Outdoor Dining at the Edges of Fairfax County

Here are three outdoor dining options just outside the borders of our beloved Fairfax County, that are worthy of a drive on a warm summer day.

Ford’s Fish Shack in Ashburn

Ford’s Fish Shack, just west of Route 28 in Loudoun County, holds a special place in the hearts of anyone who loves New England-style seafood. Ford’s is our go-to destination for New Ipswich fried whole-belly clams (one of the Maine Fried Seafood Baskets), and we also enjoy the fish tacos and the fish and chips. Reinforce that beachside feel with a Blueberry Martini (hold the simple syrup), a Dark and Stormy, or a bottle of Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale. The nice outdoor patio borders the parking area, but is made cozy with a barrier of bushes, fencing and hanging plants. Indoors, you could sit at the bar, stare at the large mural featuring Rockport’s Motif #1 and pretend you’re at the sea.

Fords Fish Shack bar

Patio at Ford’s Fish Shack

Fish and chips at Ford’s

Drinks at Ford’s Fish Shack

Fish tacos at Ford’s

Motif #1 mural at Ford’s

The Secret Garden Cafe in Occoquan

Historic Occoquan is just over the river from Lorton, in Prince William County, so you could combine lunch here with a visit to the Workhouse Arts Center or Occoquan Regional Park. Lunch along the river is popular, but we think the hidden patio of the Secret Garden Cafe is a wonderful alternative. We tried the Cuban and Turkey Avocado BLT sandwiches and both were very tasty.

The Secret Garden Cafe in Occoquan

Historic Occoquan

Hidden Art in Occoquan

Okra’s in Old Town Manassas

We hadn’t been to Old Town Manassas in quite a while and were pleasantly surprised to find busy foot traffic and several restaurants with comfortable sidewalk tables. We chose to eat at Okra’s, a casual spot serving cajun and creole cuisine. We ordered the Okra’s Famous Gumbo, along with “Tee” (small) sizes of the Jambalaya and the Shrimp and Grits. There are just a few sidewalk tables available; if they’re full you can cross the street and try a meal at Carmello’s instead.

Ford’s Fish Shack
44260 Ice Rink Plaza #101
Ashburn, VA 20147
571-918-4092
www.fordsfishshack.com
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The Secret Garden Cafe
404 Mill St.
Occoquan, VA 22125
703-494-2848
www.stonehouserestaurants.com/thesecretgarden.html
Map

Okra’s
9110 Center St.
Manassas, VA 20110
703-368-3427
www.okras.com
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Five Fun in Fairfax Weekend Picks

There is so much fun to choose from during a Fairfax County summer; here are 5 Fun in Fairfax picks for this summer solstice weekend.

1. Clifton Wine Festival in Clifton

Enjoy music, food, crafts and most of all, delicious wine at the Clifton Wine Festival on Saturday, June 21st, from 11:00 to 6:00. Tickets are required for anyone over 5 and prices vary depending on whether you plan to taste.

2. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Summer Solstice Picnic in Vienna

Enjoy sunset over the Korean Bell Garden on the longest day of the year—the only day Meadowlark allows you to bring a picnic into the park. Admission to the gardens is $5.00 for adults, $2.50 for kids and seniors (under 6 free). We suggest you arrive early to explore the rest of this beautiful park.

3. Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend in the Fairfax Mosaic District

We love the idea of a foodie event built around fitness. You can sign up for the 9:00 am 5K which ends at the Love DC Chef’s Experience, featuring tasty treats and demonstrations by local chefs, or skip the run and head right for the food. On Sunday, options include Sunrise Yoga and an Obstacle Course Bootcamp, or go straight for the brunch. Prices vary by event.

4. Summer Solstice Campfires in Annandale and Alexandria

Roast marshmallows around the campfire and learn about summer solstice traditions and star stories at two Fairfax County Parks:

• Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale
• Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria

The event costs $6.00 per person.

5. Celebrate Soccer Viewing Party at Reston Town Center 

Join D.C. United players at the Reston Town Center Pavilion to watch Sunday’s World Cup matches and cheer on team USA. The fun begins with the Belgium-Russia game at noon, but the main event is at 6:00 when team USA takes on Portugal.

Bonus: Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest in Leesburg

Okay, it’s not in Fairfax County, but we think the Summer Brewfest, hosted by our friendly neighbor, Loudoun County, is worth a visit. Music, food, and plenty of beer sounds good to us. Ticket prices vary depending on whether you’re drinking, but kids 15 and under are free (accompanied by an adult).

