Summers on its way, which means spending time with friends, family, and finally getting a break from the tiring school year. The only problem is figuring out where to hang out with all this new inflation. So, after some research and asking a student about where they like to hangout, here is a list of 8 of the best, affordable places to not only have fun but also grab a bite with friends or family! 

Lake Ridge Community Pools: Community pools are always a fun option even for big groups because they’re cheap. One of my personal favorites is Lake Ridge Community Pools because they have fun slides that you can slide down that will plop you into the water, adding to the experience! 

Shotted Cafe: Shotted is a great place to just hang out with friends or get your work done. It has great reviews and delicious drinks for less than 10 dollars. They sell a variety of stuff from teas to matcha all the way to desserts, it’s affordable and a fun hangout spot!

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  CUPPi Coffee: Just like Shotted, CUPPi is a great spot to just lay back and relax. While interviewing Alishaba Momen, a freshman at Patriot High School, she mentioned that she goes to CUPPi with her friends to hangout.

  

   

  Bowl America Bull Run: Great spot to have fun with friends and compete. They also sell a broad range of food and drinks but best of all, there are deals on the weekends. One of which is the “Night Strike”, for around 18 dollars you get to do unlimited bowling plus shoe rentals. Not only is the place affordable but also perfect for people who are busier during the week.

   Round1: Round1 is great for groups and usually cheap if you split games, do deals, go on a weekday or late at night. It has a bunch of fun options ranging from an arcade to bowling all the way to karaoke! Plus, it’s great for when you want to go out late at night. 

  Splashdown Waterpark: Waterparks are always a great summer activity to go to with family or friends, but they can be expensive. Luckily, at Splashdown if you go on the weekdays during summer, tickets tend to be cheaper and if you go after 2-3 pm, tickets only range from around 44-54 dollars depending on whether you go during the weekend or a weekday. 

  Five Iron Golf: Five Iron Golf is a place where you get to play indoor golf simulators, which are surprisingly fun even if you suck at golf. At Five Iron you can split a bay with friends which per person only costs around 10-25 dollars per hour, and they have food and drinks available too! 

  Swirlies Soft-Serve: If you live in Bristow or anywhere near Manassas and you’ve never been to Swirlies, then what are you actually doing with your life? Swirlies is a soft-serve shop, but they’re so much more than that. Swirlies is a great place to hang out with your friends and great for picky eaters people who might not like ice cream. They serve ice-cream, Italian ice, milkshakes, and other frozen goodies to enjoy!