12 Best Things To Do In Reston, Virginia

There’s a lot to love about Reston, Virginia. Just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., this vibrant town can feel both urban and suburban. Reston was one of the first planned communities in the country and was designed as a place to work, play, learn, shop, and get involved. Today, it’s noted for its open-air town center, green spaces, arts and culture, and walking and biking trails that make it easy to get around Reston. Book a room at the Hyatt Regency Reston to be at the center of the action when you come to explore. Here’s what to do on your next visit to Reston.

Get To Know Reston

Explore Lake Anne Plaza

Lake Anne Plaza is one of five village centers in Reston that attracts residents and visitors alike with its weekly seasonal farmers market, walking trails, boutique shops, and gathering places, like Café Montmartre and Lake Anne Coffee House. In summer, look for festivals, like the Cardboard Boat Regatta and Reston Pride, as well as pedal boat, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals on the 17-acre lake. Stop to snap a few photos of the beloved Van Gogh Bridge. 

lakeannemerchantsassociation.org, 1609 Washington Plaza N, Reston, VA 20190

Visit the Reston Museum

Stop in the free Reston Museum for artifacts, exhibits, photographs, and art works that illustrate the history of Reston, one of the first planned communities in the United States. Temporary and permanent exhibits share how Reston came to be Reston, from the early days in 1962 when the town was little more than a master plan that placed importance on walkability, amenities, recreation areas, and usability as a space for work and play. 

restonmuseum.org, 1639 Washington Plaza N, Reston, VA 20190

Shop, Play, and Stay in Reston Town Center

Reston Town Center is widely considered the heart of Reston. Since Reston Town Center opened in 1990, this mixed-use open-air space has grown, adding more offices, restaurants, bars, shops, a movie theater, a fountain, a four-star hotel, and a seasonal ice skating rink. The Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a 45-mile paved rail-trail, skirts along Reston Town Center’s south side. In November 2022, the Reston Town Center subway station opened, allowing easy public transit access to and from Reston. 

restontowncenter.com, 11900 Market St, Reston, VA 20190

Get Outside In Reston

Go for a Bike Ride on a Rail-Trail

The paved 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail runs from Arlington to Purcellville, Virginia. A great place to pick up the trail in Reston is at Bike Lane Brewing & Café, a bike shop that sells coffees, teas, pastries, and cold brews. The shop also sells, services, and rents bikes, including pedal-assist e-bikes, for those who want to hit the trail but don’t have a bike.

thebikelane.com, 11150 Sunset Hills Rd STE 110, Reston, VA 20190

Say Hello to Wild Animals

NOVA Wild is a 30-acre non-profit zoo that supports international conservation programs, like Worth Wild Africa, which works to conserve wildlife species. The zoo is home to more than 200 animals, including lemurs, llamas, kangaroos, and pygmy goats. NOVA Wild has a drive-thru safari and stroll-thru sections where visitors can view, pet, and feed select zoo animals. 

novawild.org, 1228 Hunter Mill Rd, Vienna, VA 22182

Spot Wildlife at Walker Nature Center

Walker Nature Center is a 72-acre green space in Reston that offers nature-based programs that help visitors grow positive and respectful relationships with the natural environment. At the nature center, there are wooded walking trails, picnic tables, a small pond, and native plant gardens. Walker Nature Center offers children’s programs, nature camps, bird walks, and wildlife counts.  

reston.org/walker-nature-center, 11450 Glade Dr, Reston, VA 20191

Spend the Day at Lake Fairfax Park

At 476 acres, Lake Fairfax Park is the largest public park in Reston. There’s a lot to do at Lake Fairfax Park, too. You’ll find a campground, a carousel, picnic pavilions, multi-use trails, a skate park, a pump track, a water park, and a marina on the 18-acre lake with pedalboat and kayak rentals. Reston is also home to several other green spaces, including Fred Crabtree Park, Baron Cameron Park, and Hunter Woods Park. 

fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-fairfax, 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr, Reston, VA 20190

Eat And Drink In Reston

Go Out for Drinks

For drinks out with friends, you’re covered in Reston. In late-2023, Sixty Vines, a wine-themed restaurant with 60 wines on tap opened at Reston Town Center. Yes, wines on tap. Wines come from reusable kegs rather than single-use glass bottles. You can also sample wines (and tapas) at Barcelona Wine Bar. For fruity cocktails with colorful umbrellas, head to Tiki Thai. There’s even a hidden speakeasy in Reston called Heirloom (hint, it’s tucked into Open Road Distilling Co.). 

Start Your Day with Brunch

Brunch is everyone’s favorite meal and Reston has more than a few restaurants that know how to do brunch. A favorite is Makers Union, which serves up brunch faves like smashed avocado toast and smoked salmon lox. It’s a must to order the maple-sweet monkey bread. For more brunch deliciousness – as well as mimosas and bellinis – head to Founding Farmers or Ted’s Bulletin. 

Eat on an Outdoor Patio

It’s easy to love an open-air patio and there are plenty of places to eat outside in Reston, including Ariake, a Japanese restaurant and Cafesano, a Mediterranean restaurant. Another favorite is Kalypso’s Sports Tavern on Lake Anne, which is considered by many to have the best waterfront and dog-friendly dining in Fairfax County. Red’s Table is another top pick when you want to enjoy delicious cuisine and enjoy the views across Lake Anne from the open-air dining room. 

Cultural Sites

Visit an Art Gallery

For arts and culture, there are wonderful museums and art galleries in Reston, including Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, which celebrates 50 years in 2024. Tephra ICA hosts art exhibitions, as well as public programs that encourage a meaningful dialogue about art works. At Reston Art Gallery, which is only open on weekends, look for rotating exhibitions in a variety of art mediums, including photography, sculpture, and oil painting. Reston has a variety of public art works, too. 

See a Theater Performance

At Reston’s CenterStage, a 260-seat theatre hosts dozens of cultural performances each year that range from musicals to author talks to comedy shows. There are also live concerts throughout the year in such musical genres as classical, soul, and bluegrass. CenterStage is known for summer concerts and annual festivals, like the Reston Multicultural Festival.

restoncommunitycenter.com, 2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA 20191