Lake Accotink. Located at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Offers trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, basketball court, boating, food stand, mini golf, volleyball court, carousel. Open from 7 a.m. to dusk. The marina is open May through September from 11 a.m. to dusk. No alcohol, and dogs are welcome with a leash. www.fairfax.va.us/parks/lakefront.htm. 703-569-0285.
Greendale Golf Course is a 148 acre, Par 70, 18-Hole golf course located at 6700 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. Greendale's facilities include a practice putting green, modern clubhouse with food service, golfing supplies, club and power cart rentals. The course provides a challenging design with tight Bermuda fairways and several water hazards. Private golf lessons and group outing packages are also available. The course and clubhouse are accessible to people with disabilities. Call 703-971-3788
Hidden Pond Nature Center, located at 8511 Greeley Boulevard in Springfield and has indoor exhibits, a nature trail, a pond, tot lot and picnic shelter. A naturalist is always available during operating hours to answer questions. Abundant wildlife and extensive woodlands, along the Pohick Creek, are also features of this park. Hidden Pond is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays from noon until 5 p.m., and is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from noon until 5 p.m. during January and February. Admission is free.
Lee District Recenter is located in Lee District Park at 6601 Telegraph Road in Franconia. The center has an Olympic-sized heated indoor pool with poolside spa, saunas, locker rooms, racquetball and walleyball courts, a fitness center with Cybex VR2 equipment, dance room, and an arts and crafts room. It also has a 20,000 square foot gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts and a one-tenth mile running track. The surrounding park has tennis courts, a variety of ballfields, a playground and tot lot, carousel, amphitheater, and picnic areas suitable for large groups. Call 703-922-9841.
South Run Recenter is located at 7550 Reservation Drive in Springfield. South Run has a heated indoor 25 meter pool with a poolside spa, beach and wading area, saunas, showers and locker rooms, two racquetball and walleyball courts, fitness center with Cybex VR2 equipment and multi-purpose room.
South Run also operates an indoor 100' x 186' earth floor field house which is available for rental for horseback riding, soccer and a wide variety of other activities. South Run does not provide horses. Call 703-866-0566.
Huntley Meadows Park is located at Harrison Lane and Lockheed Boulevard in Alexandria. Huntley Meadows Park, the largest park in Fairfax County, contains 1,425 acres of diverse habitats including wetlands, meadows and mature forest. Its animal residents include fox, deer, beaver, otter and over 200 species of birds. There is a two-thirds mile boardwalk through the wetlands that leads to an observation tower.
The visitor center includes an auditorium and exhibit hall, and admission is free. A naturalist is always available when the center is open to answer questions. September and October, the Visitor Center is open 9-5 everyday except Tuesdays when it is closed. In November and December the Visitor Center is open 9-5 weekdays (except Tuesdays) and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends.