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Reston, Virginia: Where Fun and Adventure Collide – The Ultimate Guide to the Best Things to Do and Places to Visit!

Robert E. Simon Jr. founded Reston in 1964 as the first planned community in Virginia, designed to be walkable and bike-friendly and named after his own initials. The Reston Museum, in the Lake Anne Village Center, covers the people and events that followed. The town has been recognised as a Tree City USA community for over 20 years, which is why the green space runs through everything. Once you know it was drawn on paper, the place reads differently.

For a busy destination in Virginia, Reston is the answer. The town suits families, couples and groups of friends, with enough activities to fill a weekend. Outdoor adventures and historical highlights are the two ends of the list.

Reston Town Center is the most popular part of the town. The area is pedestrian-friendly and packed with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, so hours go into the boutiques, the eating or the cinema. Events run there through the year, including concerts, festivals and seasonal celebrations.

Reston is also known for its parks and outdoor spaces. Walk around Lake Anne, play a round of golf, or take one of the many hiking trails. For a family day, the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole is the outdoor water park and it suits any age. Whatever the interest, there is plenty here.

Key Takeaways

• Reston Town Center is a vibrant pedestrian-friendly area with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
• Reston has an abundance of parks and outdoor spaces, including Lake Anne and the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole.
• There are plenty of fun and exciting things to do in Reston, from outdoor adventures to historical highlights.

The Vibrant Reston Town Center

Reston Town Center is where a visit to Reston, Virginia should start. The outdoor mall covers shopping, dining and brewery hopping in one walk.

Retail Therapy

The Reston Town Center carries shops and boutiques covering everything from high-end fashion to unusual gifts and souvenirs. The parking is the underrated part: there is plenty of it, which is rare in a centre this busy.

Foodie’s Paradise

Anyone who takes eating seriously should head to the Reston Town Center. Over 50 restaurants mean the list does not run out, and sushi, pizza and burgers are all covered. For a drink afterwards, Reston Station has some of the best breweries in the area.

Brewery Hopping

On breweries, the Reston Town Center is well placed. The craft brews at the Lake Anne Brew House and the beers at the Caboose Brewing Company are both worth the walk. A brewery hop is the sensible way to settle which one you prefer.

For a busy afternoon in Reston, Virginia, the Reston Town Center is the answer. The shops, restaurants and breweries between them will fill it.

Parks Galore in Reston

Reston keeps a lot of parks and they are well maintained. A slow day by the water, a picnic with friends or a hike with real views are all available. These are the best parks in Reston:

Lake Fairfax Park

Lake Fairfax Park runs to 476 acres and covers most ages. Rent a pedal boat or a kayak and take the 20-acre lake, or use the water park with its lazy river and slides. Camping, fishing and hiking all run from the same site. Picnic tables and shelters are scattered through the park for the rest of the day.

Lake Anne

Lake Anne is the man-made lake at the centre of the original village, ringed by shops, restaurants and homes. Fishing and boating both happen here, and events and festivals run at the lake through the year. Walk around it, or take a table at one of the restaurants with outdoor seating over the water.

Lake Thoreau Loop Trail

For a quiet scenic hike, the Lake Thoreau Loop Trail. The 2.5-mile loop circles Lake Thoreau and gives you the water the whole way round. It is well-maintained and the balance of shade and sun is right. Benches along the route make a picnic straightforward.

Reston looks after nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts better than most planned towns. The parks, lakes and trails keep producing something new. Grab friends and family, pack a picnic and take one of them.

Arts and Theater Scene

Reston, Virginia carries an arts and theater scene worth planning around. Museums, art galleries and theater performances are all here.

Reston Museum

To understand how Reston came about, the Reston Museum. It sits in the Lake Anne Village Center and covers the people, places and events that shaped the town over the years.

Art Galleries

Reston holds a set of art galleries showing local and national artists, running from contemporary work to traditional. The top ones are the Reston Art Gallery & Studios, the Greater Reston Arts Center and Signature Gallery.

Theater Performances

Theater lovers get a full year of performances in Reston. The Reston Community Players is the local group, staging classic plays through to modern musicals. The NextStop Theatre Company is the other option, programming for every age.

Museums, art galleries or theater, Reston covers all three. The arts scene in this charming Virginia town is stronger than the suburb reputation suggests.

