Suggestion for a ride for a family?

[acc]

I have an 11 year old son. He uses his bike to obtain luxuries like ice cream, video game magazines, Slurpees, or french fries.
It’s a very simple equation. Bike = Treat
When I suggest going out to ride for the sake of looking around, he stares at me blankly like I’m just a simple-minded creature.

Your daughter may like to combine a bike ride with a visit to one of the Arlington libraries.

[DismalScientist]

It depends on the skill level of the 7 year old. I put my kids around the Arlington Loop (Custis, Mount Vernon, 4 Mile Run, W&OD) at the age, but I like to watch them suffer.
I would expect the trails to be a zoo on Sunday, so I would suggest the 4 Mile Run trail would be a better bet that the W&OD. The Bluemont trail might also get less traffic. Local neighborhood streets are sometimes safer for kids that the main trails a peak use.

[dasgeh]

Where are you starting from? I’m thinking wherever you start from to ballston for a “special treat”, but you could also head to shirlington or rosslyn or… anywhere really.

[rcannon100]

* FIRST CHOICE: WOD to Falls Church with stop at Lazy Sunday right off the WOD before it crosses the bridge
* SECOND CHOICE: WOD East / South to Shirlington for lunch and FroYo.
* WOD West to Vienna to Stone Cold as well as to Noodles and Company (right on Maple Ave) (probably too long)
* WOD East / South to Crystal City – Take WOD to Shirlington to FMR to Airport, turn North on Mount Vernon Trail – in the middle the of the MVT at the airport is a branch that goes into Crystal City (you can always hop on the metro and ride it back up the Arlington hill to Ballston).

I dont recommend WOD into Ballston. That generally would be WOD to Bluemont Connector to N Fairfax. Lots of very heavy traffic street crossings.

100 Extra points in Freezing Saddles if you and your 7 year old child do WOD West to Gruto’s Ice Cream (It’s in Purceville).

Oh and reading Dismal’s comments – he’s right. The trails will be crowded. Teach your child how the rules of the trail work and what it means when someone yells “LEFT!”

[mstone]

@rcannon100 40303 wrote:

Oh and reading Dismal’s comments – he’s right. The trails will be crowded. Teach your child how the rules of the trail work and what it means when someone yells “LEFT!”

Everyone try to remember to avoid using words you don’t want your kids repeating when you explain what it means when someone yells “LEFT!” at a seven year old.

[baiskeli]

Another possible destination on the W&OD is the Long Branch Nature Center. (Come say hi, I’ll be there for a birthday party with my kids that day.)

Shirlington would work as well, as mentioned above. There are a few playgrounds along the trail too.

[Author]

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