Fairly Kidical: A ride to the Arlington County Fair

One of the great things about living in this little urban-village-county that we call Arlington is that it has its own County Fair, complete with rides, funnel cakes, and agricultural competitions. And biking really is the best way to get there. So come out to ride the rides and enjoy the Fair with us!

When: Saturday, August 9, 10:00am (roll out 10:15am - come early to play!)

Meet: Monroe Park, S Monroe St & 14th St S, Arlington

Parking: On surrounding neighborhood streets

End: Arlington County Fair, Thomas Jefferson Community Center, S Jackson St & 2nd St S; an easy 1.2 mile ride back to the start.


Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5270929

We start off at Monroe Park, one of Arlington's many cute neighborhood parks. We'll roll around the leafy neighborhood streets of Douglas Park, Alcova Heights, and Arlington Heights, including enjoying Arlington's first bike boulevards (9th St S and 12th St S), which parallel Columbia Pike. 

Kidically Arlandria: Kidical Mass Alexandria joins the party!

**March 2020 Edit: crossing Route 1 takes extra care and kids who listen (both crossings are at lights**

 It's time to explore and expand and to welcome Kidical Mass Alexandria to the family biking party! Our next ride with be joint with our neighbors to the South, on their inaugural ride.

**Two notes for the start of the ride: 1) the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, which is a nice, mile long ride from our start, has invited us to stop by before the ride.  Come by around 10:30am. There will be a special a raffle for kids on bikes.
2) The playground where we're meeting is officially called "South Park" and there's a sign for it from Potomac Avenue. You can get to it by going through the shops above the Harris Teeter (Massage Envy, Yvonne's, Paisano's Pizza, etc).  It's the blue playground, furthest west (not the green playground just east of it, which is locked).**

When: Sunday, July 20, 2014 11:00am (roll out 11:15am - come early to play!)

Meet: Playground behind the Harris Teeter at the Eclipse, Potomac Yard, Arlington (the blue playground) -- near South Glebe Road and Potomac Avenue, Arlington

Parking: At the Eclipse, off of South Glebe Road between Jefferson Davis Hwy/Rte 1 and Potomac Ave

Lunch (optional): We the Pizza -- 2100 Crystal Drive, Arlington

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5134414 - through Alexandria!

We start off in Arlington, at the playground behind the Eclipse, Potomac Yards (it's the building with the Harris Teeter at Route 1 and South Glebe Road). We'll meet at 11am (we roll out about 15 minutes late, to give kids some time to play, put on sunscreen, etc) and roll down through the exploding retail of Potomac Yards, then around the leafy neighborhoods of Del Ray. After passing some great parks and exploring some fun trails, we'll roll back into Arlington and back to the playground. Those who want to continue on can join us in Crystal City for some yummy We the Pizza (we should get there around noon, in case you'd like to have others meet us there).

All are welcome. This route will be about 4 miles, and flat as a pancake.

It's always exciting when a family grows, and we are so happy to welcome Kidical Mass Alexandria to the extended family! 

Tour de Kidical 2014 SUNDAY JULY 6TH

Happy 4th of July! Perfect time to watch a French bike race taking place in England at an Irish pub. Let's take advantage of the more-beautiful-than-average July weather and bike over to Ireland's Four Courts to watch the end of the second stage of this year's Tour (York to Sheffield, England).

And not only is the end of our ride going to be AWESOME, we're going to start at one of Arlington's newest and most exciting parks: Rocky Run. Haven't been to Rocky Run yet? It's amazing: HUGE climbing structure with lots of different ways up and a GIANT slide down. A great toddler area, with sand, water, and just the right size slide and climbing structure. Lots of shade. Tons of fun.  Come early and enjoy running around, climbing, sliding, digging and bouncing all over this beautiful park. NOTE: the bathrooms at Rocky Run aren't open yet (afaik), so plan accordingly.

When: Sunday, July 6, 2014 10:15am (roll out 10:30am - come early to enjoy the park!)

Meet: Rocky Run Park -- North Barton Street & N Fairfax Drive, Arlington
Parking: On the surrounding residential streets.
Metro: Courthouse (the start is about half mile away, the end is across the street)

End: Ireland's Four Courts-- N Wilson Blvd and North Courthouse Road (an easy 1/2 mile from the start via this route)

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5212930

This route is shorter than normal - only 2.2 miles. It starts with a bit of a climb (3% for a couple hundred feet), but then is smooth sailing. We'll be on familiar neighborhood streets in Lyon Park and Lyon Village, and will explore a short new (to Kidical Mass) trail. Ending at Ireland's Four Courts around 11am, everyone is welcome to come in, have a bite to eat, and watch a the end of Stage 2 of the Tour de France. 

All are welcome - with or without kids.