Fairfax & Falls Church, VA

Out And About In Fairfax & Falls Church.

Parks: Baron Cameron: Off Leash Dog Park is a fun, off-leash park located near the baseball field, that includes water spigots and a separate area for small dogs. Burke Lake Park features a 218-acre lake with fishing, boating, rowboat rental, camping, a miniature train, a carousel, outdoor volleyball courts, open fields, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, clubhouse with snack bar and driving range, disk golf, horse shoe pits, an ice cream parlor, picnic areas with grills, 3 playgrounds, trails, an amphitheater, and a miniature golf course. Other nearby parks include: Nottoway Park, in Vienna, Berman Park, Big Chimneys Park, Cavalier Trail Park and Cherry Hill Park.

Airports: Dulles International Airport is only about 15 miles away from the Fairfax area, making it very convenient for all your air-travel needs from the region. Reagan National Airport is also nearby and only about 20 miles away. The Fairfax Connector is a public bus service provided by Fairfax County, which makes getting around town quite convenient. You can also hop on a train at the Amtrak Station in Alexandria.

Child Care: Chesterbrook Academy preschools combine learning experiences and structured play in a fun, safe and nurturing environment - offering far more than just child care. Winwood Childrens Center is a program of learning experiences which heighten the discovery process, stimulate the senses and enhance children’s awareness.

Elementary Schools: Marshall Road Elementary School, located in nearby Vienna, serves grades PK-6 in the Fairfax County Public Schools district. Oakton Elementary School is one of only 24 Fairfax County public schools to be awarded the 2011 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, a recognition of schools that have met all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and have also achieved excellence goals for elementary reading. Other great area schools include: Greenbriar East Elementary and Eagle View Elementary School.

Middle Schools: Flint Hill School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for grades K-12. Lanier Middle School is located in Fairfax and serves grades 7-8 in the Fairfax County Public Schools district. It is among the few public middle schools in Virginia to receive a distinguished “GreatSchools Rating” of 8 out of 10. St. Leo the Great Catholic School and Jackson Middle School, in Falls Church, are a few of our other favorite middle schools in the region.

High Schools: Oakton High School is a public high school in Fairfax County that uses state-of-the-art technology with numerous in-school and mobile computer labs for instructional use. Paul VI Catholic High School, (known as "PVI") is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school in Fairfax that is named for Pope Paul VI. Fairfax High School is another public high school in Fairfax.

Colleges/Universities: George Mason University was named after American revolutionary, patriot, and founding father, George Mason, and was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and then later became an independent institution in 1972. Mason is recognized for its strong programs in economics, law, creative writing, and computer science. Other colleges and universities in the region include: Northen Virginia Community College, American University, Georgetown, and George Washington University.

Restaurants: Mad Fox Brewery, in Falls Church, offers a dining experience unique to the Washington, DC, area: upscale casual dining in an English-style gastro brewpub with an emphasis on high-quality food to complement the house-brewed beers. Santini's New York Style Deli is a family-owned business with locations in Reston, Sterling, and Oakton. Uncle Julios serves the freshest and highest quality border style Mexican food in a vibrant family atmosphere. Other great restaurants in the Fairfax/Falls Church area include: TGI Friday's, Macaroni Grill, Guapos, Coastal Flats, PF Changs, Ruth Chris Steak House, Artie's, Sweet Water Tavern, Ozzie's, and Gordon Biersh.

Sports Venues: Patriot Center is a 10,000 seat sports and entertainment arena on the Northern Virginia campus of George Mason University in Fairfax.

Shopping: Fair Oaks Mall is the preferred retail destination, offering an upscale mix of stores and dining options. Tyson's Corner, Fairlakes Shopping Center, and Fairfax Corner, a beautiful mixed-use development that offers main street style shopping at both national chains and local boutiques, are fantastic shopping destinations in the region.

Museums: National Air and Space Museum, in Chantilly, holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. The Newseum, as well as several Washington DC museums, are also located nearby.

Entertainment: Rave Fairfax Corner 14, in the Fairfax Mall, is the perfect spot for a movie night on the town. George Mason Center for the Arts presents community events, student and faculty productions, and the “Great Performances at Mason” series.

Recreation: You can find great family fun at Bowl America, in Fairfax, and the Fairfax Ice Arena, which provides skating lessons, adult ice hockey leagues, schedules, events, and a pro shop. Keep in shape with the help of Vantage Fitness on West Broad St. or Falls Church Fitness First.