Virginia is rich in history, natural beauty, and culture. Families living here are blessed to experience so much of what our beautiful state has to offer, many of them for free. Whether you want to play with your dog at the dog park, go fishing in a pond, or see animals up close, here are six free things to do in the Woodbridge, VA area.

Feel the Thrill of Skating at the Scott D. Eagles Skate Park

skate park libourne 21 02 2018-12 by Dominique Garcin-Geoffroy is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Skateboarding enthusiasts enjoy spending the day at the Scott D. Eagles Skate Park in Veterans Memorial Park, the largest in Prince William County. This skate park offers a challenging 6,300 square-foot concrete course with a vertical ramp half-pipe. Those with advanced skateboarding skills will get an extra adrenaline rush zooming along the 60-foot-long kidney bowl course. Families are welcome to share a picnic at one of the many picnic tables scattered throughout Veterans Memorial Park.

Location: 14300 Veterans Drive, Woodbridge

Contact: 703-792-8794

Go Bird-Watching at Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve

Lace up your hiking shoes and pack binoculars to see how many bird species you can find at Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve. This preserve is next to Neabsco Regional Park, where you can walk along the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, bordering the Potomac River. Bring your family to this region to observe 200 bird species, like wood ducks, snowy egrets, and great blue herons.

Pick up a nature trail guide before starting your birding adventure at the Metz Wetlands to help you make the most out of your visit here. Use the guide to learn about the area’s history and identify plant species or animal dwellings, like beaver lodges. After a full day of walking the trails and searching for wildlife, stop by any of these family-friendly restaurants in the Port Potomac area to refuel.

Location: 15875 Neabsco Road, Woodbridge

Contact: 703-792-7060

Let Your Dog Play at the K-9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park

Not only can your dogs romp, play, and socialize with other pups at the K-9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park, but you’ll also have the opportunity to meet other dog owners and their families. This 46,000 square-foot fenced off-leash dog playground has a mix of grass and dirt areas for the dogs to play in, with separate areas for big and small pups. As your dogs play together, you can relax and watch them from the benches provided inside or outside areas of the dog park. 

This non-profit dog park, named after a beloved K-9 police dog, does not count on county funds to run. Instead, community volunteers use donations from the public to manage the park. While it’s free to use, you can make donations to help keep this local Woodbridge park maintained. Please note that you should bring your water and water bowl for your dog as the park uses a rainwater collection system for drinking water for the pups. If it hasn’t rained for a while, the water may be limited. Dogs should also be up-to-date with vaccinations and licenses.

Location: 13000 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge

Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk

Go Angling at Locust Shade Park

Kayaking or canoeing are great ways to explore the waterways in the Woodbridge area, but you can’t beat taking the family for a day of fishing and boating at Locust Shade Park. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries stocks the 8-acre pond with non-native channel catfish in the spring, and the pond also has native bluegill, largemouth bass, and crappie fish.

You’re allowed to fish from the bank or the ADA-accessible pier when the park is open. If you’re 16 or older, you must have a Freshwater Virginia State Fishing License year-round and a Virginia State Trout License if you’re fishing from November 1st through April 3rd. This extensive park also has 3.2 miles of hiking trails, batting cages, a driving range, a 15-station fitness trail, and an 18-hole miniature golf course so the whole family can find something fun.

Location: 4701 Locust Shade Drive, Triangle

Contact: 703-792-8780

Read Books at Chinn Park Library

Reading is always an enjoyable experience, and you can find a wide range of books to read or look through at the Chinn Park Library. Find a comfortable chair to snuggle in and read your book while visiting the Chinn Park Library. The 25,000-square-foot Chinn Park Library offers public access to 21 computers, group study rooms with a smart TV, or individual study rooms. The site also features a children’s area, a teen center, and a 125-seat community conference center. 

This library is part of the Prince William Public Libraries system, providing visitors with free applications for a library card. You can find the perfect book to take home and return for a weekly family trip. Join the library’s reading program to complete challenges for a prize, or attend a free event.

Location: 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge

Contact: 703-792-4800

See Animals at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Plan a day trip to Washington D.C. and visit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to see the animals that live there. Admission is free. This zoo sits on 163 acres and is home to over 1,800 animals, representing nearly 360 species. Kids of all ages will enjoy seeing animals ranging from tortoises to snakes, monkeys to elephants, and bald eagles to lions.

You’ll find lots of events at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, including daily animal demos. During these demos, you can see select animals up close while a presenter teaches you more about the animals and their natural habitats.

Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

Contact: 202-633-2614

There you have our list of free things to do in the Woodbridge area. What free activity or site is your family’s favorite? Is there an event or activity we missed here? If you have a recommendation, let our team at Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac (Woodbridge) know, and we’ll check them out.