What a great space for the scenery, fresh air and spacious atmosphere. I came here for the annual…read more"Unwine Festival" and I had a blast. A great space for large events and family gatherings. I can't wait to see whatever festive events will come in the future.

An underrated, hidden gem in Upper Marlboro - Croom area in PG County. I would go here way before…read moreRosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro or Cedarville State Forest in Brandywine. This park has a beautiful, long drive way with nice trees especially during fall time with fall leaves and foilage going towards the entrance which is tucked away and far off from 301 main road. The park has a nice elevator/stair wooden lift that can take you to the top to see the Patuxent river. I would not recommend though if afraid of heights, but it is a nice view. The park is peaceful. Pretty trails with forests and boardwalks with water on each side. I would not advise coming here after a storm/rain, but it is scenic and nice for walking and can definitely test your balance, just make sure not to slip and fall from boardwalk into the water. My only gripe is the volunteer at the visitor center was not particularly nice, welcoming, and did not want to help/guide us. She was a bit standoffish and unapproachable, but that did not stop us from having fun and enjoying the trails and scenery.

I moved to DC 3 years ago, and have long been looking for a local beach to go to. I've always been…read moretold there's no local beaches, and I'd have to drive to Ocean City or Virginia for a beach. I don't like long distance driving, so that was never really going to happen unless I planned it out in advance. Recently, my sister in law mentioned I check out North Beach, and it was about a half hour away. I couldn't believe no one had mentioned it to me before, specifically those who had lived in DC for years or who were locals and raised here. As she stated, it was exactly a half hour away and it was in Calvert County, MD. I've never visited this side of MD before and I really liked it. It reminded me of beach towns in MA. The beach, itself, though is more of a local beach for residents and quite small. There is also a $25 out of county fee for non-residents, so that was a bit of an annoyance. I don't know that I've paid a beach fee that high before for any beach I've ever visited. I will say I enjoyed my day there, though, and just laid out on the beach with my headphones in while I read a book. It's definitely a family beach and the water is not deep at all. They almost fence it off so you don't go in too far and the water reached knee level for most people. I went in to wade for a bit and saw jelly fish and there was lots of moss. After the beach, I walked the board walk and got some nice photos. I also checked out the local ice cream shop and saw they have little boutiques and a few restaurants. I defiantly would come back again, especially once I have children.

Day trips to nearby beaches from the DMV, put it on your to-do list…read more Our weekends are usually spent marking off bookmarks and going to eat at places our Yelpies recommend. We ended up in North Beach this past weekend, how pretty! Small but nice! Boardwalk and all! There is a private beach but it's for locals. Very very cute quaint neighborhood surrounding the "beach" area. Looking at water will never get old. If you're a water baby, or just love looking at water (lakes, oceans, ponds) then this is it! Super beautiful. Love this! Romantic for couples!

This is one of my favorite zen places. Or when I feel artsy, I bring my sketch pad and just…read moreunwind... very scenic views especially at sunrise or sundown. I prefer sundown... There's a steep incline when you get here but its worth it... Its a good work out... Its also good for avid bird watchers!!

Located in the Derwood/Rockville area of Moco!…read more My alumni association recently did a hike here but I missed it so I decided to explore this trail on my own. I visited on an early Sunday morning. I parked off Avery Road and there were a few cars already there. The change of scenery was nice. I enjoyed the scenic and peaceful views!

I went to a reggae concert on Sunday evening. It was so relaxing at Allen Pond. The music was…read moregreat, the people were very nice. Family oriented event. Every Sunday they have a new artist or band. Something you can do with family or friends and have a blast.

I went to the park over thr weekend for the Spina Bifida Walk/Roll. The walk around the parks was…read morenice. They have an ice arena, a playground, and several sports fields.

Attended a family reunion at indoor facility. The indoor space was very nice. Holding many people…read more Bathrooms right at entrance. Sadly there are no playground areas in the park. We couldn't find picnic tables either. So for us with little ones in tow, being outdoors wasn't a good experience. It's such a beautiful park hopefully a playground area is in the works.

This is a great hidden park It's very quiet and clean and…read moreeveryone is very friendly. They have a peer that you can go fishing on as well as crabbing and they also have a kid friendly outdoor pool which is separate from where the pier is located. It's very inexpensive only three dollars to enter and everyone is nice. I've never had any problems and the kids are super friendly Cash Only (it's not posted on the web site) and be ready to have a lot of fun!!

