If I were rating the parking situation I might take a star off, as there is a lot on one and…read moreprobably both ends of the trail, but it was packed, even on a cloudy night. There is another park with a historic house up the hill where no one was parked, perhaps because signs stated it closed after dark and this is a destination in the waning hours. However, the gate did automatically open for me to exit when I returned to my car, thankfully. The boardwalk is an impressive sight. People often say that DC is a swamp, which is not entirely true, but the wetlands in some areas offer a remarkable diversion from city life. There is a platform to get down close to the water, and the boardwalk is well maintained and wide, albeit still not wide enough for the array of colorful characters out for a stroll. My encounters included someone who seemed to be asking me how I was doing in English for the first time, someone balancing a water bottle on their head, and someone carrying a Tibetan singing bowl. It is free, and a worthwhile place to visit for those wanting to hear the sounds of the wetland without going too far from the city.

I love a good greenway! As a Carolina dweller, I tend to thrive in open spaces and this was no…read moredifferent. The trail has 3 different types of paths and leads to hikes too. The gravel and planks were so different and rustic. I was able to see the marsh and walk in the trees. Definitely a great walk. Kid friendly spaced with open airy walks. Multiple directions and connected to other trails too!

I wandered over here because I had time to kill before heading to my Airbnb for the night. Even in…read moreearly March, it was beautiful and the area was coming out of the winter. It was a Wednesday afternoon in March 2026 after arriving into DCA airport and braving the Yellow line metro crowds and the frigid cool March DC weather, I made it here to decompress and see what Alexandria had to offer. Huntley Meadows Park seemed to have a lot of space, based on Google Maps. And so, I got off the public transportation and walked a block or so to the entrance of the park. Hardly anybody was here at the time they sent me and a couple of people that were just walking their dog. It was quite nappy, but I guess the dog and the people were used to these conditions. I guess they live in the area or something, so they're are used to it. I spent about an hour or so wandering around and enjoying one hour of my vacation time before it was time to pick up dinner and head to my Airbnb nearby. I found the wetland and decided to walk the paths to just enjoy the beauty of the park in the middle of Alexandria, Virginia. The wide open spaces was a comfort for me and wondering why not more people are here. My guess is they're rushing home after a tough day at the office or something. There are many benches and watch areas to see the wildlife thrive in the winter time. While it is serene in March, there is always beauty in nature wherever you can find it. And here in Huntley Meadow Park, you can find it here anytime of the year. Come as you are and the wildlife will love you. The overall experience here at the Huntley Meadow Park was fantastic and educational. It gave me a chance to decompress after a long day of travel and just enjoy the beauty of Alexandria at this nature preserve that also doubles as a beautiful park. There's a lot of trees here and it's very much maintained by the staff at the Fairfax County Parks Authority. I felt like walking in the woods a bit and not in a park for parts of the path. It was serene to be here especially during the winter. There's always something about the dead of winter that gives pause to everything. Here in Alexandria, I found such a place that lives inside Huntley Meadows Park. It was very enjoyable and definitely worth a visit if you can and are in the area to do so. Definitely peaceful and serene to relax even in cold winter conditions. I ended up walking slowly around the path that circles the park and seeing the wetlands and the wildlife that greeted me. I'm sure that they all were hibernating in one way or another and awaiting warmer spring weather. Coming here makes me happy even in the cold. I saw a few birds in the water, but not much else activity. Cold tends to slow nature down a bit. Best bet would be to come when you can to enjoy the outdoors and nature at its most pristine form. Definitely recommended if you are in the area and an alternative to visiting Washington DC. Best thing to do is to come during daylight hours to capture the essences of Huntley Meadow Park and where the wildlife living in the park is more active. It was one of the highlights of my day after a day long travel from Honolulu via Los Angeles. Huntley Meadow Park is the hidden gem of Alexandria, Virginia and Fairfax County. It's a large city community park that caters to anyone and everyone who wishes to visit. The entrance is Is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd in Alexandria, Virginia. It's Fairfax County's best kept secret. Best of all is that there is no admission fees for individuals and families. However, groups of 12-60 people are charged $30 for entry. Good thing I was there by myself so I got to experience Huntley Meadow Park for free. As far as parking, there's parking areas for those of yall who drive. Best thing to do is to get there early to secure the prime parking spot you want. If you are like me, I got here from the Ronald Regan Washington international airport and took the Yellow Line metro and then a bus. After arriving, I walked towards the entrance to the park, which wasn't too far from that. There's always Uber and Lyft, if you don't prefer to take public transportation and don't drive yourself. Huntley Meadows Park is more than a park but like a nature preserve that is home to many species of wildlife. It's a sanctuary that makes nature come alive everyday. Do yourself a favor and come visit if you get a chance to. It's better than a Zoo. 5.0 stars for the overall experience Support local! A+

