It's one of those hidden gems!…read more Great place to walk / hang out Great place to walk around, play basketball, chalk art the sidewalks, have a picnic. Located below the I-495 -Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the park is right at the southernmost point and great water views of Virginia and sites within Maryland like the National Harbor across the Potomac River. There is a walking trail along the river with informational signs and displays that describe the really cool, informative information markers of sights and the past history of the area along the trail. A 10-minute walk on the trail will bring you to other parks (Ford's Landing, Shipyard, and Roberdeaux) and eventually to Old Town Alexandria with its many shops and restaurants --situated along the water. Another added plus is that the park offers a place for fishing, playgrounds, basketball courts, and multi-use fields. I came here with some friends for the first time and had a relaxing time just being outdoors and enjoying this great space in nature. We grabbed a picnic table....while having lunch and taking in the weather. Between the space and multi-use areas, it is the perfect spot to for walks along the river, running, exercising or simply....raking time to put things on pause and enjoy the outdoors. ELITE TIP: It is a good place to park if you are planning to visit Old Town Alexandria and want an easy place to park.....without having to deal with the limited street parking, risk of parking meter tickets or the high price garage parking. and enjoy a walk along the river.

Beautiful park in Alexandria with water views. We walked about a mile, just past the restaurants…read moreBarca and some on the water. Then circled back for about a little over 2 miles. It's best to go early. Plenty of benches and covered areas for comfort while in the sun. Great place to walk with your dog or go on a date. There were also other places you could park further down the walk if you don't want to start at the end near the bridge. Lovely walk that I would enjoy doing again.

Lady Bird Johnson Park is a small park that takes up most of Columbia Island in the Potomac River…read morecreated in honor of the work the former First Lady did around urban beautification. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) Park: It's a larger park with lots of trees, flowers and picnic tables in shade for family getaways. There are trails throughout the park including one that leads to a pedestrian bridge to the Pentagon. 2) Parking: There's a free three-hour parking lot near the marina. 3) Memorial: In the middle of the park is a memorial for Lady Bird's husband, President Johnson. 4) Views: The views from the park are stunning. You can see the entire National Mall from across the river. If you need a park with fewer people and lots of shade, go here!

Took a wrong turn and that's an easy thing to do in this part of town, trust me. Entering this park…read moreturned out to be a pleasant surprise. Decided to get out of the car and start walking down the trail and this turned out to be peaceful as all get out. A few yards into the tree line and you hear birds singing and insects chirping and the city washes away. The tall trees provide plenty of shade and relief from the afternoon sun. A few hundred yards down the trail you come to a clearing with a giant rock formation in the center. This is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac. There's a whole backstory to this memorial grove told by Lady Bird Johnson herself. Just press the button and listen to the recordings. From here facing east you can see the Potomac River and it's a beautiful spot. It's easy to see why President Johnson chose this location. He used to come here when he wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the White House. The Mount Vernon Trail passes through the park so watch out for joggers and cyclists. You can find restrooms and trash cans close to the parking lot and snacks are available at the Columbia Island Marina.

Major points for all the parking around this park!!! Considering how sparse parking around DC is,…read morethis is a gem. Specially during cherry blossom season. While finding a parking spot near the tidal basin is basically an impossible task, I can guarantee you will have a better chance at Hains Point park. Beautiful views of the wharf, great spot for plane watching, picnic tables available around the park, a playground nestled in between, public bathrooms (which I didn't use, so can't speak on the cleanliness), anyways, a little bit for everyone. During cherry blossom season this place is truly magical and breathtaking! Crowds are a bit less than at the tidal basin. The grounds are huge! Be aware of the cyclists and pedestrians!

One of the best places to cycle early morning.. It was the…read moreperfect views from the recently restored Wharf on one side and part of Regan Airport on the other.

