No. 5 Fort Washington

Ratings:

Season: Any

Physical Difficulty: Easy -- Moderate.

Website: http://www.nps.gov/fowa/index.htm

Location: 16 miles

Summary

Craving a little bit of medieval castle action, complete with moat? Fort Washington, which is only 16 minutes outside of DC, is an easy way to get your fix. It is a piece of American history that looks far more European middle ages than American.

Description

Fort Washington was originally buit in 1809 (originally called Fort Warburton), on a piece of land that juts into the Potomac in order to provide an attack-by-sea defense for Washington D.C. It was the only fortification built to protect D.C. until the civil war. Amazingly the fort continued to be used by the military up until WWW I.

When you enter the fort you cross an empty mote on a wooden bridge and come through the arch gateway where sentries used to stand. On either side of the door are the sentries quarters and a small brig, both of which you can walk in and through. The inside of the fort is an open field that has terraced areas in which supplies would have been stored. On the top of the field, cannons have been placed overlooking the potomac.

The Fort is a good place to meander around on a self guided tour. In addition to walking through the internal yard, and climbing on the fort's walls, there are also some areas in which you can walk inside of the fort. These hallways and rooms are not white-washed or tourist-ready, and have an all around spooky feel.

In addition to the Fort, and a lighthouse, if you drive around the area you can also find some old (probably 200 year old) storage silos which probably housed munitions and food.

No. 4 Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Ratings

Unusual:
Cost: ($5, unless there's no one to collect it)
Distance: (Car; 23.2 miles)
Kidability:
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Physical Difficulty: Easy.
Website: http://www.jugbay.org/
Location: Anne Arundel County (Map)

Summary

Jug Bay is one of the largest freshwater marsh tidal wetlands on the East Cost. Its a beautfiful site where you can spend as little as a half hour and see some great views, or half a day. Beware that its only open certain days and times, and the signage to get there is less than ideal. If you like Jug Bay and want to make a day of it, consider crossing the river and going to the Patuxent River Park on the opposite side. Alternatively, on another weekend try another great locale on the 52 list -- Huntley Meadows Park outside of Alexandria.

Description

Although Jug Bay is a little hard to find due to the less than ideal signage it is worth the trip. When you drive up to the parking lot and visitors center it looks at first glance that there might not be much there. A short ways beyond the visitor center, however, are some dirt trails that lead to some great vistas.

The first trail of note goes to the "Marsh Boardwalk." The trial leads you to great vistas of the tidal marsh, down the side of a hill to the marsh itself, and then along a boardwalk that goes along perhaps a 1/4 mile of the marsh. The views are beautiful and the marsh (and trail) are teaming with life.

If you are in the mood for more walking or hiking, taket the Otter Point Trail about a 1/4 mile south where it intersects with the Railroad Bed Trail and turn right. The Railroad Bed Trail takes you straight out, and across, the wetlands until you come upon the Patuxent River. Although you are walking through the middle of the wetlands, its actually not that scenic as trees have grown up on both sides of the trails. There are several observation decks, or boardwalks, along the way that lead out to observation decks or experimental stations for NOAA that provide interesting views. The real "gem" on this walk is at the end of the trail when it opens up to the Patuxent River. Although this may not be that exciting for everyone its also a remarkably "straight" trail which can create some good pictures.


Although Jug Bay is worth going to by itself, if you're looking for another adventure, Patuxent River Park is a short drive (again, watch out for the lack of signage or the short drive will, as it did for us, turn into a long drive).

Patuxent is an enormous park. If you're up for hiking, there are trails a plenty. If you have a kayak/canoe, you can put into the Patuxent river. If you are looking for something a little less physical, on Sundays they open up about 4 miles of the park to a driving tour. Although most of the path is on pavement, the pavement turns into a car-sized boardwalk bridge, and, ultimately a dirt path when you get to teh Mekle Wildlife Preserve. Although the tour is only 4 miles, driving pretty much straight through may take up to 30 minutes due to the terrain.



Although the car trip does not have many good views, there are interesting historical posts along the way that explain the history of the area (which included the first African American owned airfield). Its also a good way to see wildlife if you are looking. When we went we saw deer, a fox, several osperey (below) and a bald eagle (last picture below).

(Osperey Merkle Sanctuary)

(Bald Eagle over Jug Bay)

No. 3 Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run

Ratings

Unusual:

Cost: ($3 adults and $2 kids, but look for 50% coupon)
Distance: (10.7 miles)
Kidability: (best for elementary and above)
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall

Physical Difficulty: Easy.
Website: http://www.1771.org/index.htm

Summary

Its time for a free word association. What comes to mind when you think "reenactment," "ren fest," and "mutton." If you're like me and "cool," "awesome" or "should I bring my own costume, or are they provided" are your immediate reactions check this out. If "aren't these the weird kids who did theatre in high school" is what comes to mind, its time to come anyways to give yourself one last chance to realize that nerdy = cool, and cool = nerdy.

Description

Located right next to the CIA on GW Parkway, this tucked away farm is like a mini-colonial reenactment theme park, except far less touristy, far more authentic, and far cheaper.

The farm is set in 1771when (que wavy lines across your monitor) Virginia is still a colony, King George III is still in poewr, Church of England is the official religion, and Alexandria is the nearest town at about 1 day's walk away. The farm itself is the type of farm that an average (re poor) family would have around that time.