2014 Outdoor Summer Concerts in Fairfax County

Great Falls summer Concerts on the Green

In honor of the first day of summer, coming this Saturday, here is a listing of 2014 outdoor summer concert series in Fairfax County, VA. Fun in Fairfax first posted the outdoor concert list in 2010 and it’s surprising how many of the series are still going strong. Guess that’s a sign that we Fairfax County denizens love our outdoor concerts.

Follow the schedule links for location details and inclement weather policies and please let us know if we missed any concert series.

Multi-Night Summer Concerts

Mason District Park
Spotlight by Starlight, 7:30
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale
Mason District concert schedule

Ossian Hall Park
Spotlight by Starlight, 7:30
7900 Heritage Drive, Annadale
Ossian Hall Park concert schedule

Wednesday Night Summer Concerts

Lee District Park
Lee District Nights, 7:30 – 8:30
6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia
Lee District concert schedule

Thursday Night Summer Concerts

Cherry Hill Park
Summer Concerts, 7:00
312 Park Ave, Falls Church
Falls Church concert schedule

Fairfax Corner
Live Music at the Corner, 6:30
4100 Monument Corner Drive, Fairfax
Fairfax Corner concert schedule

Fairfax County Government Center
Evenings on the Ellipse, 5:30 – 7:00, July and August
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
Evenings on the Ellipse schedule

Kidwell Farm
Kidwell Farm concerts, 7:30 – 8:30
2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Kidwell Farm concert schedule

Lake Anne Plaza
Take a Break concerts, 7:00 – 9:00
11404 Washington Plaza W., Reston
Take a Break concert schedule

Nottoway Park
Nottoway Nights, 7:30 – 8:30
9537 Courthouse Road, Vienna
Nottoway Park concert schedule

Friday Night Summer Concerts

Arrowbrook Park
Music at Arrowbrook Park, 7:30 – 8:30, June and July
2351 Field Point Road, Herndon
Arrowbrook Park concert schedule

Grist Mill Park
Mount Vernon Nights, 7:30 – 8:30
4710 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria
Grist Mill concert schedule

Herndon Friday Night Live!
Friday Night Live!, 6:30 to 10:30
777 Lynn Street, Herndon
Herndon Friday Night Live! concert schedule

Lake Accotink Park
Braddock Nights, 7:30 – 8:30
7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield
Lake Accotink Park concert schedule

Royal Lake Park
Braddock Nights, 7:30 – 8:30
Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax
Royal Lake Park concert schedule

Saturday Night Summer Concerts

Reston Town Center
Reston Concerts on the Town, 7:30 – 10:00
11900 Market Street, Reston Town Center Pavilion
Reston Town Center concert schedule

Workhouse Arts Center
Mount Vernon Nights, 7:00 – 8:00
9601 Ox Road, Lorton
Workhouse Arts Center concert schedule

Sunday Night Concerts

Great Falls Village Centre
CGF Concerts on the Green, 6:00 – 8:00
776 Walker Road, Great Falls
Great Falls concert schedule

 

Austin Grill Jalapeño Margaritas Hit the Spot

Offering solid Tex-Mex tacos and a spicy Jalapeño Basil Margarita, the bar at Austin Grill in Springfield could be a good spot to watch your favorite World Cup match-up. We generally avoid chain restaurants, but Austin Grill has local roots and we’ve been happy with our visits to their only Fairfax County location on Old Keene Mill Road.

We’ve made a few trips to Austin Grill for brunch with kids in tow. The interior decor is kitschy but fun, and we’ve always received prompt and friendly service. Like all good Tex-Mex, the meal starts with chips and salsa, which holds the hungry ones over until the main meal arrives. Our brunch favorites include the Migas Plate and the Chorizo Burrito.

Recently, we had lunch at Austin Grill on a Saturday afternoon after canoeing at Burke Lake. The Springfield location offers outdoor tables at this time of year, but they border the parking lot so don’t offer much in the way of atmosphere. We chose to sit inside at one of the front booths where we dug into fish, carnitas, and chicken tacos, and one of our group attempted the barbecue for one.

Jalapeño Basil Margaritas

Austin Grill outdoor patio

Bar at Austin Grill Springfield

Chicken and fish tacos at Austin Grill

Texas sign

Fish and carnitas tacos

Texas Bbq for One

Kitschy decor at Austin Grill Springfield

If you leave the kids at home, you could choose a seat at the bar and watch a World Cup match. Wherever you sit, we recommend you add a little liquid spice to your meal with the tasty, not too sweet, Jalapeño Basil Margaritas.

