One of the least populated parks along the harbor side area of Old Town, Rivergate Park is ideal if…read moreyou want to go to one of the quietest and most peaceful areas in Old Town. It lies between Tide Lock Park and Oronoco Park. Very clean and well maintained park. We walked all the way to the Tide Lock Park from Rivergate Park - making a brief stop to enjoy the river views. Old Town has some of the best parks alongside the Potomac River. We were able to walk to most of them and liked how easy it was to navigate through the paved paths leading into each park.

Randomly found this place right next to Tide Lock Park while taking the "river route" on the Mt…read moreVernon trail. Lots of river views and a big grassy area to relax along with some volleyball nets and picnic tables. Worth checking out along with Tide Lock if you're in the area.

This was a small park near the water, by some nice apartments, and a little beach area. A pleasant…read morearea, and as they say, not too much parking available. A beautiful view.

It's good for little ones. Getting a parking spot close by can be a challenge. To most Jones Point…read moreisn't too far, but for some apparently it is. I don't think walking 2/10ths of a mile is a hardship, but some parents over here have complained about it. My thoughts of "grow a pair" were kept silent, but as one would expect, yuppie type of folks don't want any kind of exertion. I used to take my son when little here and it worked. The park looks like it needs some work. Admittedly Covid and other things, have probably interfered with this. My hope is the sandbox and playground can be updated for families. It's fenced in adding more security, as little ones can be rather fast. The hill still offers a nice view of the Potomac River. Also it's close to the Wilkes Street Tunnel, which is enjoyed by all ages.

This park has a small parking lot. It is located on the site of the old Fort Foote. There is not…read moremuch of the Fort remaining. I saw 2 15-inch Rodman Cannons, a house water trof and some collapsed cement structures. At the front of the park is a huge patch of green space with picnic tables under shade trees and a restroom structure. The Fort dates back to 1863, was constructed to defend the water approach to Washington DC and operated to 1878. It spans about 70 acres and sits 100 feet above the Potomac River. Along the backside of the trail (along the river) you can see Alexandria, The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Mount Vernon and other monuments. The Park also has a small beach area to explore as well. I liked the placard, to the left as you enter the trails with the picture that has the superimposed image of what the Fort's gate looked like. I gave me a real idea of where the Fort was and you can really see where the gate would have been. To the left is also where you will find the 2 cannons. If you go to the right you will eventually hit the beach, The park is located off the water and has some nice, be it short nature trails. There are also some open green space. There was a guy in one of the fields letting his unleashed dogs running wild. Outside of the few remnants of the Fort, and some information placards, this is a decent and somewhat fairly maintained nature park. It is far off of the road and is very peaceful. I would recommend wearing long pants and a long sleeved shirt because some areas has some thick brush. Bug spray would not be a bad idea either. I like this park. You can just feel the history. I wish there was more of the Fort that was preserved, but oh well, the placards placed around the park do a decent job explaining where you are located in reference to the Fort. This place is definitely worth a visit. Being a nature park, it is not very accesible and would be very challenging for someone with mobility issues. I enjoyed my time at the park in addition to getting a little peace, I learned a bit as well.

A hidden gem from my childhood i grew up just 10 minutes away from this park. It's a super cool…read morehistorical site and easy to access. Take a moment to check it out, the cannons are HUGE!

Quick, kid friendly hiking trail with water access and views. We explored multiple trails ( because…read morewe got lost, turned back and took the house trail to the water and then returned to the parking lot through the marsh trail). We went on a Sunday evening in May and didn't run into any wildlife ( thankfully). The hill from the house to the water is steep which prompted us to find the trail further down the beach area to return to the parking lot. If you're lucky enough to go when the house is open the view from the long driveway through the doors to the water is breathtaking. Their rock memorial facing Africa and acknowledging the history of slavery on this land was refreshing to see. Kid friendly rating : 8/10 for walkable kids ( not stroller friendly) Bonus is the numerous historical facts signs. Restrooms: I saw a Port-o-potty but that's not a lifestyle I wish to explore. In an emergency situation I'm sure it's nice to have. Small parking lot.

