Things to Do in Lorton

The Osprey’s Golf Club at Belmont Bay maintains a splendid, 5,577-yard, par 70 course that fosters fore-hollering fun for golfers of all abilities. Bordered to the east by the flowing waters of the Occoquan River, the Audubon-certified course pleases the senses with cool, riverside breezes, scenic tree lines, and flagsticks that hand out perfume samples. Experienced instructors stalk the Club’s verdant grounds, helping keep swing’s sharp with private and group lessons and imparting advice about golf equipment at the pro shop. Osprey’s Landing awaits golfers looking to unwind after a day at the links or treat high-performing sand wedges to a dinner date with a menu of fresh seafood, sandwiches, and other locally inspired fare.

Drenched 5K events soak participants in the name of good health, good fun, and raising money for local charities. Runners of all makes and models can skip monthly jogs through the neighborhood car wash to converge on 5-kilometer courses, which start out dry, but quickly become lively fetes fueled by H2O. Along the routes misters, sprinklers, and fire hoses activate as groups pass by. Spectators also do their worst, launching water balloons and spraying water weapons at runners from the sidelines. A final 75-foot water slide sends runners gliding across the finish line, where a festival stocked with refreshments, live entertainment, and other water-related activities greets them.

The Lincoln and Washington monuments stand out against the setting sun. Cherry trees rustle in the breeze, and the Potomac River ripples as the evening air cools. Aboard Boomerang Party Yacht's double-decker yacht, crew members in striped uniforms step behind a custom-built wooden bar, plying passengers with custom cocktails, frozen drinks, wine, and beer during lively afternoon, evening, and nighttime party cruises. Live DJs spin international, house, and electronic beats on a dance floor in the enclosed main cabin, prompting passengers to dance and scare away inquisitive fish. Panoramic views of the Capitol's historic structures and avenues surround passengers on a top deck outfitted with wraparound seating and light-blue cushioned benches. In addition to river trips, Boomerang's guides operate a fleet of party buses that embark on seasonal countryside vineyard and tubing tours, and explore D.C.'s nightlife scene with bar-hopping tours.

The Metropolitan Fine Arts Center, a multidisciplinary performing-arts organization for children and adults, fosters choreographed skills and creates performance opportunities in dance, music, and theater. Its students have gone to perform on Broadway, at The Juilliard School, and in highly esteemed companies, such as the Mark Morris Dance Company, The Washington Ballet, and Microsoft. Youth programs include musical-theater and fine-arts workshops, as well as ballet and other half-day dance camps for children as young as 3. Adult classes range from basic to advanced, including ballet, jazz, and tap lessons, plus yoga and ballet-barre fitness workouts.

A whir emits from the skee-ball machine as a long string of tickets emerges from its depths. With his parent’s help, the child counts them off, eager to see if he’s won enough for the coveted prize at the counter, or at least enough to trade with his sister for the window seat on the way home. At Majestic Fun, kids of all ages dive into an 8,000-square-foot spread of games, rides, and food. As Maximillion the Dalmatian and Ellie the Elephant wander around to give birthday kids high-fives or to steal a french fry, friends race each other at driving games or compete in furious rounds of air hockey. Tykes can put gravity in time out on the moon bounce or savor rides on the pintsize carousel. Between games, players find nourishment at the snack bar, munching on pizzas, sub sandwiches, and mozzarella sticks.

Barely an inch of wall space at Stars Beads remains visible. The rest hides beneath a rainbow of bracelets and necklaces, as well as dangling baggies of shiny beads, semiprecious stones, and the materials to turn them all into expressive accessories. Drawing from this stock, jewelry-weavers of all skill levels can plump up home arsenals or gather together in the shop to bolster the beading community. Classes led by experienced crafters guide groups through projects such as creating beaded clasps, learning the arts of metalsmithing, or using pearls to create bracelets and necklaces instead of decoy-gumball collections.