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Old 07-23-2010, 12:25 PM
 
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It's too hot to go outside. It's too hot to go to the pool! Any ideas on cool (as in air-conditioned) places to take my 1.5 year old boy other than the mall? I live in the Fairfax/GMU area, but will travel any reasonable distance.
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Old 07-23-2010, 12:27 PM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
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Originally Posted by marie5v View Post
It's too hot to go outside. It's too hot to go to the pool! Any ideas on cool (as in air-conditioned) places to take my 1.5 year old boy other than the mall? I live in the Fairfax/GMU area, but will travel any reasonable distance.
The Air and Space Museum near Dulles. Kids love it, and they actually have a little bit of room to run around. The museum is free, and parking is free after 4:00 ($15 otherwise)
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Old 07-23-2010, 12:31 PM
 
Location: In the woods
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marie5v View Post
It's too hot to go outside. It's too hot to go to the pool! Any ideas on cool (as in air-conditioned) places to take my 1.5 year old boy other than the mall? I live in the Fairfax/GMU area, but will travel any reasonable distance.
Local library. There are all kinds of programs and activities for kids including reading time, games, films, etc.

Also check out any classes offered by your County as well as the YWCA, YMCA, etc. Sometimes they have arts & crafts and other classes for the little ones, a few hrs in the a.m. or p.m. Good luck!
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Old 07-23-2010, 12:52 PM
 
Location: Brambleton, VA
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Originally Posted by normie View Post
The Air and Space Museum near Dulles. Kids love it, and they actually have a little bit of room to run around. The museum is free, and parking is free after 4:00 ($15 otherwise)
After 4:00, the lot has cleared out enough that you can park pretty close to the entrance ramp. However, I don't think there's any shaded parking.
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Old 07-23-2010, 12:57 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marie5v View Post
It's too hot to go outside. It's too hot to go to the pool! Any ideas on cool (as in air-conditioned) places to take my 1.5 year old boy other than the mall? I live in the Fairfax/GMU area, but will travel any reasonable distance.
I sympathize. I am wondering where to take ME when it's this hot. I spent 3 days in the house last weekend because it was just too hot to go anywhere.

Doesn't McDonald's have some indoor playgrounds?
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Old 07-23-2010, 01:44 PM
 
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There is some open play time at Mobu Kids in Falls Church or My Gym (Burke). Check Our Kids Activities and Resources - Your Link to Family Fun - for suggestions of other indoor places. I also have a 1.5 yo, but fortunately the older sister is around for appropriate play/torture!

GL
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Old 07-23-2010, 01:53 PM
 
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Can really ever be too hot for the pool???
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Old 07-23-2010, 02:11 PM
 
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Originally Posted by Denton56 View Post

Doesn't McDonald's have some indoor playgrounds?
The McDonald's at Fair City Mall has a toddler sized indoor play area. Across the street is a Chuck E Cheese which also has a toddler area and next to Chuck E's is a pet store with lots of adorable puppies.

My Gym and The Little Gym sometimes have open play times as well as classes and I think there's a Gymboree class close to you.

You could also try a nature center (Hidden Pond or Hidden Oaks) and/or a rec center - Cub Run has a really fun indoor pool.

The Barnes and Noble bookstore in the Fair Oaks/Fairlakes area has a train table and they also hold a story hour. Joe's Crab Shack (Fairlakes) has an indoor play area.

Last edited by springfieldva; 07-23-2010 at 02:19 PM..
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Old 07-23-2010, 02:20 PM
 
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I try to hit all the shady parks early in the morning (get there NLT 9:00 am). Ratcliffe and Providence in City of Fairfax, Kings Park Playground in Springfield, Burke Lake Shelter A in Fairfax Station, Lake Accotink and South Run in Springfield. My kids love Lakeside in Fairfax, but that's not too shady. They also loves Hayes Park in Arlington, but that's too far for me to go regularly. You can also go to Hidden Oak and Hidden Pond Nature Centers. He'll enjoy looking at the creatures and they both have a playground. There is a nice place with inflatables in Woodbridge, Kids N Motion. They have open play for small kids from 10:00-11:30am. That's a good alternative to Chuck E Cheese. We also make it to all the library events for their age groups at Burke Centre, Pohick, City of Fairfax and Kings Park. They are relatively close to where you are.
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Old 07-23-2010, 02:24 PM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
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Doesn't Burke Lake have a great train that kids love, too? Or would that be too hot on a day like this?

BTW, I do want to give credit to cdmurphy for the museum idea. She mentioned it about a week ago, and that been one of the best tips I've read on this forum. Love it, been there twice since then!
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