Fort Washington Marina - Piscataway Park is located on the Piscataway Creek and the Potomac River…read more The marina area gives water access to boaters, offers slips for rental, and boat repair services. The park trail runs along the river and gives fabulous waterscape views and peeks of local wildlife, flora and fauna. Informational signage can be found along the trail giving historical insight. Fort Washington Marina is managed by the National Park Service and is one of various sites composing the Piscataway Park system. NOTE: When using the address provided, Google Maps will direct you to the marina itself. If you are interested in the marina only this address is accurate. If you are interested in the park.....the actual park entrance is just before the marina entrance on the left and there is a small pull-off / parking area. Due to recent rains and floods, the park has suffered severe erosion and damage. Use care when visiting.

Fort Ward is a must-see; whether you're a history buff visiting the area or a long-time local -…read morethere is much to see and learn here. It doesn't cost a thing to visit the museum, which is staffed by city of Alexandria employees. There are brochures and fact sheets upon entering the museum and the staff will be happy to answer questions. They have events throughout the year and there's a donation box for those that want to support their ongoing efforts. The park itself is a nice retreat from the city. There are a few areas that are off-limits in terms of picnics and events - and most people seem to respect that. It's pet and kid friendly as well.

Fort Ward Park is a former Union Civil War defense in Alexandria that protected Washington, D.C…read more from 1861-1865. Now it's a public park and museum. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) History: There's a small museum (currently closed due to COVID-19 as of July 27, 2020) and a trail that leads through a white gate to earthworks that are mostly still intact. Signs along the way explain the history behind the defense. 2) Space: It's now a large park with a free parking lot and paved trails for strollers, joggers and dog walkers. 3) Amenities: There's an amphitheater for performances and a playground in the park that my toddler loved. The park is wooded well so expect more shade than other public parks in the area.

If you ever go to Old Town, the historic district of Alexandria, Virginia, there are pleasant and…read morepanoramic views of the Potomac River from the parks & walkways along the waterfront area. We parked on the waterfront and walked through each park. The first one we encountered was the Waterfront Park. The park is well maintained , has many views, and things to do with lots of benches to sit . It had a statue of "The Shipbuilder". There are public bathrooms nearby by the art building. The paid parking lot beside the Waterfront Park is very affordable and not so stressful to park at despite the tight parking spaces. We paid only $15 - for the whole day (unlimited hours). It was very easy to find, and we had no trouble parking.

Such a cool spot along the Potomac River. There was space for chillin, eating, playing, and…read morerestaurants along the way. You can catch the ferry. The atmosphere was wonderful on this beautiful sunny day. The visitors center was around with staff dressed like it was the 18th Century. Such a wonderful experience.

Amazing trails and nature center often wirh love demos and hardworking people! Shout out to Rachel,…read moreAJ, and Tyler!

Big fan of parks!…read more This one has good trails. The grounds could use some upkeep and the view is only so-so. Still, plenty of space and worth a visit.

Still a mess in my opinion. They have added more than a dozen kiosk shops that sell fast food,…read morecoffee, drinks or trinkets. However the water fountain and park part of the "water park" are still closed.

They have totally re-modeled the Crystal City Water Park! Prior to 2023, all this was not there…read more I used to work here for years and ran on the Mt Vernon trail since forever! So when I saw the updates I was surprised, totally blown away, in a good way. Sidenote: I recall Amazon announced they were coming many years prior. There were city council meetings, upset residents, business proposals, lots of conversation and locals were not happy about it. People were concerned the value of property would get forced up and the cost to living there would increase significantly thus making it not affordable for locals. I am not sure how all that settled since the re-development. When the construction began, I was just upset they were destroying the Water Park. Watching building get torn down is weird. Tearing things down and soooo much construction. Sooooo, although I don't live there nor work there any longer, I am pleased with what they did with the Water Park. It seems like they kept the integrity, yet enhanced it to bring it up to speed with a more modern feel and a great place to gather. They have made such a good use of space. There are mini-restautants lining the entire park. It's also equipped with full restaurants, bar, a real DJ and public restrooms. Still a great point to meet for a bite, hang out, relax and be with nature. The new set-up is a whole vibe. They even incorporated the theme of the VRE trains into the landscape. Each food stall is like a mini-train. They did really well with the new look and set-up. Parking still free after 4pm and on weekends. Thank goodness for that. They better keep it that way and not get greedy! It's been that way so keep it that way. So many people use the Mt Vernon Trail and this is a major artery to access it.