Sea Monster at Chessie's Backyard Playground

The Newest Phase of Chessie’s Backyard Playground is here!

My kids loved this so much that they didn’t want to go home even though they were hungry for dinner. My littlest had to be carried to the parking lot, shouting “WANT THE PARK!” the whole way. (Of course, he’s two, so whether that’s an endorsement or just trouble with transitions is debatable. But he had a REALLY good time!)

Read More
Tic Tac Toe at Lake Accotink Park

Lake Accotink Park

The Lake Accotink Park playground is located near the carousel and the marina. There are restrooms and ample parking. The playground surface is mulch. It is not fully enclosed, but it is far enough from the road that you should be able to catch a runner before they hit the street, and the picnic areas (including reservable areas for parties) are adjacent to the playground.

There is also a good, sandy beach for you kiddo who loves to dig, and the park trail goes right by the playground if you want to plan your hike so you can take a break for some play.

Read More

Stoneybrooke Park

If it weren’t for the lack of restroom facilities of any kind, this would be my new favorite place. Conveniently located near Kings Highway and not far from Lee District park, this is 14 acres of woodsy, attractive park land. The playground is adorable, and my toddler loved it because, in addition to the high slides and the climbers for bigger kids, it had some low steps and a small slide that were just right for him. There are a couple of high-ish dropoffs you’ll want to watch if you do this park with a toddler, but they are easy to guard from the ground and there are no tight corners to navigate if you want to supervise from the top.

Read More

Pohick Bay Regional Park Playground

The playground is themed with woodland details, and the equipment is both challenging and fun. There are some fairly uncommon climbing toys that were new to my kid. (As you may have noticed, he gets to go to a lot of playgrounds, so that’s saying something.) There are four benches for parent seating, the parking is ample and fairly close, and the restrooms are not far off. We were there on a weekday afternoon. Aside from a few sort-of busy periods, we had the place to ourselves. If you get bored on the playground, there is the covered observation deck by the restrooms (I’m told you can spot eagles from that vantage point) and, of course, throwing rocks in the river from the beach to extend your fun.

Read More