Austin Grill
8430 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22152
703-644-3111
www.austingrill.com
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Father’s Day Fun in Fairfax County

Here are a few of our favorite destinations for a fun Father’s Day in Fairfax County.

No Kids?

Active

1. Combine a little history, a shady hike, and a relaxing glass of wine with a trip to Charming Clifton, including a walk on the Bull Run – Occoquan Trail, and a visit to Paradise Springs Winery.

Bull Run – Occoquan Trail

Historic Clifton

Paradise Springs Winery

2. Hike a segment or two of the Fairfax Cross County Trail. We recommend segment 10, Leigh Mill to the Potomac, though be prepared for mud after the recent rains.

Relaxed

1. Head over to the beautiful wetlands boardwalk at  Huntley Meadows Park. It’s .7 level miles from the Visitor Center to the viewing tower along a short woodland path and the half-mile boardwalk over this unique hemi-marsh.

Huntley Meadows boardwalk

Historic ruins—Winery at Bull Run

Paradise Springs Winery historic cabin

2. Compare the history, the nature, and the wine with a visit to Fairfax County’s two wineries.

Kids Included?

Little Ones

1. Lakes and festivals are always fun for the little ones. In addition to boating and fishing, Burke Lake features a miniature train, a carousel, and mini-golf. You can rent a paddle boat on Lake Anne, then let the kids cool off in the waterfall sculpture. The food booths will be gone, but the Taste of Reston Carnival is open from 10:00 to 8:00 at Reston Town Center.

Reston Town Center Carnival

Games and prizes at RTC

Carnival rides big and small

2. Huntley Meadows is another good destination for young ones old enough to explore nature. The path and boardwalk are level and stroller-friendly, and there are fun interactive exhibits in the Visitor Center.

Big Kids and Tweens

1. Combine history and exercise with a hike on segment 9 of the Fairfax Cross County Trail, from Colvin Run Mill to the Toll Road (a little over 2 miles round trip). Dads with kids can get a free tour of the mill and wood carving lesson at Colvin Run Mill from noon to 4:00 this Father’s Day.

Historic Colvin Run Mill

Toll Road underpass CCT seg9

Great Falls from overlook 1

2. Huntley Meadows will appeal to nature-loving kids. We saw snakes, skinks, frogs, and a giant snapping turtle on our visit to the boardwalk. Since we just had some big rains you could head to one of our favorite destinations for post-deluge river viewing. Great Falls National Park has a great Visitor’s Center, impressive waterfall viewing and great hiking trails, but it is likely to get very busy so arrive early.

Older Teens

1. Boating at Burke Lake gives older teens an opportunity to hang out with the family while maintaining a little independence. Teens 16 and older can pilot their own boat rental, so you’re together, but not too close.  There’s also an 18-hole disc golf course if you’re looking for a different sports challenge.

Canoeing on beautiful Burke Lake

Burke Lake info sign

CCT segment 10 ends at the Potomac River

2. The Leigh Mill to Potomac segment of the Fairfax CCT is a good option for families with teens. It’s a shady trail, but when it’s hot you can climb down to the rocks and cool your feet in Difficult Run. There are also a couple of tricky portions of this trail, especially just before you reach the Potomac. Do NOT go in the Potomac—the current is extremely dangerous.

Boating on Beautiful Burke Lake

Boating on Burke Lake has a lot going for it—easy access and parking (free for county residents), plenty of room to spread out, and a peaceful, natural environment to enjoy. It’s the largest of three Fairfax County Lakefront Parks that offer boat rentals, and was our choice for a recent family outing. Our family of four includes two older teens and they were happy to have the indepdendence of their own canoe to row.

At 218 acres, Burke Lake is tiny compared to Virginia’s largest lake—50,000 acre Buggs Island Lake in Clarkesville—but it seems spacious enough even on a busy day. The lake features over 5 miles of shoreline, numerous coves, and a small island that serves as a waterfowl sanctuary.

The Burke Lake marina rents canoes and row boats (with or without trolling motors) at very reasonable rates. If you arrive before 3:00 PM, a full day canoe rental is only $16.00 with up to 3 people per boat, life preservers included. After 3:00, a half day rental is available for only $10.50. A basic row boat rental also starts at $16, becoming more expensive depending on your choice of motor.

The lake gets accolades for it’s stock of fish including largemouth bass, walleye, catfish and perch and we saw many people out trying their luck. Kayaks are prohibited except for fishing, and there were several people casting from solo kayaks when we visited.