Any day you can walk through the farm, to the farm house, ... The whole walk is under 1 mile and is on rough gravel and dirt paths. Along the way you can see a variety of plants and animals that would have existed on the farm including the tobacco crop, geese, turkeys, hogs, a vegetable garden and sheep. Volunteers dressed in period costume work the farm, and are happy to talk about what they are doing. At least for us they stayed completely "in theme." We had a ten minute conversation with someone who kept referring to us as "visitors from the big city of Alexandria."

Although worth going to on any day, the true secret to Claude Moore is to come during a market fair which, at least the year we went, were held one weekend every other month. See there on-line posting. There was a whole town of volunteers in period costume, doing performances, cooking meet over a spit, and selling hand-crafted wares. The small size of the locale, and the sheer number and dedication of the volunteers made this a great immersive experience.

My apologies for forgetting the camera this time! If anyone is a fan of the farm and has a few nice photos send me an email.

No. 2 -- Burke Lake

Ratings

Unusual: (for DC)

Cost: ($8 / car unless you are a Fairfax resident)

Distance: (22.2 miles from DC -- ok, this place violates my 15 mile rule).

Kidability: (trains, ice cream, mini golf and more)

Physical Difficulty: Easy.

Website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/

Summary

Ok, I made four rules, just four simple rules when I started this blog. So why, you may ask, would I pick Burke Lake as the second locale on the list of 52 when it clearly violates my 15 mile rule? Simple. Sometimes you just need to see some water. I don't mean Potomac water. I mean a lake, or the ocean. Something without cars driving by, helicopters flying overhead. If you are looking for a water site, Burke Lake is a great pick.

Description

I lived in the D.C. area for seven years and had no idea that there were lakes anywhere close by until one day I was looking at Google Maps and wondered what those blue blobs in Alexandria and Fairfax were. So the off-the-beaten path fact is that there are three lakes within an easy trek from D.C.

The closest, Lake Barcroft, is 10 miles from D.C. near Seven Corners and Bailey's Crossroads. Although it is a "lake," its a little small and has no real public access and is functionally a private lake for the surrounding houses.

The second closest is Lake Accotink which is 16 miles from D.C. near Springfield. Its bigger than Barcroft, and has a public "beach" with carousel and a walking path, but has the definite feel of a reservoir, and has too much litter, and too little scenic appeal to make it on the list of 52.

The third closest is Lake Burke. Although its a 22 mile trek, and has a relatively hefty $8 entrance fee for non-Fairfaxians, once there you feel like you are at a mountain lake, not just a half-hour from D.C. The other advantage of Burke Lake is that there is a ton to do. If you just want to get some excercise and enjoy the lake views, there is a 4.7 mile relatively easy dirt hiking / walking / biking trail that circles the lake. The trail, combined with a pack lunch, can be a great afternoon by itself.


If you are looking for more entertainment or activities the park has:

1. A very well groomed frisbee golf course,
2. Canoe rentals (extra charge),
3. Fishing,
4. Mini golf,
5. Sand volleyball courses,
6. An antique carousel,
7. An ice cream parlor, and
8. A minitature train ride for kids.

Last, but not least, if you are looking for a good place to weekend camp, there is a small (probably tent only) campground on the North side of the park.

All-in-all in easy way to go back to nature for an afternoon, a day, or a weekend.

No. 1 - Huntley Meadows Park

Ratings

Off-Beaten Path:
Cost: $ (Free)
Distance: 10.2 miles from DC
Physical dificulty: Easy.
Kidability: Good (particularly for showing kids nature)
Website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/
Directions:

Summary

Perfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll; this is a slice of South Carolina-like marshlands in our own backyard that can turn average joe's into first time bird and dragon fly watchers. Its beautiful, and hard to believe that it exists 10 miles from downtown.

Description

Huntley Meadows Park is one word - surreal.

For those of you who know Hybla Valley probably the only things that come to mind are the WalMart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and all the other big box stores that you can't find in D.C. and in Alexandria. I doubt many people consider Hybla to be a non-shopping destination to visit. Huntley Meadows may change your mind.


The park is over 1,400 acres large and is less than a mile from route 1. It consists of one main trail that is easy to find from the parking lot / visitor center. The first part of the trail is a beautiful outcropping of trees set among a rich green carpet that seems to go on indefinitely in all directions.

Although beautiful in its own right, the walk through the forest would not be enough on its own for Huntley Park to make the 52 list. After about 15 minutes of walking the path splits with the "Cedar Trail" to the left and the Heron Trail to the forward right. Go on the Heron trail.

The Heron trail leads to the real jewel of the park -- a freshwater wetland that was carved out by the Potomac River. The .5 mile boardwalk starks off by takign you past a meadow of cat-tails...



The cattails are in the wetland and, in the summer, hide a wealth of wildlife including frogs, and dragonflies that, during mating season, are docile enough to land and permit you to take pictures from inches away.


The boardwalk loops through the central wetland and provides great views of birds, including white herons.



Ultimately the board walk comes out upon a small tower which provides a nice vantage point to purvey the park and see the beaver dam which created the wetland.

If you are interested in a bit more of a walk, at the end of the boardwalk you can continue on a loop of the "Deer Trail" which links back up to the "Cedar Trail" which ultimately takes you back to the parking lot.