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Top 25 Family-Friendly Outdoor Spots in the DC Metro



As the weather’s been getting nicer and nicer, we wanted to highlight some of the great spots to soak up some sunshine with the whole fam. We’re excited to announce our list of Yelp’s Top 25 Family-Friendly Outdoor Spots in the DMV!

We’ve scoured the Metropolitan DC area to find the top-rated parks, playgrounds, nature centers, and more. Scroll on through to find some inspiration for where to plan your next weekend outing with the kiddos! Feel like your favorite spot is missing? Write them a review on Yelp to help them earn a spot on the list next year!

From L to R: Westminster Playground (photo by Anne M on Yelp), Palisades Recreation Center (photo by Gabriella D on Yelp), Waterfront Park (photo by Keisha L on Yelp)

Bonus! We’ve made it easy for you to keep these spots handy with our specialized Bookmark Collection, which you can access anytime with a few taps in the Yelp app. To do so, open this link on mobile (make sure to have the Yelp app downloaded!) and hit ‘follow’ once you’ve opened it in the app. Also, follow us on Instagram, @YelpNoVA, as we showcase local businesses you’ll want to know about throughout the year.

Yelp’s Top 25 Family-Friendly Outdoor Spots in the DC Metro:

  1. Gravelly Point, Arlington, VA
  2. Georgetown Waterfront Park, Washington, DC
  3. Rocky Run Park, Arlington, VA
  4. The Yards Park, Washington, DC
  5. Hidden Pond Nature Center, Springfield, VA
  6. Meridian Hill Park, Washington, DC
  7. Rock Creek Park Horse Center, Washington, DC
  8. Lincoln Park, Washington, DC
  9. Bluemont Park, Arlington, VA
  10. Virginia Highlands Park, Arlington, VA
  11. Van Dyck Park, Fairfax, VA
  12. Ashburn Park, Ashburn, VA
  13. Rock Creek Park Nature Center, Washington, DC
  14. Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA
  15. Chestnut Hills Park, Arlington, VA
  16. Garfield Park, Washington, DC
  17. Lacey Woods Park, Arlington, VA
  18. Montrose Park, Washington, DC
  19. Palisades Recreation Center, Washington, DC
  20. Waterfront Park, Alexandria, VA
  21. Penrose Park, Arlington, VA
  22. Westminster Playground, Washington, DC
  23. Croydon Creek Nature Center, Rockville, MD
  24. Dora Kelley Nature Park, Alexandria, VA
  25. Mattie JT Stepanek Park, Rockville, MD

Methodology: This is an all-time list of the best family-friendly outdoor spots in DMV according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the parks and playgrounds categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning relevant keywords, then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning those keywords. This list looked at locations in the greater D.C. metro area.

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