Great park with plenty of activities happening throughout the week! Lots of trails heading in north…read moredirections along the river- we walked about one mile from the visitors center and reached the Potomac dam which has great views. The trails were well taken care of. I arrived around 9am and there was plenty of parking and not too many other people on the trail

Hands-down, one of my favorite parks to go to in the Great Falls area. There's plenty of parking. I…read morelove to come here with my Doggo and hike, the trail all the way to the view of the falls.

So great that this playground got rebuilt after the arson. Also has a great paved nature walk…read more There are so many butterflies bees, and beautiful native plants!

This is a really nice encompassing park in Potomac MD that can even be enjoyed in the snow. The…read moretheme is the Chesapeake Bay, particularly over in the little kid area. In that area there is a large play boat with a slide, a ramp, a wheel, a couple of climbing points ,and a few bouncy animals and stationary animals as well. It was hard to determine all the semantics of the park given that we visited when it was snow covered. The entire surfacing is rubber which is nice. The larger play area is a treehouse theme with a few different slides, a bridge, and a few various climbing ropes. There are plenty of picnic tables for warm weather and Theresa parking lot. A little trail also circles around the playground area. This is a really nice park: however, we only visited due to an appointment in the area. I don't think I'd venture here without another errand or such to tend to in this area.

Beautiful park with a lot of different areas that are like their own little landscapes. A great…read moreplace to take photos and even saw a proposal (she said yes!) while I was there. Fun to walk around and enjoy nature. Good place for families or kids or even a casual date. There are plenty of benches and areas with shade. Parking is abundant and the fee to enter is pretty cheap!

This place is absolutely beautiful. Huge with so many stunning areas from a greenhouse with glass…read morewalls and greenery to pagodas! I didn't know it's also a popular event venue! We saw a few weddings here last weekend. Plenty trails and photo ops! Looks like a lot of people come here for maternity shoots and engagement shoots- the photographers have a special entrance ticket and rules to abide by. Not free entry but very well maintained and a beautiful experience for families or couples.

This is a nice Park for kids. Decent number of parking spots but it can be a challenge to find…read moreparking on weekends. They have plenty of swings and slides for kids and other stuff too that will keep them busy for hours! The floor at the park is all rubber tiles which considerably reducers injury when kids take a fall. They have the best looking kiddie swing! There a also a couple of port-a-John's to use!

the park is good but little kids keep tripping and getting hurt on the massive cracks on the…read morepark's floor, and the flies are relentless, there are way too many flies and mosquitos, this is NOT a good park

To my surprise, this trail was found by accident as I had finished an errand in Herndon and needed…read morea place to kill time and explore. This trail/park allows you to see the beautiful nature Northern VA offers with the trees, streams, trails, and surroundings of buildings and landscapes. It's a long trail and it intersects with the WO&D trail. Plenty of space and mileage to explore and perfect for biking/walking/jogging. Get those steps in!

I love walking this easy trail with my dog and am so fortunate to have it located so close from…read morehome. There is plenty of shade and is great for bikers, runners, dog walkers and if you are looking for a simple trail to take your family to! There is also a really neat wall of painted rocks that the community has been contributing to which is awesome because we all get to add to one big piece of art! On a few of my walks here, I've seen deer, raccoons, and foxes so there is a pretty good chance you may spot some wildlife too.

Must visit this hidden park! Something for everyone .. basketball bbq benches toddler and young…read moreplay areas all NEW !

David M's photos are misleading. I went to this park and did not see the body of water that he…read moreposted for this park. No clue why he would post pictures that are not related to this park. I wasted my time going to this park. It's a small park.

I found this place by randomly zooming in on Google Maps! TikTok kept recommending all the popular…read morespots in D.C., but this turned out to be a true hidden gem. I loved exploring the different artifacts and seeing how they represent cultures from various time periods around the world. The exhibits are incredibly unique, diverse, and thoughtfully displayed. It may not look like much from the outside, but once you step in, you'll be surprised by how spacious it is. Definitely worth a visit! Your friendly neighborhood museum, with items you wouldn't expect to see. All the items are incredibly beautiful!

I purposely visited recently (winter season) because entrance to the gardens is free, otherwise…read moreit's $15. The gardens are interesting even in the cold months. The couple most closely associated with this Georgetown estate, Mildred and Robert Bliss, clearly loved and thought deeply about this parcel of land when they owned it (1920/30's). Their efforts to preserve and share the space with the public are to be commended. It must have been quite something in its heyday. There's a lot of research that's supported here, as well as other activities. The website explains all that. It's a low-key sightseeing spot; quiet, contemplative.

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.

Across from a school and in a residential neighborhood, McCrillis Gardens feels like the "hidden…read moregem" the Washingtonian Magazine once claimed it to be. Visiting on a Monday morning, here's my experience. 1) Entrance: Good thing there's clear signage. Otherwise, it would be easy to miss. When you walk in, there's a roundabout in front of an old house. The garden is behind the house. In case you miss the signs or the staff furiously yelling at you, you can't park here. Some park across the street at the school or you can find street parking along nearby Renshaw Drive. 2) Gardens: Go in the spring when flowers are in bloom. There are trails, benches, and other areas to find stillness.

So as stated, no parking on the property but there is a school across the street so off hours there…read morewould work. There is also a gate in the back and theee might be parking on street? I would guess spring would be the best time to visit as there looked to be lots of rhododendrons and daffodils. According to Carl, who is taking over the care of the property, there are azaleas blooming from March thru May.... So it looks like this property has been a little neglected in past years. Vines are growing , bushes have not been cut back. The restrooms were not open on our visit. It looks like a friends of volunteer group would be great for locals who would like to lend a hand. As we all know, it take a lot of effort!!!!

A less secluded lockhouse than the others on the C & O Canal towpath but nicely refurbished…read more Decent kitchen with eat-in area; spacious 2nd floor; modern bathroom; effective AC; and reserved parking spot are noteworthy features. Also, this structure conforms to ADA standards and makes the stairs easy to climb. The towpath here is really flat, so Lockhouse 21 serves as a good launching-off spot. I'm not an experienced biker, so was perfect for me. I could ride for 30-45 minutes in one direction, then turn around and come back. I could do this a couple times a day instead of one long ride. Saw a lot of deer, great blue heron, and egret while biking. There are little places to stop off the towpath and enjoy nature, almost like a rest area on an interstate highway. One thing I appreciated was the number of bikers on this stretch of the towpath is reduced. The location of Lockhouse 21 is well known and widely used by local residents. There's a parking lot open for anyone; large camping grounds (which must be reserved); and a public water spigot all found right outside the front door, by the lock itself. There are many folks who walk their dogs here, and this goes on for much of the day. Therefore, it's not necessarily a very quiet area until evening. Nevertheless, I like this place and would come back. This isn't the easiest spot to find, poorly marked from the road with an itty-bitty sign. I drove by it 2 times before figuring it out. Perhaps that's how the townspeople want it!

The people that put this house together really deserve some credit. It was thoughtful and…read moreinteresting and well done. renovated in a way that makes staying there very easy. The customer service, all volunteers, i gather, was EXTREMELY good and responsive. We hope to go back!