With kids! 
Don’t miss this main event action just across the Potomac River from D.C.! While Fairfax County could easily be an extension to any D.C. trip, it deserves its own time to shine. We spent a weekend exploring Fairfax County’s big city amenities, historical sites, national museums, and outdoor natural wonders, but we could’ve easily spent a week and still wanted more. There’s truly something for everyone and we were impressed by initiatives for inclusion almost everywhere we went. Jaden even found a new favorite hotel – he says it’s the most accessible place he’s ever stayed!
We were hosted by Visit Fairfax to cover accessible family travel, but all opinions are my own.
When to go
Because there’s a good combination of outdoor activities and indoor fun, there’s no bad time to visit Fairfax. Fairfax County boasts a lot of great festivals and events any time of year. It may be worth it to plan around some extra fun! We enjoyed Revolutionary War Weekend at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Family Day at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
Getting there and around
Fairfax County is a location gem for travelers! It’s easily accessible from Dulles, Reagan, or Baltimore/Washington airport! Once you’re in Fairfax County, it makes sense to have a rental car. Diversity like this can’t be packed into one city, so you’ll want to get around.
What to do
Fairfax County is a gem full of barrier-free options for families. You can play all day and never worry about what you “can’t do.”
National Museum of the United States Army
I put the National Museum of the United States Army first so you don’t miss it. This new national museum (2020) is different from anything you’ve experienced before. The museum exhibits are all built on the stories of soldiers – showing our history not through battle dates and weapon artifacts, but through the memories of our heroes (though there are plenty of incredible artifacts, too – like the first ever Army tank). The exhibits are designed with every type of learner in mind, keeping the readers and the hands-on learners busy with information they can connect with in a variety of ways. Each room is designed with a “feel” specific to what it’s representing. You can roll through the trenches in WWI or climb aboard a boat in Normandy.
Plan to spend the day (don’t worry, there’s a cafe on site) because you won’t be able to pull your children away from the Experiential Learning Center. This G-STEM (Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) focused immersive space takes kids into the army behind the Army. Here they can build bridges, care for the sick, design a tank, and work through crisis scenarios.
In addition to being a phenomenal skill-building experience for kids, the entire museum is also equipped with technology for next-level disability inclusion. Touch screen exhibits have controllers available for seated control; braille maps, sensitivity maps, sensory aides, and closed caption readers are available for free use; and staff have been trained on interacting with guests with disabilities. There are also sensory friendly hours offered. Full accessibility guide, here.
Great Falls Park
Did you know there’s a stunning National Park just outside of D.C.? Great Falls Park has all the beauty you expect from a national park, with none of the drive! Overlooks Two and Three are marked as fully accessible (mostly packed gravel, but there are a few bigger, looser patches – you can preview a video of the trail here) as is the Patowmack Canal trail to the Holding Basin and the guard gate.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is America’s most visited historic home for a reason. Plan to spend the day here to be able to fully enjoy the restored gardens, working 1700s farm, outbuildings, stunning mansion and a multitude of interactive experiences and exhibits at the museum and educational center (especially if any special events are taking place).
The accessible path is marked on the map, but we were able to explore much of the gardens on packed gravel and enter some of the outbuildings via the ramped entrances. The lower level of the mansion is wheelchair accessible, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. The museum and orientation center have modern accessibility amenities and are easy to navigate.
National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center
The National Air and Space Museum is one museum with two locations. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the sister-site of Washington, D.C.’s National Air and Space Museum. The museum is home to nearly 3,000 artifacts, including impressive crafts like the iconic Space Shuttle Discovery… and Pixar’s Dusty Crophopper! The museum runs frequent events, from story time to interactive learning experiences. Without extra events, this one could still take a few hours. Don’t miss the traffic control tower!
Accessible paths are clearly marked and all areas of the museum are accessible. The wide open floor plan makes it easy to navigate, even with crowds. Since most of the good stuff is hanging from the ceiling, you don’t even need to worry about obstructed views! Find a full accessibility guide, here.
NOVA Wild
There’s nothing more wheelchair-friendly than staying in the comfort of your vehicle! NOVA Wild is an incredible opportunity to experience wildlife up close through a drive through safari. You will need to start at the gift shop entrance to pick up your wrist bands, but your drive through experience is a self-guided tour. The animals come right up to your windows to say hello. They’re used to being fed by guests, so whether you purchase a pail of food or not, you’re about to make some furry friends.
