Sterling, VA: Parks, Shopping, and Family Fun

Volcano Island Waterpark at Sterling’s Algonkian Regional Park is an island-themed water park that offers fun for the whole family. The tropical paradise features a 230-foot open water slide, a closed 170-foot water slide, an expansive main swimming pool with a tree stump water slide, and The Paradise Cafe. The Volcano Island’s centerpiece is a massive play feature that includes a huge 500-gallon water dumping bucket, platforms, squirters, fountains, open slides, and tube slides. There is also a shallow pool area with a kiddie slide for smaller children and a splash pad with buckets, sprinklers, showers, water cannons, and more.

20015 Volcano Island Dr, Sterling, VA 20165, Phone: 703-430-7683

The Claude Moore Park offers a unique green space among the commercial areas and the neighborhoods in Sterling, Virginia. Park visitors will find sparkling ponds, green meadows, and wooded lanes, while also possibly catching a look at the wildlife that call the park home. THe park’s natural areas give visitors tranquil surroundings for photography, bird watching, picnics, and hikes. Claude Moore Park features two picnic pavilions that can be rented, two ponds for fishing, eleven miles of trails for hiking, and a sportsplex with rectangular, softball, and baseball fields. The grounds also include the Vestal’s Gap Visitor Center and Discovery Room.

21544 Old Vestals Gap Rd, Sterling, VA 20164, Phone: 571-258-3700

Attractions for Couples

The Sportrock Climbing Center is a destination for adventure, a place where visitors and locals alike can test their climbing skills on the vertical rock walls. Walk-ups are welcome at the climbing center and the friendly and knowledgeable staff will teach guests all of the necessary basics to know so they can have a safe and fun experience, even if they have never done any climbing before. Open belay during the weekends and Kid’s Nite on Friday evenings are available for kids. The Sportrock Climbing Center is open seven days a week, with special hours on Sunday for members.

45935 Maries Rd, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703-212-7625

Like most other roads, Virginia’s Vestal’s Gap Road was probably originally just an animal trail, one that runs parallel to the Potomac River of today along a natural ridge. These trails were once used by Native American as well, followed by settlers and explorers, as well as George Washington. The Vestal's Gap Road once ran from the town of Alexandria through what is now Leesburg and down to Winchester. It’s believed that the road was named for John Vestal, who once operated a ferry in the area, and has also been called the Great Road, the Keys Gap Road, and the Eastern Ridge Road.

21075 Dulles Town Cir, Sterling, VA 20166

Restaurants

The Bungalow Lake House offers a comfortable oasis in Sterling, right in the middle of Virginia’s Loudoun County. This smart, casual dining establishment is great for nearly any occasion, providing some of the area’s best terrace dining and beautiful dining rooms, as well as delicious food, of course. Along with a good beer selection and traditional American-style options on the menu, the Bungalow Lake House hosts live music every weekend during the summer season. Opened in 2012, the restaurant is designed to be a great place to enjoy good times and good food with family and friends.

46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling, VA 20165, Phone: 703-430-7625

Established in 2003, Santini's New York Style Deli is a family-owned and operated restaurant in Sterling, as well as six other locations in surrounding Virginia communities. Customers can get fresh, made-to-order food in an ideal atmosphere for a meal any time of day. Rolls and bread are baked fresh each day and the calzones and pizza are made the same as they are in New York. Santini’s also used the highest quality of cheese and meats for sandwiches, and is particularly known for its steak and cheese. The New York-style deli is open seven days a week.

46950 Community Plaza Dr, Sterling, VA 20164, Phone: 703-450-4444

Owned and operated by Matt Landon and Eed Banchanurat Landon, Thai by Thai is a unique restaurant in the town of Sterling, Virginia that serves “affordable, casual, and authentic” Thai cuisine. Eed is the Chief Chef and grew up cooking traditional Thai cuisine. The menu includes several authentic and innovative Thai dishes, such as curries, fried rice dishes, stir fry dishes, classic noodle dishes, noodle soups, salads, appetizers, soups, and even dishes for the more adventurous eaters. Thai by Thai is open from 11:00am until 9:30pm Sunday to Thursday and from 11:00am until 10:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

46930 Cedar Lake Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, Phone: 703-444-8908

The Moby Dick House of Kabob, which boasts numerous more locations than just the one in Sterling, was founded on a commitment to only using the highest quality of ingredients possible, a promise the local restaurant chain keeps, from its authentic Persian cuisine to its array of tender kabobs. From its humble beginnings, Moby Dick House of Kabob has held an underlying belief to “never cut corners,” basing the business on relationships, service, reputation, taste, and quality and offering a menu of fresh pita, flame-grilled kabobs, slow-braised stews, and more. Moby Dick is open seven days a week at 11:00am.

22000 Dulles Retail Plaza, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703-421-9444