Reston
Reston is a suburban neighborhood of Northern Virginia in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Founded in 1964, Reston was influenced by the Garden City movement that emphasized planned, self-contained communities that intermingled green space, residential neighborhoods, and commercial development. The intent of Reston's founder, Robert E. Simon, was to build a town that would revolutionize post–World War II concepts of land use and residential / corporate development in suburban America.
In 2018, Reston was ranked as the Best Place to Live in Virginia by Money magazine for its expanses of parks, lakes, golf courses, and bridle paths as well as the numerous shopping and dining opportunities in Reston Town Center.
Lake Anne Village was the first neighborhood center of Reston, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The community was constructed from 1963 to 1967, and it was integrated from the start, unlike most of Virginia.
Today, Lake Anne Plaza is home to local gathering places and special events. Visit to explore the plaza’s history, architecture, art, and local businesses. Relax at one of several restaurants, a nano-brewery, and a wine bar with nice outdoor dining. Be sure to visit the Van Gogh Bridge, a beautiful photo spot and one of our favorite places to see cherry blossoms in Northern VA.
From spring to fall the plaza hosts a popular Farmers Market and lots of special events like an annual Multicultural Festival. In summer, you can enjoy boating on the lake when you rent a kayak, canoe, or pedal boat.
Reston has four lakes, and they are popular spots for a stroll or some time on the water. On any summer night, you will see stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and pontoon boats out for a float. Local businesses like Surf Reston offer SUP and kayak lessons on all four lakes in summer. Motorized boats are not allowed on any Reston lake.
- Lake Thoreau is next to the South Lakes Village Center. There is a nice lakefront stretch along South Lakes Drive with benches and a picnic table. This is a popular spot for fishing and it’s a great place to catch a summer sunset. In 2021, new chairs and tables were added between the lake and the South Lakes Shopping Center.
- Lake Audubon has a boat ramp, a paved trail around a portion of the lake, and public parking from the boat ramp area.
- Lake Anne is best enjoyed from the Lake Anne Village Center (details above). In summer you can rent paddleboats and kayaks from the dock. Several restaurants offer outdoor seating with pretty lake views.
- Lake Newport is the smallest of the lakes. Park at Brown’s Chapel to access a walkway along part of the lake. There is also a playground and baseball field near the parking area.
And finally the trails! Known as the skinniest park in Virginia, the Washington & Old Dominion Trail is a wonderful rails-to-trails conversion maintained by NOVA Parks. The paved bike trail stretches from the quaint town of Purcellville to Arlington, and about 5 miles traverse Reston.
The Reston stretch of the W&OD passes near several of the places on this list, so you could plan a bike-centric visit (more transportation info below). The trail is also a fun place for cross-country skiing after a snowstorm.
The Reston stretch of the W&OD passes near several of the places on this list, so you could plan a bike-centric visit (more transportation info below). The trail is also a fun place for cross-country skiing after a snowstorm.
One of the guiding principles of Reston’s design is to preserve extensive natural space for the community to enjoy. The town boasts 1300 acres of public space maintained by the Reston Association. Natural areas include 800 acres of woodlands, 4 lakes, 4 wetlands, 3 ponds, 50 meadows, and 30 streams. It’s an impressive collection, accessed from 55 miles of paved and natural trails.
Our favorite trails circle or pass near Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, and Lake Audubon and through the Glade Stream Valley. All of these paths mix stretches by the lake with paths through neighborhoods, sometimes following sidewalks. Use our guides to plan your walk:
- Lake Thoreau Loop Trail in Reston VA
- Glade Stream Valley Trail and Walker Nature Center
Visit the association site for a map of more Reston pathways and suggested hiking routes.
The land was part of a land grant from King Charles II to Lord Fairfax as part of the Northern Neck Proprietary and remained with the Fairfax family until 1852. Wiehle and Dunn would later purchase the land and later sell it and it would trade hands until 1901 when the A. Smith Bowman purchased ~7,000 acres to build a distillery producing my mother's beverage of choice - Diet Ginger Ale and Virginia Gentleman Bourbon on the day after Prohibition was abolished! It would be the only legal distillery in the Commonwealth of Virginia and would operate at this site until 1988 Remnants of the distillery can still be found near the corner of Reston Parkway and Sunset Hills!
The Reston mantra is a community to Live, Work, and Play and it continues today! Reston is full of history and community and has become the place I call Home in NVA!
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