Canoeing on beautiful Burke Lake

Canoe rental on Burke Lake

Banks of Burke Lake

Exploring coves on Burke Lake

Busy marina at Burke Lake

Burke Lake info sign

If lake boating is too tame for you, there are boating opportunities on the river at Occoquan Regional Park and Riverbend Park, and at parks along the Chesapeake Bay including Mason Neck State Park, and Fountainhead and Pohick Bay Regional Parks. More about them in future posts.

Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Burke Lake Marina
Map

Leigh Mill to Toll Road: Fairfax CCT Segment 9

Segment 9 of the Fairfax Cross County Trail, formerly the CCT and now officially the GCCCT, takes hikers over a variety of surfaces and water crossings on a mostly level, bike and family-friendly portion of the trail.

Our beloved Fairfax Cross County Trail was recently renamed the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, honoring the Congressman who championed creation of the trail during his tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. We applaud the Congressman’s efforts, but GCCCT does not exactly roll off the tongue, so we’ll still refer to it as the Fairfax CCT here.

In our north to south hike, segment 9 of the Fairfax CCT begins at Leigh Mill Road and continues to the underpass at the Toll Road on a variety of mostly level surfaces. This segment has some nice wooded sections, a few fun stream crossings, and a level stretch that’s stroller friendly, but it also has a major road crossing at Route 7. It’s 6 miles round-trip, so you might want to break it into two hikes as we describe here and add a visit to Colvin Run Mill.

Leigh Mill Road to Colvin Run on the Fairfax CCT

Park on Leigh Mill Road near Kelso and head up the trail along the edge of the meadow (tick check!), beginning at the CCT trail sign. Once you enter the woods you’re on our favorite part of segment 9—a shady, dirt trail with portions along Difficult Run. You’ll briefly leave the woods to cross over Brian Jac Lane (bear slightly left as you cross the street), but this stretch is generally quiet and away from houses. There is a fair weather crossing over concrete stones that should be passable except after a bad storm.

Smell something awful? That means you’re nearing Route 7 / Colvin Run Road and the trail has become the paved access road to the Colvin Run Septic Site. Good thing the access road is short! When  you reach the end you can either cross over Route 7 to continue on the CCT, or cross Colvin Run Road and pay a visit to historic Colvin Run Mill. We highly recommend the latter—it’s a beautiful and interesting site and there are bathrooms and parking available.

Start of Fairfax CCT segment 9

Wooded portion of CCT seg9

Fair weather crossing on CCT seg9

Horses also use CCT seg9

Nearing Route 7 CCT seg9

Historic Colvin Run Mill

Colvin Run to the Toll Road on the Fairfax CCT

If you’re continuing on segment 9 from Colvin Run, you can either park at the Mill or in the small lot at the corner of Colvin Run Road and Route 7. Either way you’ll have to cross over busy Route 7 to find the trailhead, so use caution. Once you cross Route 7 the trailhead is to your left at the beginning of Carpers Farm Way. (The trailhead to your right follows Colvin Run to Lake Fairfax). You’ll pass back into the woods on another nice shady, dirt section of the trail. Eventually, the trail flattens and widens as you near Browns Mill Road.

Cross Browns Mill Road then walk over the large rocks on a stream crossing that’s fun for kids. This rock crossing was completely flooded after the late April rains. The rest of the trail is paved and level until you reach the Toll Road underpass. Families with strollers can walk this stretch by parking near the Toll Road on Days Farm Drive, then following the trail north to Browns Mill.

The Toll Road underpass was closed for a long time due to Silver Line Metro construction, and the former eroded rocky trail has been replaced with a level, paved path. It’s a big improvement, but we still find it kind of creepy any time we have to walk under a highway. The extensive graffiti doesn’t help the creep factor.

Rock crossing at Crowell Rd CCT seg9

Between Crowell and the Toll Road CCT seg9

Approaching the Toll Road CCT seg9

Toll Road underpass CCT seg9

Overall, segment 9 is an easy, mostly shady portion of the Fairfax Cross County Trail and is family-friendly except for the busy Route 7 crossing. Cover it in two sections with a stop at Colvin Run Mill and you’ll combine nature, exercise and history in a lovely Fun in Fairfax outing.

Tasty Bento Lunch at Ariake in Reston Virginia

We love a tasty bento lunch and a pleasant outdoor setting, and Ariake Japanese Restaurant in Reston delivers both. We’ve already established the essentials of patio dining—a little shade, a buffer from the road or parking lot, and yummy food. Ariake’s patio adds a little waterfall to increase the peace.

When it replaced the previous chain restaurant, many locals questioned whether a small Japanese restaurant could survive in the space. Happily, Ariake has not only survived, it’s popping. At lunchtime you may find the parking lot full, but it’s easy enough to head across the street and park in the Hunter Mill Plaza lot.

