Where Loudoun families get outside

Loudoun Now readers' favorite farmers market of 2026, and it runs year-round. 130-plus vendors every Saturday morning: breakfast, produce, meats and treats.

• Year-round
• Saturday mornings
• Dog-friendly crowd
• 130+ vendors

• Parking

  Market sets up in the Christian Fellowship Church lot at 44505 Atwater Dr.

• Arrive

  Saturdays only, 9 am–1 pm, open year-round.

• What it costs

  Vendors set their own prices.

• Crowds

  Big: 130+ vendors, one of Virginia's largest markets.

Loudoun readers' favorite farm and favorite kids' activity spot in both 2025 and 2026. Plan the whole day around the farm play area and the wagon rides.

• All ages
• Jumping pillow
• Farm animals
• Splash pad (summer)
• Winter indoor play

• Parking

  Several big lots off Foggy Bottom Rd. Weekend lots fill, so arrive early.

• Arrive

  Christmas nights Dec 4–6, 11–13 and 18–23, 5–8 pm, $16 a person. Hayrides at 6 and 7.

• What it costs

  Gate admission is $14 weekdays, $16 weekends. Ages 2 and under are free.

• Crowds

  Wagon-ride lines can run 30 minutes in peak season. Weekday mornings are calmest.

Loudoun readers' favorite pick-your-own farm of 2026: strawberries in May, pumpkins in the fall, and courtesy wagons to haul the haul.

• All ages
• Pick-your-own
• Reservations required

• Parking

  Parking on site.

• Arrive

  U-pick is reservation only. Book a timeslot online before you go.

• What it costs

  Each picking slot is booked online ahead; you pay for the slot.

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

A working 286-acre farm with calves, pigs and a play yard, free all spring and summer. The cheapest great farm day in the county.

• All ages
• Farm animals
• Playground
• No pets

• Parking

  Parking on site.

• Arrive

  Closed Nov 1–Mar 31. Reopens Apr 1, Tue–Sun 9 am–4:30 pm.

• What it costs

  Free April–September. October has an entrance fee (about $15, under 2 free).

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

Loudoun Now readers' favorite farmers market of 2025, still going every Saturday morning. Bring a tote and let the kids choose the produce.

Pair it with: The Branch, also on Catoctin Circle SE: bowling and an arcade that open at 11 am on Saturdays.

• Year-round
• Saturday mornings
• Quick stop

• Parking

  Free shopping-center lot at Virginia Village.

• Arrive

  Saturdays 8 am to noon.

• What it costs

  Vendors set their own prices.

• Crowds

  Quick loop or a slow morning: 10 minutes to 90.

Virginia's only known mill powered by twin overshot wheels, built 1807–09 and run by six generations of one family. A pretty stop on the way west.

Pair it with: Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park, also in Aldie: two playgrounds and a nature center to follow the history.

• History
• Weekends only

• Parking

  Parking on site.

• Arrive

  Closed Nov 2–Mar 31. Mill tours resume April 1, weekends 11 am–4 pm.

• What it costs

  Free admission and free guided mill tours (weekends 11 am–4 pm, Apr–Oct).

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

Loudoun readers' favorite historic site in 2025 and 2026, with free grounds every day: nature trails, formal gardens and picnics under the old oaks. The mansion tour is for the curious.

• All ages
• Trails
• Dog-friendly
• Picnic areas

• Parking

  Drive in at the main vehicle entrance, about 1/4 mile down Old Waterford Rd on the right.

• Arrive

  Mansion tours Fri–Mon at 10, 11, 1, 2 and 3. Check in 10 minutes early; allow 45 min.

• What it costs

  Grounds and gardens are free daily; only the mansion tour is ticketed.

• Crowds

  Plenty of room: visits often run up to 4 hours.

A Civil War battlefield on a bluff over the Potomac, with free weekend tours by volunteer guides. History class that ends in a great view.

• Moderate walking
• History
• Steep in spots

• Parking

  Park in the lot on Ball's Bluff Rd. Guided tours start at the parking-lot kiosk.

• Arrive

  Free tours Sat–Sun 11 am and 1 pm through November. About a mile, with steep hills.

• What it costs

  Free, including the volunteer-led guided tours.

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

Loudoun's wild side: 699 acres and 15 miles of trails, with a visitor center and county nature programs. Free and blissfully quiet.