Family Friendly Activities

For family activities in Reston, Virginia, the list below keeps everyone occupied:

Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole

To cool off in the summer heat, the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole. The water park suits children of any age, running from the gentle Rattlesnake River to the slides at Big Pete’s Peak. Lounge chairs and shaded areas mean the adults can sit down while it happens.

Dunkin’ Buckets is the part everyone remembers at the Water Mine. It is an enormous bucket of water that empties over whoever is standing underneath. The children love it and watching them get soaked is the other half of the fun.

Fun Lessons for Kids

For something more educational, Reston runs lessons that children will actually turn up for.

For budding artists, ArtSpace Herndon runs classes for children as young as 3, covering painting through to sculpture. For a musical child, the Bach to Rock music school teaches everything from guitar to DJing.

Whatever your child is into, Reston has a class for it. A new passion is a real possibility.

Outdoor Adventures

Outdoor enthusiasts do well in Reston. Hiking, waterfalls and plain fresh air are all covered. These are the best outdoor adventures here:

Hiking Trails

Reston runs hiking trails for every skill level and keeps them in good condition. The nature reserves, parks and wildlife areas are all reachable on foot. The trails work for a solo walk and for a family outing alike.

The Lake Thoreau Loop Trail is the best of them in Reston. The two-mile trail circles Lake Thoreau and gives you the water and the woods around it. It is well-maintained and the balance of shade and sun is right. It suits fall leaf peeping, a summer jog or an hour of birdwatching.

The W&OD Trail is the other Reston option. It runs 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville and takes hiking, biking and horseback riding. The surface is good the whole way and the scenery changes as you go.

Chasing Waterfalls

Waterfall hunters do unexpectedly well around Reston. Some of the better waterfalls in Virginia are within reach, and most visitors never find them. They suit a quiet trip for two or a day out with the family.

Scott’s Run waterfall is the first of them, in the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve near Reston. The walk in gives you the woods and the falls give you the reason for it. It works for a picnic or a family afternoon.

The Great Falls waterfall is the other one near Reston, in Great Falls Park, looking out over the Potomac River. It is the bigger of the two and the more dramatic. A family day or a slow one both fit.

Pack the bags and the hiking shoes and take the outdoors in Reston. It is the part of the town most visitors skip.

Reston is laid out around its village centres rather than a single downtown. Reston Town Center is the busiest, holding the shops, the restaurants, the theater and the interactive fountains. Reston Station and its breweries are nearby. Lake Anne Village Center is the original one, carrying the Reston Museum, the Van Gogh Bridge and the restaurants that look over the water. Lake Fairfax Park and the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole are north. Lake Thoreau and its loop trail are south, with the W&OD Trail running east to west. Most visitors do the Town Center and never see Lake Anne.

Historical Highlights

Reston, Virginia is a planned community and the history of that is worth an hour. These are the historical highlights to see:

Van Gogh Bridge

The Van Gogh Bridge is one of the more prominent spots in Reston. It was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Arles paintings and it stands along the Green Trail, linking Lake Ann’s Washington Plaza to the areas beyond. It photographs well and the view from it is worth the stop.

Robert E. Simon’s Legacy

Reston was founded by Robert E. Simon, who wanted a community where people could live, work and play in the same place. His legacy is visible throughout the town. The Reston Museum covers him and the history that followed.

Simon’s plan put green space at the centre, which is why Reston has so many parks and nature trails. Walk around Lake Anne, or take the cherry blossoms at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

The plan also put community at the centre, which is why the events calendar here is so full. The Reston Farmers Market and the Reston Multicultural Festival are the two most people name.

Take the time and work through Reston’s historical highlights. What you find is a community that knows where it came from.

Residential Reston

Reston works as a place to live as well as a place to visit. The residential areas are well kept and the housing runs from apartments to single-family homes. What follows is what else makes it work.

Safety in Reston

On safety, Reston is among the better places to live in Virginia. The crime rate is low and the community has a reputation for it. Reston has been named one of the safest cities in the United States, which shows in how people use the streets.

Amenities and Facilities

Reston is well supplied on amenities. The parks and green spaces cover outdoor activity and quiet time alike. The library system is good, with several branches through the community. The tree canopy is the part residents are proudest of: Reston has been recognized as a Tree City USA community for over 20 years.

