While Ashburn is best known as the home of Washington Redskins football, it also touts loads of family-friendly attractions. So next time you’re looking for something to do that doesn’t involve the gridiron, use this list of recommendations. Here are our picks for the six best kid-friendly attractions near Ashburn, Virginia, from parks to museums.

Heritage Farm Museum

“Hoffman’s Dairy Garden-girl feeding cow – 139” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by Mt. Hood Territory

The Heritage Farm Museum offers a full day of kid-centric fun from its location in nearby Sterling. The curators of this quaint institution dedicated its space to preserving the rich agricultural history of our county. For just $5 for adults and $3 for children two and up, the whole family can enjoy virtual and in-museum activities.

Pre-register for daily events like “Native Americans.” This instructor-led program is best for kids in kindergarten to third grade. It features loads of information about Virginia’s indigenous people, and they’ll also get a fun bag to take home. Then, stop by and enjoy the informative exhibits, where you can:

• Ride pedal tractors.
• Milk a cow.
• Tour the Waxpool General Store.
• Sit behind the desk in the 1909 replica schoolhouse.
• Meet ten generations of farmers who left their mark on the land.

Claude Moore Park Recreation Center

Active Ashburn families have it made with Claude Moore Park Recreation Center on Loudoun Park Lane. Locals love this unique green space amid the city’s sprawling neighborhoods and commercial areas. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a busy week of work and school. Stroll down wooded lanes, through green meadows, and past two sparkling fishing ponds.

There’s a sportsplex with baseball and multi-use fields and the Vestal’s Gap Visitor Center. This spot offers hands-on activities, animal displays, restrooms, water fountains, plus park maps and information. There are also historical attractions like the 1779 post office and the 1880 schoolhouse. In addition, this urban natural area provides peaceful surroundings for free or low-cost activities like:

• Family walks along 11 miles of hiking trails.
• A picnic under one of two pavilions.
• Summer camp programs for the kids.
• Nature and wildlife photography.

The Zone

If you need a place that guarantees hours of fun for the whole family, head to The Zone on Central Station Drive. This kid-friendly Ashburn attraction is a unique, all-in-one entertainment venue. Creators designed this place to take fun to the next level in an upscale, modern environment. As a result, it makes the experience as enjoyable for adults as it is for your kiddos.

The Zone serves delicious entrees like grilled salmon for mom and dad and pizza or burgers for the little ones. You’ll also enjoy a full-service bar with a vast selection of craft beer. Stop by on Tuesday nights, and get a free kid’s meal with your dish. The Zone offers gamers of all ages access to the latest in cutting-edge, high-tech gaming. Be among the first to try new games and have loads of wholesome fun with:

• Laser tag.
• Virtual Reality games.
• Bowling.
• Arcade machines.

Harpers Ferry Adventure Center

Harpers Ferry Adventure Center on Adventure Center Lane in Purcellville is just the place for kids to have an epic time on and off the water. Located on the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, it’s the ideal mountain getaway for your outdoorsy family. Remember to call ahead and check the water conditions. Safety reasons may prohibit young children from floating on the river.

Start your excursion with a grilled picnic lunch and finish the day with a snooze in one of the park’s hammocks. You can even catch a live band during the summer months or send your kids ages 9 to 12 to Harpers Ferry’s day camp. There’s a large bathhouse and parents will appreciate the friendly staff. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers it all with a truly unique atmosphere. You can all go:

• Tubing.
• Whitewater rafting.
• Ziplining.
• Canoeing.
• Kayaking.
• Fishing.
• Hiking.
• Camping.

Sportrock Sterling

With three area locations, including its closest gym on Maries Road, Sportrock Sterling is a convenient place for you and the kids to burn off some energy on a rainy Virginia day. This progressive climbing gym offers loads of youth programs to introduce kiddos to this exciting sport.

Sportrock offers lessons for children of all abilities. Recreational climbing will help increase your child’s self-confidence. It teaches trust and builds strong, healthy bodies. If your family is new to climbing, sign up for a starter program. Instructors will handle the ropes as you learn the fundamentals during this 90-minute course. A family of four costs just $35.

If your kids are interested in elite-level climbing, there’s a place for them on the team at Sportrock. Youth membership in this fun and engaging activity allows your young athletes to develop their skills in a positive, supportive club while earning their way up the ranks to the high-performance “S4 Team” for teens 14-plus.

The Science Place

Grab your family’s budding explorers and head to The Science Place on Herndon Parkway. Here, learning is fun thanks to a variety of hands-on experiences. Many sessions are just $35 with classroom hours from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Scheduling is flexible around your family’s busy day, so you can choose which days you want to join in the learning fun.

Join other discoverers on a virtual field expedition to the Pacific Coast. Kids ages 4 to 15 will explore the ocean’s coral reefs, learn the physics behind a tsunami, and try out underwater gear. Drop-in science labs are just $15 for a full hour, or get involved with other programs that feature topics like:

• Space.
• Forensics.
• Geology.
• Codebreaking.
• Engineering.
• Robotics.
• Paleontology.
• Zoology.
• Microbiology.
• Chemistry.

Well, there you have it! Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac just informed you of the six best kid-friendly attractions the whole family will enjoy. Did you like our picks? If we miss a favorite destination of yours — one that Virginia parents will love, let us know! Drop us a line, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list.