Riley Kotlus is 12 years old and in 6th grade. He’s always at school, because school is at home, but he is also an active Boy Scout and member of OCCS swim.
When the new Chick-Fil-A opened in Lake Ridge this month, someone commented on PotomacLocal.com that the only place to take children to have fun in Prince William County is a playground inside a fast food restaurant.
I don’t want to say that is a lie, but it’s not correct.
I have been dragged all over Prince William County so my mom can write her blog (you might know her, she’s PwcMoms) about every new kid friendly business, so if there’s anyone who knows that there are billons of things to do other than playing in some greasy play area, it’s me!
#Truth
One great thing about Prince William County is that there are a lot of outdoor things to do. Kids can explore the woods and get muddy at Manassas Battlefield flying kites, Leesylvania State Park at a ranger program, or Fantasy Playground, which is amazing to play on. Locust Shade park has an amphitheater where you can watch a play. Lake Ridge Park has paddleboats and mini golf.
If you like to go outside, there are lots of choices.
Then we have all the community centers where you can swim, take a class, take a sport, or get dropped off in the daycare. Luckily I am too old for that now. There is Manassas Parks and Recreation, Prince William County Parks and Recreation, and the Freedom Center, which are all fun places to play or take an activity class.
One thing you may know about kids is that we are all hyper. Some places are extra good at getting your kids’ energy out. So they’re ready to take a nap if they’re little, or to play video games and leave you alone if they’re older. I really like Kids in Motion, where you can jump on moonbounces, Vertical Rock, where you can rock climb indoors, Sky Zone, which is trampolines and dodgeball, and laser tag, but that might be scary for little kids because it’s dark.
If you really don’t want to spend any money and it’s too cold for the park, there are some other options besides Chick-Fil-A, although I remember liking it there when I was little, especially if I got to trade in my kids meal toy for ice cream.
You can also go to the Kidgits play area at Potomac Mills Mall, but only for little kids, and Manassas Mall has one, too. The Marine Corps Museum has a kids area and is free, and the Manassas Museum is free, too.
There are plenty more things to do in Prince William County besides just playing in a Chick Fil A and eating ice cream, but your kids probably won’t mind if that’s all you want to do. Make sure you let them get the rainbow sprinkles.
Here is a list of some of my favorite places to go:
Outdoors:
— Manassas Battlefield- learn, fly kites, run around
— Leesylvania State Park- hiking trails, ranger programs, scout programs
— Fantasy Playground- big park in Lake Ridge with wooden structures
— Locust Shade Park- Amphitheatre (especially when the reptile guy comes), batting cages
Community Centers:
— Manassas Parks and Rec- classes, pool
— Prince William County Parks and Rec offer one-day classes or ongoing
— Freedom Center- their pool has a cool slide, sports, basketball
Cost Money But Cool:
— Kids in Motion- moonbounces
— Vertical Rock- rock climbing
— Sky Zone/Rebounderz- trampolines
— Hylton High School Planetarium- laser shows and planetarium shows
Free:
— Kidgits Play Area in the Mall- but only for little kids
Library programs
Marine Corps Museum- they have a playground also
Manassas Museum- they have preschool programs for little kids, too
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