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 Scoop 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
Get Them Outside
Feed Them
Spoil Them
Keep Them Entertained
Youth and Family Programs
Map

Fill Their Minds

Interior of DEA Museum in Arlington, VA featuring educational plaques and images on the walls.
DEA Museum

Arlington National Cemetery

1 Memorial Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211
Sunday - Saturday | 8 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Free

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.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum

700 Army Navy Drive
Tuesday - Saturday | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Free

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

Arlington Historical Museum

1805 S Arlington Ridge Road
Saturday - Sunday | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Free

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 (5620 3rd Street South), 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.

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

Sites

Gravelly Point

12 Mount Vernon Trail

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.

Theodore Roosevelt Island

VWXP+H5, 42 Woods Trail

If you continue along the trail, you'll see Theodore Roosevelt Island, a memorial to the country's 26th president and conservationist, as well as more trails and access to the Potomac River.

Pictured | Plane Spotting at Gravelly Point

Local Parks

Upton Hill Regional Park

6060 Wilson Boulevard

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

2845 N Marcey Road

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!

Gulf Branch Nature Center and Park

3608 N Military Road

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.

Quincy Park

1021 N Quincy Street

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:

  • Met Park | 501 15th Street S
  • Lubber Run Park | N Columbus Street & 2nd Street N
  • Fairlington Park | 3304-3318 S Stafford Street
  • Chestnut Hills Park | 2807 N Harrison Street

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

Family-Friendly Atmosphere Restaurants

For pizza in a family-friendly atmosphere, Matchbox (1100 S Hayes Street #20) and California Pizza Kitchen (1201 South Hayes Street) in Pentagon City are popular with families, as is Fire Works Pizza (2350 Clarendon Boulevard) in Courthouse, which offers ample outdoor seating and a nearby water feature where kids can play.

American Flavor

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 (4238 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1130) and True Food Kitchen (4238 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1110).

Pictured | Matchbox Pizza

More American Flavors

Nearby, you can also try Clarendon favorite Texas Jack's Barbecue (2761 Washington Boulevard), named the “best barbecue joint in the D.C. area” in 2018 by The Washington Post. The Cheesecake Factory (2900 Wilson Boulevard) in Clarendon is also always a family favorite with its massive menu (and serving sizes!).

Brunch Options

If getting out the door is taking a little extra time, turn your breakfast plans into a family brunch date. Head to The Liberty Tavern (3195 Wilson Boulevard) or Tupelo Honey (1616 N Troy Street) for their delicious brunch menus.

Mexican Cuisine

For Mexican, the sprawling Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Café (4301 Fairfax Drive) in Ballston or Chevy's Fresh Mex in Pentagon City are the spots for you.

Burger Bites

If you're in search of burgers, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers' locations in Ballston (4401 Wilson Boulevard) and Shirlington (4251 Campbell Avenue) are popular spots that are great for kids.

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

Shopping Centers

Pick up some new duds or cool gadgets for your brood at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 South Hayes Street) or various shops in The Crossing Clarendon (2800 Clarendon Boulevard).

Toy Shops

A few blocks away, find toys, clothes, and D.C.-inspired gifts at the locally owned Kinder Haus Toys (1220 North Fillmore Street). Make sure to also pay a visit to Child's Play Toys & Books (4510 Lee Highway) in Waverly Hills and One Two Kangaroo Toys (4022 Campbell Avenue) 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

Lubber Run Amphitheater

North Columbus Street & 2nd Street North
Show Times Vary
Free

Take the whole crew to a free outdoor concert at the Lubber Run Amphitheater in the summer. Visit the Arlington County website for their upcoming performances.

Ballston Quarter

North Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard
Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Free

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.

Punch Bowl Social

4238 Wilson Boulevard
Sunday - Saturday | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
$5 to $25 an hour

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.

Cookology

4238 Wilson Boulevard
Review Cookology's Class Schedule for available times
Prices vary by age and class type

Try hands-on cooking classes for your burgeoning chefs at Cookology. Can't get enough after just one visit? Sign your kiddos up for Cookology's cooking camps.

Immersive Gamebox

4238 Wilson Boulevard, Unit 2233
Monday - Thursday, 12 - 9 p.m. | Friday 12 - 10 p.m. | Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Review Immersive Gamebox game packages for prices

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.

Pictured | Immersive Gamebox

MedStar Capitals Iceplex

627 N Glebe Rd Ste 800
Review Iceplex's calendar for public skate times.
$10 per person

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.

Lucky Strike

320 South 23rd Street South
Monday - Thursday, 2 PM - 12 AM | Friday, 2 PM - 2 AM | Saturday - Sunday, 11 AM - 2 AM
$28.95 per person

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

Pictured | Medstar Capitals Iceplex

Scramble Parkour

2900 South Quincy Street
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM - 6 PM | Friday - Saturday, 9 AM - 8 PM
Free - $25

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.

Arlington Youth and Family Programs

Get your kids and family connected to the Arlington community by registering for one of our youth and/or family programs. These supportive programs encourage togetherness and education with hands-on experiences. And with their recurring schedule, you can add it to your kid's calendar with ease.

Below are the programs available to Arlington families:

  • Parent's Night Out: 4-hour drop-off program that provides you with a night out and your kids with a fun and crafty evening in.
  • Family Night: 2-hour drop-in evening for families to connect over games and crafts for free.
  • School Year Break Camp: When kids have the day off and you still have work, the School Year Break Camp welcomes children for a day of entertainment, games, crafts, and more.
  • Family Skate Night: Thomas Jefferson Community Center offers bi-monthly family roller nights that encourage the entire family to have fun together while rollerblading.
  • Open Bounce: For three hours, let the kids burn off all their extra energy with access to free indoor bouncy castles.
  • Family Art Lab: Get creative with the kids during a family crafting night at the Arlington Mill Community Center.
  • Crafternoon Workshops: On the second Saturday of every month, the Fairlington Community Center gives kids the chance to practice their creativity with a free craft.

In addition to these regular programs, many of Arlington's community centers have summer camps for kids of all ages with a variety of niches to fit whatever your kid's into. Visit Arlington's government website for the selected dates for each of the programs.

Find Your Next Favorite Things To Do

About the Guest Author

This article was developed in collaboration with The Arlington Scoop—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. Follow along at @arlscoop on Instagram.

Related Stories

Author

The Arlington Scoop

Featured: