Walking to visitor office, since this is my first time to this park. The Billy goat trail was…read moreclosed due to the heavy rain we had for the past 10 day from September to the beginning of October, I was a bit disappointedI was hoping to climb.all 13.8 miles up, but I made it to the observation deck to see the Potomac River overflow which was a spectacular view. I managed to walked over 17K steps. I recommend going to this National Park, I paid $20 for the year and I can visit all National parks in the DMV area.

On Sunday during Tony's Birthday Trip, We stopped at Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center. The Great…read moreFalls National Park can be seen on both sides of the Potomac River Gorges, Virginia and Maryland. The fee is $20 per car. Once you pay, your receipt is good for 7 days at any park entry points, including both sides, either states. There is plenty of parking spots and bathroom facility near the parking lot. We went inside the Visitors Center to look at the museum displays, get literature about the park, trails and sites. We took the 1 mile Falls Overlook Trail that took us past the Canal Boat on display. There was many Visitors milling around, biking, walking and enjoying the beautiful weather.

I am accustomed to wonderfully friendly and accommodating kayak companies and this one did not hit…read morethat standard. Booking was easy enough, and we checked in at the main dock, then walked down to the launch. The employee who was assisting with the kayaks seemed very tired and uninterested. We had some questions about kayaking parameters, and he responded with short, off-putting, counters. Upon entering my kayak, I saw that the interior was wet and I asked for a dryer option. He said it was not available, and the water quickly soaked into my clothes. It was one of those moments, where I looked at the stacks of kayaks and wondered why a different one was not available. Once on the water, the sights are cool! But be aware, you cannot access the tidal basin. It was a fun way to explore DC even with wet clothes.

My partner and I rented two hydra-bikes and we had a great time. The folks helping us were laid…read moreback and helpful. I think that type of easy-going approach is odd for some people, but we really enjoyed not feeling rushed, judged, or overwhelmed with lots of info and overzealous customer service. We got a quick explanation of how to ride and where to ride and were off. They let us leave 10min early and still honored our entire 1hr reservation. We saw other kayakers and folks on the hydra-bikes and everyone was all smiles. The views from the river are so nice! I want to find a place like this back home- simple, no frills, and fun!

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A great park for a walk…read more *Parking available *No restrooms *Map of the trails posted A great park with beautiful views of the pristine landscape. Walk near the Potomac river or up the hills of trees and rock formations. There are (3) trails which are marked and easy to follow. Quite and tranquil

Beautiful , shaded park that is a bit of a hidden gem since it's not very often talk of around the…read morearea. They have hiking trails that are for beginner and also for ones that are a bit more advanced.

I've been meaning to go check out the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin for YEARS...but just not…read moreable to for one reason or another. Truly amazing that it took me so long to go check this out...given that I've been to DC a dozen times already! Well, this time we scheduled out DC trip to finally see it. But here's the sad part...we got there a few days too late, as the blossoms peaked a few days earlier! SHEESH. So hard to get the timing just right. In any case, my husband and I got to walk along the Potomac River, see all the monuments, and see the last traces of the Cherry Blossoms (fast fading). Even still, it was gorgeous! I can only imagine how spectacular it'd be during peak blossom. We agreed to reschedule a trip in the future, and maybe time our trip more precisely to catch the peak blossom. We also talked about maybe doing a picnic there...as we saw several folks doing just that. Now I see why there's been so much talk about the Cherry Blossoms in DC for so many years. It's a MUST if you go to DC!

Pictures can't do the beauty of the cherry blossoms Justice in my opinion. This year was my first…read moretime going to see the blossoms in peak bloom in about 5 years. At my old job, when we first went hybrid, I walked down to see them, even though it was windy and rainy and I literally caught them before they were gone. This year's experience was a sunny and warm delight! I was lucky to go at a time before it got super crowded walking around the water, and my cousin and I were both grateful for the experience. Even if it's not cherry blossom season, walking around this area is quite refreshing and there is a lot of shade. I wouldn't say there are very many places to sit, which could be discouraging, unless you are brave enough to sit on the water. I just realized how easy it is to fall in there, though it looks like right up against the wall are some rocks so you can easily stand above the water. This is one of those must-sees you have to experience if you are visiting DC, even if you live nearby. Cheers to nature!

The nature center itself seems to only be open for special events but there is a little area across…read morefrom it that is great for the littles as there is a sandbox, 2 kid sized play houses, wind chimes and benches. Apparently there is a preschool here but I heard they're shutting down soon. We started walking on one of the trails but it was a little muddy from all the rain we've been having recently. Would love to come back when it's drier!

Ideal hiking spot with young ones especially during the bluebells. plenty parking and benches to…read moretake a break!