[Coronavirus review] No worries about crowds here; the tiny…read moreparking lot on the main road would struggle to fit a half dozen cars, and it's a fair walk in from there, through some anonymous forest and abandoned buildings. At least there's no admission fee. Doesn't seem like much; maybe the reason no one's here is that there is no reason for them to be? But when you emerge to the small mansion that once headed a plantation, you'll be greeted with a great view and a dizzying variety of scenery from there on out. A quick jaunt down the grassy hill through a field with a gnarly-looking cactus or two leads to a beach. No, really! Bondi it ain't, but if you can satisfy yourself with a small strip of sand, little wavelets on the brackish river driven in by a mild breeze, and a variety of seashells, shorebirds, and other signs of life, this is a successful outing. This is to say nothing of the thick woods, manicured orchard of some sort, and a wetland filled with the sort of birds who seemed irked that even a single person happened by. Maryland has this sort of dynamism in aggregate, but it's amazing the diversity of environments you can experience by walking for ten minutes in this sort of park. There are drawbacks aplenty; bugs will be there and there's a lot of plastic trash and washed up tires. And honestly, the place seems to house potential to be more; if I could take a boat across to Mason Neck, I'd totally do it (not that Maryland is ever likely to cooperate with its Confederate Commonwealth of a neighbor). But I got twenty minutes walking to one end of this beach, and well over two hours in a park where I thought I'd struggle to spend one. Beggars can't be choosers, and unless you happen to have a waterside mansion, we're all begging for a bit of the great outdoors.

Built in 1986 by a duo of French artists, this sculpture garden is a hidden gem along Alexandria's…read morewaterfront. There are neo-classical "ruins," a lightning bolt sculpture, Alexandria's Washington Monument, and views of D.C.'s skyline. It's a fun spot for the entire family!

What a fabulous gem Of the park! You can see how the…read moreoriginal settlers lived and farmed off the land. There were sheep, pigs, cattle, chickens, etc! There was even a tobacco house...it is a nice place to Take your family and have a nice easy stroll. You can walk to the water and even see across a bay to see Washington's home...Mount Vernon. Serious a must do if you are in the area. Just an awesome peaceful place.

The walk from the parking lot to the pier was a little extensive for someone that has a walking…read moredisability. Nice size fish caught during the afternoon hours close to closing time.

Beautiful park. Lovely spot to spend a few hours taking a stroll and relaxing. Went in the winter,…read moreso not many plants were out and about, but the grounds were lovely still.

This is a nice park with a few trails to walk along. The trails lead to the Rock Creek park. This…read morepark is also connected to other parks like Montrose Park and this makes it a good place to spend more than a few hours. Good place for the kids to get in the water along the trails and pick some rocks or generally get dirty in the water and dirt! Parking along 32 and R St is the best option (close to Montrose Park). One of the best areas for a nice weekend picnic :)

Exploring areas around the DMV and finally made it to this gem in Maryland. Great Visitor Center…read morewith friendly & informative Staff. She went over map of area, described the trails, what was closed for repair or Eagle nesting. She also gave us a bird check-list which upon reviewing will definitely be back in Spring in hopes of getting a couple Lifers. Clean restrooms and plenty of displays of local wildlife. We visited 09 Feb 2024 (mid-day) so bird activity was somewhat quiet, but did spot several types of Woodpeckers to include a few Red-Heads. We also saw some sparrows, tufted titmouses, robins, crows and seagulls. Trails were nicely marked and not too strenuous. Plenty of boardwalks and viewing blinds to view wildlife. Plenty of parking and entrance fee of $6 is reasonable to support the upkeep of such a nice Sanctuary. They also have memberships which we would do if a little closer to home. Will be back for sure.

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is a perfect day trip from Washington, D.C. A 30-minute drive from the…read morecity, it's 1,500 acres of boardwalk wetlands and wooded hiking trails. Here are a few things to note: 1) Parking: The park opens at 9am and parking is free during the week. If you go on a weekend, it's $6 per vehicle. 2) Classes: Once you park and walk to the education center, you'll notice the array of classes and events they host from kayaking to birdwatching to gardening. The center is closed due to the pandemic, but they do lay out helpful maps outside to guide your visit. 3) Exploration: There are many trails throughout the sanctuary with signs that guide you. There's a boardwalk out into the wetlands with beautiful views of the Patuxent River. As you walk along the boardwalk, look for wildlife like frogs and heron. Most of the trails are wooded with fun things to find along the way like a blue tic-tac-toe board made from shells. There are observation decks along the trails as well. 4) Points of interest: Nearby the actual sanctuary are a few other fun things to visit like the Glendening Butterfly Garden and Nature Preserve and the Mount Calvert Archeological Park. Jug Bay Wetlands is a great place for a day trip for adults and kids! It gives you a little bit of everything from nature to wildlife to history.