• All ages
• Nature programs
• Fishing pond

• Parking

  Free parking at the preserve on The Woods Rd.

• Arrive

  Closed Fridays in Oct, Dec and Feb. Anglers 16+ need a Virginia fishing license.

• What it costs

  Free. No admission fee.

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

Forget the splash pad for a day: 11 miles of trails, a nature play area and a Discovery Room with live animals. Free.

Pair it with: Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, inside the same park via the Loudoun Park Ln entrance: kids milk replica cows.

• All ages
• Live animals
• Nature play
• Accessible trail

• Parking

  Free parking.

• Arrive

  Start at Vestal's Gap Visitor Center for restrooms, maps and the Discovery Room (9–5).

• What it costs

  Free admission. Programs and events have their own fees.

• Crowds

  Most visits take up to 2 hours.

Ashburn's newest big outdoors: trails, boardwalks and a bridge around Beaverdam Reservoir, with kayaks when the boathouse is open.

• All ages
• Boardwalks
• Kayaking (seasonal)

• Parking

  Enter via Brambleton Community Park West ball fields off Belmont Ridge Rd, not Alford Rd.

• Arrive

  Trails open daily, dawn to dusk. The marina is closed for the season.

• What it costs

  Launching your own kayak or SUP: $7/day ($9 non-jurisdiction).

• Crowds

  Busiest noon–5 pm Saturdays; come before 10 am for quieter trails.

Virginia's newest state park when it opened in 2023, tucked in western Loudoun: 11 miles of hiking trails, creek crossings and a nature play area for the small crew.

• 11 miles of trails
• Nature play area
• Creek crossings

• Parking

  Parking is limited, so go early on nice weekends. Trails are not ADA accessible.

• Arrive

  Open 8 am to dusk. Gordon Pond is about a mile's hike from the Arnold Lane lot.

• What it costs

  $10 parking per car. Skipping it can mean a $25 ticket.

• Crowds

  Busiest around noon Saturdays; arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm.

45 paved miles ending in Purcellville, and Loudoun readers' favorite place to ride a bike in 2025 and 2026. The easiest first long bike ride there is.

• All ages
• Bikes & scooters
• Stroller-friendly
• Dog-friendly

• Parking

  Ashburn Rd has a 40-car trail lot. In Leesburg, park behind Douglass Community Center.

• Arrive

  Open 5 am–9 pm daily, year-round. Most stretches have no streetlights, so bring a light.

• What it costs

  Free to use, with no trail or parking fees.

• Crowds

  Fast cyclists share the path. Keep little riders right; weekday mornings are quieter.

Bald eagles, hawks and river otters along the Potomac, plus a large playground for kids of all ages. Skip the mini golf for once.

• All ages
• River views
• Wildlife spotting
• Paved trails

• Parking

  Several free parking areas spread through the park.

• Arrive

  No swimming or wading in the Potomac here: swift currents. Stick to trails with kids.

• What it costs

  No entry fee. Mini golf is $5 a round, in season.

• Crowds

  Can get crowded on warm afternoons and weekends. Watch for races and crew meets.

An easy 1.2-mile loop to a fenced overlook high above the Potomac, past historic buildings. Short enough for small legs, and the view earns the snack break.

• Short hike
• River overlook
• Shaded trail

• Parking

  Small lot, about a dozen cars; two trailheads.

• Arrive

  Open daily sunrise to sunset; the loop is mostly shaded for warm days.

• What it costs

  Free.

• Crowds

  Weekend afternoons draw the most visitors almost anywhere. Come at opening.

Kids milk replica cows, pedal tractors and play farmer inside Claude Moore Park. A rainy-day history lesson they won't notice is a lesson.

Pair it with: Claude Moore Park Discovery Room, in the same park: live reptiles and hands-on displays, free.

• Ages 0–5 programs
• Hands-on exhibits
• Rainy-day pick

• Parking

  Free parking in Claude Moore Park (Loudoun Park Ln entrance).

• Arrive

  Closed Mondays; Sundays open 11:30 am. Summer preschool sessions need sign-up.

• What it costs

  Adults $5, seniors/military $4, kids 2–12 $3, under 2 free.

• Crowds

  Weekday mornings and the opening hour are usually calmest.