Nice little splash park on the beach. Convenient if you don’t want to take kids down to beach but still want to give them a chance to cool down and have some fun. It’s free so that’s a great bonus. Parking can be a big pain so plan accordingly.
Jennifer H.
Place rating: 5 Lorton, VA
This is THE perfect place for toddlers and young kids! It sits back off the main drag through a big parking lot and beyond the fire station.(Also accessible from the parking lot is a welcome center and a bait shop with access to the pier – right next to the splash park.) But let’s talk about the splash park! There is a decent-sized area(maybe 20’x50’) with various bubbling water fountains and multiple arcing jets(using recycled water) coming out of the concrete base. It’s fun to step on individual jets because it makes the other jets go higher or farther! Right next to the splash park area is a big play structure with a sand base.(We haven’t played on this yet, but might try later this week since the weather is going to be cooler. We did see other toddlers playing on it and they were having a blast!) There are two rectangular covered picnic tables and a handful of round picnic tables out in the open. There are scattered benches throughout the area as well. There are also restrooms, with showers on the outside(on both ends of the splash park) to rinse off either coming or going from the park or the ocean. The first day, the park held our almost 2-year-old’s attention for a good hour and a half(and probably would have lasted longer but the day was overcast and he was getting chilled so we made him leave!). The second day we only stayed about an hour because we wanted to hit the beach(accessible via the boardwalk at one end of the splash park – if the tide is out). You do have to keep an eye on your little ones, though, because the place is not enclosed – and it’s a thoroughfare for the general public to get to the beach. But if your kids are anything like mine, they won’t wander too far out of the water area! Also know that the splash park might not be running in cooler weather – there is a sign stating it won’t be on if the temps are below 70. And the very best thing? It’s 100% free! I soooo wish we had one of these where we live… we’d be there every day!