Oronoco Bay Park is a vast park area with wide stair steps at the entrance of the park. The park is…read moreideal for the festivals held there. We encountered several sprinklers there when walking through this park. We saw a lot of ducks and birds at this park. In the middle of the park is a circular area with a paved circular pathway around it. The park was clean and well maintained like the other parks in Old Town. Oronoco Park was the largest and most open park we encountered in Old Town. It had one of the most quiet and calming ambience among all the parks as well. Trying to evade the sprinklers was a small distraction in our walk through this park. Avoid the pathway areas if you don't want to get watered down by the sprinklers there.

This section of waterfront is in the process of developing. I'm glad that land is available for…read morepedestrian use, but this is still very much a work in process. After bypassing a fenced in yard that separates this park from Downtown Alexandria, I was greeted by a nice little path but a bunch of collapsing boardwalk structures with signs to stay away. Hopefully in its final form the park will have more to offer, but at this point it's just an area to walk through.

Peaceful park, with an educational visitors center , and easy hiking trails, also a fishing pier on…read morethe Cash lake. The lake is more beautiful on sunny days with naturally grown lily pads in the water. The cash lake loop trail is about 2.5 miles in distance for 1 loop, takes a little over an hour to complete with moderate pace. The trail is relatively flat BUT do have many fallen trees and uneven ground on the trail. Some of the trees do require climb over or walk around. Main Parking area is by the visitors center. There are also limited parkings by the fishing area, including handicap parkings, right next to the 2 restrooms stalls that have no signage outside. Had a great morning hike here, enjoyed the lake view very much. Highly recommend @WineDinenVacay

I've been here many times. Such a gem. Such a lovely way to spend time outdoors. Try it.read more

Watkins Regional Park is truly a hidden gem! I recently took my 4-year-old niece, and she…read moreabsolutely loved every minute of it. The Wizard of Oz-themed playground made such an impression on her that we've been watching The Wizard of Oz on repeat ever since our visit. It was so much fun seeing her imagination come to life as she explored all the themed play areas. One thing I really appreciated was that there's something for kids of all ages. There are plenty of play structures and activities to keep everyone entertained. The park is also very family-friendly, with lots of shaded benches and picnic shelters where I could comfortably sit, relax, and keep an eye on her while she played. After the playground, we walked across the street to ride the carousel, which she absolutely adored. They also have a train ride, but unfortunately it wasn't operating during our visit. That just gives us another reason to come back! Next time, we're planning to visit the farm and meet all the animals. I can't believe such a special place is just a few miles from home. If you're looking for a fun, affordable outing with children, Watkins Regional Park is definitely worth the visit. We can't wait to go back!

The playground was packed with kids having the absolute best time, and there seemed to be at least…read moretwo parties happening in the nearby pavilions. But despite all of that, the park is so expansive that it never really felt crowded. One thing to keep in mind is the weather when you visit. On hot days, a lot of the playground equipment gets extremely hot and can become difficult to touch, so timing your visit definitely matters. We happened to pick an ideal day and were able to really explore and enjoy the park. I also wish we had been there when the train and golf course were open because both looked like they would have been so much fun! Overall, a great expansive park with plenty to explore and lots for kids to enjoy. We had a wonderful time!

Piscataway Park is steeped in history and offers a unique connection to the past. The trails…read morethemselves are a bit limited (and don't forget insect repellent!), but the river view of Mount Vernon Estate across the Potomac was clear. The park has a working farm feel -- the livestock were out during my visit -- and the butterfly garden was a delightful surprise. The river trails don't offer much unless you're fishing, so this isn't really a hiking destination or photography in September. What makes it worthwhile is the history and atmosphere. It's a peaceful place to reflect, take in the landscape, and enjoy a slower pace just outside the bustle of DC.

On the Potomac River in Maryland, Piscataway Park showcases natural landscapes, cultural history,…read moreand views of the river and Mount Vernon. Established in 1961, the park preserves the historic view of George Washington's Mount Vernon and the surrounding area. Piscataway Park houses the National Colonial Farm, a recreation of a small 18th-century Maryland tobacco farm. Operated by the Accokeek Foundation, the farm includes historic buildings, heirloom crops, and livestock breeds typical of the colonial period. We visited Piscataway Park towards the end of the day. We walked the path through the farm and saw the Hog Island Sheep. This is a heritage breed the park seeks to preserve....there are less than 2000 of them left worldwide. The park is fairly small and there wasn't a ranger on site when we were there. The passport stamp is in the gift shop. The interpretive signs have seen better days, but still it was a lovely, albeit brief, visit.