Not a reflection of the trail as a whole, but when I stopped back on this occasion I was dismayed…read more It was one thing during the peak of the COVID era when there were signs up saying this trail was to be undertaken in one direction only. People were throwing around all sorts of silly rules out of desperation in those days. I doubt any lives were saved by this; maybe the theory was to reduce human contact but realistically, we're talking about hiking in open air. Public health aside, I return to find even now there are still signs saying to take the trail one way. And having done it both ways many times, it's the wrong way! Absurd. Supposedly there's some justification, but I think that grown adults can figure out how to hike in two directions without running into each other. As an overall natural resource, it remains a gem (though it must be noted that the Billy Goat B trail downstream is currently closed due to damage). But whoever is making these stupid rules shouldn't be in the business of making rules at all. Thankfully some rebels were taking the trail in the northernly direction, as well they should.

I really enjoy this hike because it has great views and is an interesting hike. The first half…read moreinvolves hiking on the rocks overlooking the Potomac River. It has some rock scrambles which keep my kids interested in the hike. After you finish hiking "section A", you get spit out on the towpath and it's an easy walk on gravel next to the C and O canal. Total mileage is 3.9 miles. It took my 6 and 8 year old 3 hours to complete the hike including breaks.

Nice community resource. Came to watch one of my grandkin playing basket ball. The building is…read moreaccessible. Parking is ample. Place is clean. Staff is friendly. Not a huge array of activities and not a huge facility, but plenty enough options for a nice community recreation center. #MyRockville

A nice community center! Who can beat community centers? They have nice facilities and its good to…read moreget out of the house during the pandemic.

I love the Canal Tow Path. I have run along it a couple dozen times. I usually enter in Georgetown…read moreor at Fletcher's Cove. But I also start at Carderock for a change or if that is how the race is set up. I don't do much in the park itself. But I see it is a lovely, underused facility (which I don't want to ruin). There is, as people have mentioned, a military facility nearby. I wonder as I drive around, if they are conducting surveillance or if you'd get in trouble for doing something such as taking photographs. I've never had an issue though, if you were wondering. I have gotten lost, however, because it's not quite clear (and GPS is not precise) how you get to where you want to go once you take the exit. I recommend Carderock highly for a hike. I believe it also is a nice place to hang out, even if you don't get to the trail (but why would you go here and not at least take a gander at the water).

On Sunday during Tony's Birthday Trip, We stopped at CarderRock Recreation Area which is part of…read moreThe Great Falls National Park. It can be seen on both sides of the Potomac River Gorges, Virginia and Maryland. The fee is $20 per car. Once you pay, your receipt is good for 7 days at any park entry points, including both sides, either states. At this location there is plenty of Parking but no Visitors Center. There is a nice bathroom facility though and plenty of picnic sites. Several trails along the gorge walls with slippery rocks so wear correct footwear.

I had a private lesson with Cheddar last week & it was fantastic! He was easy going, helped me with…read morecomfort in the boat and building my skillset. I know that sometimes I learn a little differently than the average person and Cheddar listened to what I had to say and was able to tailor the experience to something that worked best for me and my brain. I came away from the lesson feeling more confident and excited about a future that includes some whitewater kayaking. I'm excited to keep learning with Potomac Paddlesports and next time I want to arrange a private lesson I will definitely request Cheddar as my instructor. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone.

Took some whitewater kayaking classes a few years ago, really enjoyed it…read more Ashley was one of my teachers - not sure if she's still there but she was my favorite.