Very rude and impersonal on the phone when I called to ask about my sailing class after I put a…read moredeposit down. I tried to give my availability and was cutoff---she said I will contact you if we have an instructor. Ok, well I can't just drop everything when you call to go sailing, please take my updated a availability? I hope other employees are better-suited to customer service and maybe kayaking and other options are still worth it, just wanted to let everyone know of my experience. I've never left a bad review, but I was excited to learn to sail, sad this had to be my experience. On to the next place!

Learning to sail had been on my bucket list forever so when I saw that the Mariner Sailing School…read moreoffered sailing lessons for adults every week of summer I decided to sign myself up for my own "summer camp". I have to tell you that learning to sail was an excellent decision because I actually learned to sail a 19 foot flying scot independently! My lessons consisted of four 2.5 hour morning sailing lessons out on the Potomac, Monday through Thursday. The sailing school also offers adult weeknight and weekend classes and different kids camps. The instructors split my class up into groups of two or three, went over some of the materials and then out onto the water we went to learn how to rig the boat and raise the sails. My instructor Ray was awesome, he taught us what we needed to know and even pushed us to run docking drills by ourselves on the last day of classes. Yes, at times the lessons were super challenging and nerve wracking, but once you get some practice time in, you'll get the hang of it. It's worth it to learn how to sail. I myself now find sailing enjoyable and ridiculously relaxing. Everyone I have encountered at the marina either teaching lessons, working in the office or out on the dock have been super friendly and helpful. They give you a free week of practice sails after your lesson so that you feel totally comfortable sailing independently and the people at the dock give plenty of tips to help you continue to hone your beginner skills.

This is where it all begins; Mile 0 of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail. A plaza,…read morecomplete with plaques detailing the history of the W&OD, mark the start of the W&OD. From here, the W&OD travels west through Arlington County as it heads towards Purcellville, VA, some 45 miles away. This is a great place to start a trek on the W&OD trail. There's plenty of parking. If you forgot something to eat or drink for your ride, or need refreshment after your ride, the Village at Shirlington is just a block or so away and offers many restaurants, coffee shops, a Harris Teeter grocery store. Check out other Yelp reviews for other portions of the W&OD. For trail maps, check out Friends of the W&OD (http://www.wodfriends.org).

I've only run on the trail in the Falls Church-Arlington area around Four Mile Run, but I…read moreabsolutely love it. This is a great trail, easy to run, very peaceful, easy to access. Would love to do a long run out toward Dulles sometime. Maybe next time I need a long run and I'm down in NOVA. If you've ever lived anywhere that doesn't have awesome trails like this, then you know this is something special.

The United States Capitol is absolutely beautiful and a must see when visiting Washington, D.C. The…read morearchitecture is breathtaking, and knowing the history behind it makes it even more meaningful. Learning about the enslaved craftsmen who helped build parts of the Capitol, including many of the stone columns and intricate details, adds an important perspective to the experience. The House of Representatives and Senate chambers were especially impressive. Phones aren't allowed inside, but seeing them in person is something to experience at least once. Be prepared to go through security, and make sure you leave items like pocketknives or pepper spray behind... I learned that lesson the hard way! I highly recommend reserving your tickets ahead of time so you can avoid extra trips through security and make the most of your visit. A beautiful piece of American history that is well worth the time. Hungry? The Thomas Jefferson Baked Macaroni & Cheese is AMAZING! It's a big enough portion to split between two.

I live on Capitol Hill and we constantly have friends and family come to visit us. This is the…read moreFIRST thing I take people to, so I've been on this tour no less than 10 times. It's amazing, but there is a right and wrong way to do this tour. Let me help you out: Go on to the website and get a tour lined up beforehand. You can show up without tickets, but you could end up waiting an hour or more. With the reservation, you breeze into your tour without the anxiety of waiting in a line to find out when you can go on the tour. I've done the line, and it's hit or miss. Get the res. The tour is FREE. This is an amazing service to the public and it's one of the truly fantastic things about DC. They could easily charge but they don't. The tour is excellent. It starts with a short video in a lovely auditorium where you get the full scope. I've seen this video now a dozen times and it's inspiring. Then you get broken up into 1 of 5 groups and assigned a docent who communicates over your own personal radio-headset. You don't see the actual chambers of congress on the tour, but this is something you can do on your own and sit in the gallery during an actual meeting of Congress, if you like. The Rotunda is impressive. The art is museum quality. The halls are hallowed. The information is extensive. Each docent does their tour a little different and they all impart so much information, you would literally need to be on the tour a dozen times to absorb it all. This is an A+ experience in DC and a must if you come to visit. And, frankly, going to the gallery is impressive for only about 20 seconds. You sit above and listen to the presentation of a bill and see a few famous members of our legislative branch, but after 10 minutes, it's exactly like watching C-SPAN. Literally. Go on this tour of the Capitol building. You'll walk away feeling you really saw something worth remembering.