax County's fun and thought-provoking escape rooms. We have four different escape room adventures throughout the County. Cyber Raccoon Escape Room in Falls Church, Escape Room Herndon, Escapology - The Live Escape Game in Fairfax, and Room Escape Fairfax/DC in Fairfax. All showcase their unique brand of themed escape plots for you and friends or family to figure out as you race against the clock. Be sure to reserve your space in advance as these popular attractions tend to be particularly busy during the colder months.
10. Catch a Concert
The return of live music is back in full force in Fairfax County! There are hundreds of upcoming shows happening this winter that are perfect for a fun family outing, a date night, or just a nice way to spend time with friends. And while you can still catch big-ticket performances at renowned performing arts venues like The Barns at Wolf Trap, George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, Capital One Hall and others, you can’t beat free or minimally priced shows at local hotspots like Jammin' Java and The State Theatre.
Seasonal Fun
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