Things to Do This Summer in Vienna, VA

Vienna, Virginia unites music, nature, and culture with good 'ole small-town fun! Less than 20 miles from DC, Vienna is a small town brimming with big amusement!

Things to Do This Summer in Vienna, VA

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

          Photo Courtesy of: Wolf Trap All Access

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is the country’s only national park for the performing arts. Set on 117 acres, the park hosts theater and major musical acts throughout the year. With an open-air pavilion, the park offers both indoor and outdoor venues. 

Children’s Theater-in-the-Woods is a Vienna summer tradition with various dance, music, puppetry, and storytelling performances. Interactive performances are approximately an hour long and perfect for ages 4 and up.  

This summer, prepare for the best the park has to offer as it celebrates its 50th year. Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, Harry Concik Jr, and Train are just some of the amazing artists that will grace the park’s stage this season.

Roer's Zoofari

          Photo Courtesy of: One Awesome Momma

Roer’s Zoofari is not your ordinary zoo! It is part barnyard, part safari, and part zoo all rolled up into one fantastic family-fun experience. This is a perfect place to get the kids out and moving around. 

General admission to the Zoofari includes the safari where animals like zebras and cheetahs can be seen in their habitats. You also have an opportunity to drive through and feed the buffalo, deer, and zebras right from your car in the drive-thru zoo. Zoofari is also home to exotic animals like pythons, macaws, and tarantulas. Feel like riding a camel? Jump right on one at Roer’s Zoofari. 

Don’t forget to feed the farm animals at the petting zoo. Make sure you wear closed-toe shoes for comfort and protection and bring a picnic; the zoofari has tables and shaded tree areas to take a break, relax, and refuel.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

          Photo Courtesy of: Fairfax County, Virginia

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is 95 acres of ornamental display gardens, native plant collections, and tranquil woodlands. Children will enjoy walking the wide paved paths and searching for fish and turtles in the pond. The gardens are a great place for families to hike the wooded, dirt paths. Take your lunch and enjoy a picnic in the small pavilion near the front entrance. 

The Korean Bell Garden serves as a cultural landmark for Korean-Americans. Wander the pathways that take you through traditional Korean art and structures. The huge Korean Bell is housed in a pagoda at the top of the hill. This is the only place anything like this is found in the Western Hemisphere. 

Summer at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is full of Koi swimming in Lake Caroline and the fragrance of peonies through the air. Summer is also a time where the Children’s Garden is full of interactive displays for all ages.

Jammin' Java

          Photo Courtesy of: Northern Virginia Magazine

Jammin’ Java has hosted some of the country’s most popular artists like Nick Jonas, Paramore, and Leon Russel. The music club and cafe have been named one of the world’s 100 top concert clubs by Pollstar Magazine and are a staple of the DC area music community. 

This summer the club celebrates its 20th anniversary with a free outdoor concert series featuring performances from bands like Back to the ‘90s, a local rock band that plays hits from Gin Blossoms, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and all your favorite 90’s rock bands. Jammin’ Java is the place to go for live music!

Conclusion

Vienna is easily accessible via the Washington Metro Orange Line and is a great place to enjoy music, art, nature, and some small-town vibes.