Kid-Friendly Guide to Arlington, VA

With swaths of green spaces, one-of-a-kind historical and educational attractions, and dining options to delight the pickiest of eaters, Arlington has plenty of experiences for all sorts of families to enjoy.

We've teamed up with the co-founders of The Arlington Bubble to share their favorite kid-approved activities and put together the ultimate family-friendly guide to Arlington!

Pictured | Bring the kiddos to Arlington for tons of fun!

Fill Their Minds

Take the kids to Arlington National Cemetery where the entire family can learn about the USA’s military history and visit the graves of U.S. heroes. Experience the time-honored Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Interested in local history? Take a trip to the Arlington Historical Museum and learn about everything from the Civil War to modern-day historical events that happened right here in Arlington. The Ball-Sellers House, also maintained by the Arlington Historical Society, was built circa 1750 by John Ball (making it the oldest structure in Arlington County) and is also available for historical tours.

Learn about drugs and drug law enforcement at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum where kids can become DEA Junior Special Agents.

Pictured | DEA Museum

Insider Tip: Arlington’s libraries have tons of family-friendly programming, including on the weekends. Head to libraries like Central for story times, craft hours, and a kids room perfect for play and quiet reading breaks.

Get Them Outside

Arlington has nearly 100 miles of paved trails, making it the perfect place to rent bikes as a family and go out for a ride. You can take a walk or a bike ride along the Mount Vernon Trail to Gravelly Point and watch planes fly to and from nearby Reagan National Airport. Continue along the trail to Theodore Roosevelt Island to see a memorial to the country's 26th president and conservationist, as well as more trails and access to the Potomac River.

Arlington is full of local parks with playgrounds, nature centers and interactive exhibits. A local favorite, Upton Hill Regional Park has a water park, batting cages, hiking trails, an adventure course, and mini golf. Potomac Overlook Regional Park also has a nature center with native plants, bug displays, and live animals, plus easy trails and kid-friendly events throughout the year!

The wooded, 38-acre Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park is a sensory experience for your tots with a log cabin, interactive exhibits and a working blacksmith’s forge. If you're short on time, work out their energy at one of the more urban area’s playgrounds like Quincy Park near Virginia Square and Rocky Run Park in Clarendon. Other kid-approved spots within the Arlington County park system include the modern Met Park in Pentagon City, Lubber Run Park, Fairlington Park, and Chestnut Hills Park with its beloved sandbox.

Pictured | Plane Spotting at Gravelly Point

Insider Tip: One of our favorite family-friendly spots is Bon Air Park’s beautiful rose garden. Your little ones have so many options from running around the rose garden, to a toddler-sized park next door. Plus, there's a tennis court near-by for the rest of the family!

Feed Them

For pizza in a family-friendly atmosphere, Matchbox and California Pizza Kitchen in Pentagon City are popular with families, as is Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse, which offers ample outdoor seating and a nearby water feature where kids can play.

For American flavor, head to Ballston favorite Silver Diner, which serves up reinvented classics and many kid favorites—plus it’s quick, stroller-friendly, and great for families on the go. Head to Ballston Quarter, where you’ll find a great food hall with spots for kids to play indoors and out, plus family-friendly sit-down options including Ted’s Bulletin and True Food Kitchen.

Nearby, you can also try Clarendon favorite Texas Jack's Barbecue, named the “best barbecue joint in the D.C. area” in 2018 by The Washington Post. The Cheesecake Factory in Clarendon is also always a family favorite with its massive menu (and serving sizes!).

For a delicious brunch, try The Liberty Tavern or Tupelo Honey.

For Mexican, the sprawling Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Café in Ballston or Chevy's Fresh Mex in Pentagon City are the spots for you.

If you're in search of burgers, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers' locations in Ballston and Shirlington are popular spots that are great for kids.

Pictured | Matchbox Pizza

Insider Tip: One of our favorite weekday spots with a baby in tow is Ruthie’s All-Day. It’s spacious and stroller-friendly, with cozy booths, strong coffee, and a relaxed vibe that makes it perfect for a midweek breakfast or lunch date with your little one.

Spoil Them

Pick up some new duds or cool gadgets for your brood at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City or various shops in The Crossing Clarendon.

A few blocks away find toys, clothes and D.C.-inspired gifts at the locally owned Kinder Haus Toys. Make sure to also pay a visit to Child's Play Toys & Books in Waverly Hills and One Two Kangaroo Toys in Shirlington.

Insider Tip: We’ve always had a great experience at Child’s Play Toys & Books in Waverly Hills. The shelves are packed with thoughtful picks for every age, and the staff really knows their stuff—perfect if you need help finding something age-appropriate or for a specific occasion.

Keep Them Entertained

Take the whole crew to a free outdoor concert at the Lubber Run Amphitheater in the summer.

Year-round, play at Ballston Quarter, a hub for family fun with shopping, dozens of places to eat (everything from barbecue to dumplings) and lots to keep the whole crew entertained. Bring the kiddos to Punch Bowl Social for bowling, an arcade, karaoke and more. Visit Juniors Playland for 3500 square feet of candy-themed play at an indoor playground. Try hands-on cooking classes for your burgeoning chefs at Cookology. Experience a new type of gaming at Immersive Gamebox! Step into the Gamebox and enter a fully private, interactive digital room featuring projection mapping, touch screens, motion tracking, and surround sound to enjoy an immersive 60-minute adventure. Take your kids for a spin on the ice at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex where the Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals practice —they even have an area where the kiddos can get signed autographs from their favorite players.

The newly re-freshed and re-branded Lucky Strike in Crystal City is another great place to play arcade games, go bowling, and get some energy out!

Over in Shirlington, Scramble Parkour, an indoor play center and activity gym for children up to 12 years old, is waiting to welcome your family of littles.

Pictured | Immersive Gamebox

About the Guest Author

This article was developed in collaboration with The Arlington Bubble—a local newsletter that delivers fun, useful, and hyper-local news to your inbox each week. From restaurant openings and weekend events to mini (kids) news bites, they cover what matters to Arlington families in a quick, scrollable format. Subscribe at arlbubble.com and follow along @arlbubble on Instagram.

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