The Reston facilities go further than that. Several community centers run classes, events and activities for every age. The Reston pool system covers the community with several pools. The tennis courts are among the best in the area.

Raising a family or looking for somewhere with real amenities, Reston covers it.

Food and Beverage Scene

No trip to Reston is complete without working through the food and drink. Snacks, drinks and local breweries are all here.

Snacks and Drinks

If you’re looking for a quick bite or a refreshing drink, Reston has plenty of options. Grab a coffee and pastry from Dolcezza or a smoothie from Robeks. For something more substantial, check out Cafesano for Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches and salads or The Counter for build-your-own burgers.

Local Breweries

Reston is home to some of the best local breweries in Virginia. Lake Anne Brew House offers a rotating selection of craft beers and ciders, while Aslin Beer Co. is known for its hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. If you’re in the mood for something different, check out Mediterranean Cellars for wine tastings and live music.

Whatever the craving, Reston’s food and drink scene will meet it. Go ahead and indulge. You are on vacation.

Nearby Attractions

Reston works on its own and it also makes a good base. These nearby attractions are worth the drive:

Vienna and Herndon

Vienna and Herndon are both a short drive from Reston. Vienna has a small downtown with shops and restaurants along it. Herndon has the historic buildings and the better parks. A slow walk or a proper meal are available in either.

Purcellville

To get away from the traffic, Purcellville. The town sits in the heart of Virginia’s wine country and holds some of the state’s best wineries. Take a tour, work through a tasting and use the scenery on the drive out.

Dulles International Airport

An airport is an unusual recommendation and Dulles International Airport earns it. Alongside being a major transportation hub, it holds the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The exhibits and artifacts there will hold anyone with an interest in aviation or space travel for hours.

For nearby areas during a visit to Reston, Vienna and Herndon, Purcellville and Dulles International Airport are the three. Each gives you something different and none is far.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of free activities can I find in Reston, Virginia?

Reston has plenty that costs nothing. Walk around Lake Anne, work through the public art installations, or take a hike through the woods at the Walker Nature Center. In summer, the free concerts at the Reston Town Center are the other option. Put the wallet away.

Are there any kid-friendly attractions in Reston, Virginia?

Yes. Take the children to the Reston Zoo for the animals, or let them loose on the Kids’ Obstacle Course at Lake Fairfax Park. The Children’s Science Center Lab covers the hands-on learning. The interactive fountains at the Reston Town Center cover the rest of the afternoon.

What’s the best way to get from Reston, Virginia to Washington, DC?

The Metro from the Wiehle-Reston East station is the quick way into DC, and it takes the traffic and the parking out of the day. Driving works too, on the Dulles Toll Road or the Fairfax County Parkway. Expect delays at rush hour.

What are some upcoming events in Reston, Virginia?

Something is always on in Reston. The Reston Farmers Market runs on Saturdays and the Reston Town Center shows films outdoors. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is in May and the Reston Multicultural Festival is in September. The Reston Association website carries the rest.

Where can I find the best restaurants in Reston Town Center?

Reston Town Center has the restaurants. For Italian, Il Fornaio or Mon Ami Gabi. For sushi, PassionFish. For American cooking, Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge or Clyde’s of Reston. None of them will let you down.

What are some interesting facts about Reston, Virginia?

Reston was founded in 1964 by Robert E. Simon Jr., who wanted a community built around the well-being of the people living in it rather than the return on it. It was the first planned community in Virginia and it was designed to be walkable and bike-friendly. The name comes from his initials.

Frequently asked questions about Reston, Virginia

How big is Lake Fairfax Park in Reston?

The park runs to 476 acres with a 20-acre lake inside it. Pedal boats and kayaks rent on the water, and the water park there has a lazy river and slides. Camping, fishing and hiking all run from the same site, and there are picnic tables and shelters through it. Give it most of a day.

Which trail is best for hiking in Reston, Virginia?

The Lake Thoreau Loop Trail for a short scenic walk: 2.5 miles around the lake, well-maintained, with enough shade and enough sun. The W&OD Trail is the one to take for distance, running 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville and open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Do Lake Thoreau in the morning.

What can you see at the Reston Museum?

The history and development of the town, covering the people, places and events that shaped it. It sits in the Lake Anne Village Center, so pair it with a walk around the lake and the Van Gogh Bridge rather than driving out for it alone. An hour covers the museum itself.

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