After your drive through, you can check out the non-profit zoo. The bulk of the zoo is easily accessible and you can check out animals like cheetahs and lemurs. Access to the lower portion of the zoo is down a steep ramp and may require assistance. The cow, kangaroos, camels, and pigs are down the hill. The single stall restrooms are accessible, but tight.
LEGO Discovery Center
All day LEGO play without worrying about stepping on tiny pieces before bed – that’s the joy of LEGO Discovery Center! Millions of LEGO bricks and 12 attractions, including the Imagination Express ride and 4D Theatre, packed into a reimagined LEGO Discovery Center built on learning through play. Yet another destination that I wish we’d had more time to fully enjoy!
The ride requires a transfer and the playground is not all-abilities, but everything else was easily accessible. The beam-buster mode in ninja training is the easiest option with a wheelchair! You can find their full accessibility resource, here.
What we missed
You wouldn’t think we’d be so disappointed about missing a park, but Franconia Family Recreation Area is so much more than just a place to play. Next time, we want to make it to check out Chessie’s Trail, designed for children of all abilities, with interactive features along the way, ending at an accessible treehouse and all abilities playground!
Clemyjontri Park in Mclean also has a fully inclusive playground that we’d love to check out.
Where to eat
Fairfax County is as diverse in its food offerings as it is in its attractions! As a city, it has all of the big chains, from fast food to fine dining. As a small-town community, it also has locally owned gems serving up made to order specialties. Here were our favorites!
Silver Diner
Have you heard of the Silver Diner? They’ve earned a worthy reputation, and now that I’ve tried it I can vouch for them. Silver Diner is not your typical diner, but I mean that in a good way. In addition to heart healthy versions of diner classics, they cook up vibrant and innovative flavors like Sustainable Antarctic salmon, cinnamon-chipotle spiced, lemon-garlic sauce, brown rice and organic non-GMO edamame beans with fresh veggies, or a fun twist on traditional shrimp and grits. Eat what you want and still feel good about it.
Della J’s
Della J’s is Black-owned and serves up southern comfort food. Their delicious recipes are made to order, so cozy in and enjoy the best chicken biscuit of your life. Don’t miss the corn bread – made fresh for each order.
Starr Hill Brewery
Starr Hill serves up delicious brew pub classics in the rooftop Biergarten at The Perch and the street level brewpub. Everything is delicious, but putting the beer sauce on anything brings it to a whole new level.
Live music is another Starr Hill specialty, so make sure to check out the entertainment on tap before you go.
Dave and Buster’s
Dave and Buster’s is definitely about the focus on fun, but they don’t sacrifice any of the flavor. This was a perfect way to unwind after the long drive – for both tired parents and kids with pent up energy! With more than 140 of the latest and greatest arcade games (including VR), eating out has never been so fun.
Download the app before you visit. They’re almost always running some sort of deal and we scored extra game credits.
Springfield Town Center
If your pickiest eater still hasn’t found something they like, you can find a bit of everything at Springfield Town Center. Beyond a mall food court with all of the basic essentials, they have several sit-down options with anything from classic Maggiano’s Italian to locally sources Maggie Mcfly’s.
Where to stay
I have to agree with my eight-year-old that The Hilton Mclean Tyson’s Corner is one of the most accessible hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
We had pretty high expectations when our key card automatically opened the room door, and we weren’t disappointed. They have different accessible room options, but our accessible tub was perfect for us, with low bed height for easy transfers and open space under one bed for a hoyer lift. Be specific in your room request, because they have options!
It was a perfect location for exploring Fairfax County, but I would also stay here for an accessible trip to D.C. or when flying through the Dulles or Ronald Reagan airports – it’s perfectly situated! The Hilton Mclean Tyson’s Corner is minutes from the Metro and serves up a next-level breakfast including omelets made to order.
Let’s go!
The only thing I would’ve changed about this trip would be to make it longer! Each of these destinations had so much to offer for kids (and adults) and we could’ve learned and enjoyed so much more with a few more days! Don’t hesitate to comment below with any questions, or anything you would add!