If you're into photography or wildlife watching, this is one of the best spots in the DC metro…read morearea. Only 30 minutes from the metro area. The boardwalk through the wetlands gives you incredible views of turtles sunbathing, birds in flight, and reflections that make for beautiful shots. It's peaceful, scenic, and a perfect place to slow down with a camera or binoculars or to meditate. You'll also find meadows, forest trails, and the historic house nearby -- but the real highlight is being up close with nature in such a beautiful, photo-ready setting.

New little adventure for Desmond and I. I was on Yelp looking for a new dog park or trail for my…read moredog and I to explore not too far from home. Dora Kelley nature park was such a great find! There are several entrances. We entered off the Sanger Ave entrance next to the Nature Center. There's lots of informational signs along the trail, explaining all of the different things to be on the lookout for, including plants, flowers, birds, and other species you may encounter. There's a paved and unpaved trail that runs along a creek. I usually keep an AirPod in and listen to music or audiobook, but there were so many earthly sounds that made me want to walk in silence and take in everything nature was offering.

Wonderful to surround oneself in nature here. Please complete the access from Beauregard!! It has…read morebeen blocked for years.

Bring your bike if you can, as the trails go all the way down to Mason Neck and Lorton. In summer…read morethe campsites are nicely shaded, and it was fun to watch the birds (including some eagle chips) with our morning coffee, the eagles on our hike down to the bay, see fireflies at dusk, then bats each night over the playground. The dogwoods are everywhere is spring, and I only imagine the foliage being lovely each autumn. This campground quiet yet convenient, having two boathouse/laundry house stations This park and the nearby Bull Run park have a ranger badge for kids much like National Parks Junior Ranger program, up to two badges per visit. In peak camping season Pirate's Cove has a discount for Pohick Bay campers. Souvenirs, a few sundries, and cold treats were at the camp store. Food Lion and more aren't far away, a bring your own frisbee if you want to skip the store markup.

A really nice spot at a good price…read more Great trails and the restrooms are good to go. Staff was friendly.

Great place to visit hidden away at end of street heading into apartment building. There are…read moreseveral trails you can follow and a fair sized pond with a man made waterfall. Check the hours before you go -it closes early.

A much better experience now that they are owned by the city of Alexandria…read more The park is the same - a small oasis in the middle of the city. They have walking paths and an artificial waterfall (not on, when I was there). The paths aren't enough for a hike, but good enough to stretch your legs and think. But the expanded hours (compared to what they were in the past) is a huge upgrade.

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.

My boyfriend and I wanted to do something nice outdoors, and we thought of trying to canoe or kayak…read moresomewhere. I looked up on Yelp, and this came up. We were sold on the good deal to do any water activities in a one or two hour timeframe. We decided to do tandem kayaking. the $13 for an hour came with a life vest, paddle, and the kayak. It was a relatively easy process to rent, and once we got out there, it was beautiful! My favorite time to go out on the water is during the summer, because the trees are full and fluffy. We'd definitely do this again, and with a larger group so we can all enjoy being outside!

This just in.... literally just got in after a hour long kayaking on the water at Lake Ridge Park…read more Awesome staff, great location tucked away, not to far from shopping centers to grab a bite afterwards. First time kayaking- I can't swim but once I got over the fear it was so peaceful. It was eerily quiet away from the hustle and bustle of Old Bridge Road. Can't wait for my next venture. I may try the standing boards. We paid $12.00 for a one hour rental. They surprisingly opened at 6am in Sunday's in the summer. It wasn't crowded but just enough people were you feel safe but you can still enjoy solitudes. Can't wait to go back!

Nice trails, decent parking and they do have boat rentals and other stuff like that as well as a…read moreplayground higher up with picnic tables.

Beautiful little well kept secret in Lakeridge. The miniature golf is adorable and affordable…read more The nature trails are well kept and it is super close to the water and paddle boats.