Ariake’s lunch menu features several bento box and sushi lunch specials. Our group particularly liked the Tempura and Salmon Terryaki, Sushi Roll Combo, and the Deluxa Sushi Lunch. Alternatively, you could order something simple like the Chicken Terryaki, or something crazy like the Godzilla Roll.

Why not go a little crazy and honor the campy but fun Godzilla movie by devouring the roll-sized version of the good-guy monster?

Ariake Reston patio

Ariake Reston tempura salmon bento

Ariake Reston Sushi roll combo

Ariake deluxe sushi lunch

Ariake Reston chicken teriyaki

Ariake Reston Godzilla Roll

Where is your favorite place to enjoy a lunch bento?

Location Details

Ariake Japanese Restaurant
12184 Glade Drive
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 391-9006
http://ariakerestaurant.com
Map

Chalk on the Water at Lake Anne Reston

It’s day 2 of the Chalk on the Water Festival at Lake Anne in Reston, so you still have time to create and admire some beautiful, but temporary, street art. We stopped by before the official 11:00 opening time and several artists, young and old, were already at work. Viewing is free, and there are varying rates to create depending on the age of the artist, with cash prices awarded in each age group.

Here are a few of our favorites, but it’s a beautiful day so be sure to stop by and see more of the art. You can also look through a special lens to see Michael William Kirby’s 3D chalk art. He is a world renowned specialist in street art paintings and is the founder of Murals of Baltimore, who sponsored this event.

A young artist at work

Michael William Kirby and his 3D chalk art

Michael William Kirby’s 3D chalk art

Enjoy the Charms of Clifton Virginia

A visit to the charming town of Clifton, Virginia, in southwestern Fairfax County, will help you de-stress from the tension emanating from Route 66 and the Beltway. Clifton is registered as a National Historic District and its historic houses are well-marked and full of interesting small-town history.  Here are five ways to enjoy the charms of Clifton:

1. Learn

Park near the red caboose, and read about Devereaux Station, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and their role in the Civil War. Next, stroll up Main Street until you reach the houses, many surrounded by picket fences. Most of the houses are marked with signs explaining their history and offering interesting tidbits about who lived in them. A few of our favorite signs are below, including one about the house on Main Street where Jeff Arch wrote the screenplay for Sleepless in Seattle. The town is small, so it won’t take long to check out the history on a few side streets too.

Historic Clifton

2. Eat

Now you’ve worked up an appetite (or, like us, are always ready for a meal) so choose one of the handful of dining options. We opted to eat at The Main Street Pub, located in the old Clifton General Store, and enjoyed a really delicious BLT and fish and chips. The bacon was stacked high and crisp, just the way we like. We also spied a few beautiful burgers heading to other tables. Other lunch options include Clifton Cafe next door, or Trattoria Villagio across the street. If we arrived closer to dinnertime (and were a little better dressed) we would definitely consider the bar or dinner at Trummer’s on Main. We will have to make a few more trips to Clifton to try them all.

3. Hike

Another excellent way to work up an appetite or a thirst is a hike on the Bull Run – Occoquan Trail. Follow the signs to Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, driving down Yates Ford Road to the end. Park in the public lot and take the access trail down to the stream. [Hemlock Overlook Park is operated as an education center by Adventure Links (great programs for kids), but you can use the access trail without entering the Adventure Links property.] Once you reach the stream—aka Bull Run—you can head north or south, following the Bull Run – Occoquan trail along the water. Our hike was peaceful, shady, and populated with Great Blue Herons and turkey vultures.

Bull Run – Occoquan Trail

4. Drink

Finished your hike and oh so thirsty? Lucky for you that your parking area is right across from one of our two favorite Fairfax County wineries. Paradise Springs Winery is beautiful inside and out, and it conveniently opens at 11:00 AM. They offer cheese, breads and other foods to accompany the wine, or you can bring your own picnic lunch. If you hike late on a Friday you can stay for the music.

5. Relax

The food and wine are good, the town is small, the pace is relaxed. Take your time; have a seat outside the general store or at the town park. Maybe stop in at Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot for a sundae or a shake, hot dogs or fries. Feel that stress melting away?

Clifton only has a couple hundred residents, but the town swells during special events like the Wine Festival (June 21st), Fourth of July parade, and Labor Day Car Show. Check the Clifton town website for upcoming events.

What is your favorite spot in Clifton?

Clifton, VA
Routes 641 and 645
clifton-va.com
Map