Great Falls & National Parks, Oh my!! (US National Parks) worth an Annual Pass…read more Do you like easy walking trails? Beautiful views? A front seat to nature...ducks, frogs eagles and other animals await your visit to Great Falls Park. It's really 2 parks in 1, or is that 1 park cut into 2? Let me explain, Great Falls is a national park that sits in the border of Maryland and Virginia. The trails were relatively easy, in regular sneakers. Apparently, if you get up in the morning you can see an amazing array of wildlife and a huge amount of birds. There's even a man made waterfall, areas to enjoy water sports and fishing. It cost $20 per car, $15 per motorcycle and $10 on foot. It cost $35 for Annual Pass (only for Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park). There's also an America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which cost $80 for US residents and citizens. For nonresident it cost $250. There are even a senior citizen resident annual pass for $20 and lifetime resident pass $80. For the cost of a one year annual pass, you can visit many times in a year. It's cheaper than paying each time you go...if you are into physical fitness, trails, nature and the great outdoors. Did you know the US National Parks include a rainforest and a Spanish Fort located in Puerto Rico, a US territory. Yes, for such a small area Washington, DC has 30 National Parks (including historic sites, memorials, and parkways). But wait there's more, The Greater Capital Region (DC, MD and DC) has 86 Parks in total with all parks and sites maintained by the US Parks Department. Are you going to Great Falls or will you hit all the US Parks this summer? Get a pass and get out in nature.

Where else can you pull up, park and walk for two minutes to see spectacular, huge, majestic…read morewaterfalls!? Let me know because this place is worth a visit or two. Be careful walking to the overlooks, especially #1, because the rocky ground is definitely not flat. I can barely navigate it and I'm sure others will struggle as much or even more. Take your time and avoid a sprained ankle or worse! The is also a lot of history here if you look for it. The rangers at the visitor center are full of knowledge and are quite willing to explain. The flood marker shows the flood of 1972 when the water level was 85ft above the river! 85 feet!? I was a young kid visiting Washington DC in 1972 and the flood there was massive as well. There was a one mile long canal built on this side of the river, which was eventually overcome by a superior canal built on the other of the river, which was overcome by the invention of the railroad. Now it's trucks. Soon it will be self driving trucks. Goods have to flow and technology keeps advancing... what's next? Life is good with a nice visit to a unique national park. The first time, I walked here from a mile or more upstream. I met and walked with three Catholic priests who subsequently blessed me after our conversations and upon reaching our destination. The second time, I was with my nephew who is hiking the Appalachian Trail! I feel blessed, lucky and alive.

Chaperoned my Kids to the park as an incentive, nick was pretty cool handling the group. Although…read morethe weather was cloudy over cast and wet, the venue was worth the trip.

My son and I were visiting Baltimore and we came here for the day. We had a blast! Kai was great…read moreand super patient with us. I'd recommend it for any adventure seekers.

Realllyyyy funnnn!!! It was my first time snow tubing. It was such a great family bonding activity…read more They have this conveyor belt thing that takes you up so you can slide down and repeat. There's a restaurant on site and bathrooms. You can book the fire place and bring items to toast smores. Very enjoyable!

We stayed on the campsite. Initially we had a site in the overflow lot, but staff reached out to us…read moreprior to check-in to let us know other spots had become available and they would upgrade us free of charge. Staff was friendly and helpful in person and over the phone, the campsite was in good condition, and the view from our site was perfect. Will be staying at the site again, highly recommend.

Really nice and educational nature center. Perfect when it's too hot to be outside. It's small and…read moreI loved that. You only need a couple of hours to explore everything. Highly recommended

Such a great spot for exploring! There are so many things for kids to do here! We met up for a play…read moredate and got a surprise turtle feeding session. The staff was super kind to the kids as they wanted to see up close. There is an owl here! Super cool! The outdoor playground is a nice transition to getting the kids out of the building. There's a large area downstairs where kids can do puzzles, read or just run. We're happy we got to visit Croydon and play around with friends.

I climb here 2-3 times a week. I love that the setters are always changing the routes and that the…read morestaff are always friendly. It's been 11 months and I always find a new challenge for myself, whether I'm top roping, Bouldering or just taking one of the many classes they offer. Prior to Earth Treks I had been a member at Planet Fitness, but I'd get so bored just doing the same machines over and over. At Earth Treks, I'm finding ways to get stronger and have a great time while also working out! Bottom line: I love my membership, which allows me to climb at any and all of the Earth Treks! I've currently visited 4/5 in the Maryland/Virginia area and this one is my anchor!

A yoga instructor attending a yoga class disciplined by 11 year old for laughing when the…read moreparticipating instructor farted multiple times in class. Ridiculous! If you fart in public, people may laugh. So not kid friendly and expensive.