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.

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!

Beautiful, charming, small town in the midst of the Western shore of the Chesapeake and nice…read morealternative for those who cannot or do not want to deal with the hassles of heading out to Ocean City or Sandy Point. Sandy Point is way too crowded and can be over stimulating for people wanting a relaxing yet local beach getaway. North Beach punches above its weight by having that peaceful, charming presence and vibe for you to relax. It is a year around destination, in that sure the beach (sand) might not be open, but the boardwalk is free all year around. I have found myself walking the boardwalk on gorgeous Spring and Fall days not during peak season enjoying myself. There are nice restaurants, eateries, food trucks and other charming venues around to grab smoothies, ice cream, and other delectables. My only gripe is the price of admission for the beach itself for non-county residents is a bit steep and has risen. You can rent an umbrella too, but that also costs more money. However, you do not always need to head to the actual beach and can enjoy the boardwalk and the local venues without having to pay that and get some sightseeing in. This is one of my favorite day-trip destinations in the DMV especially to wind down and relax with some good ole therapeutic peace and tranquility. NB is peaceful and slower paced than a lot of the faster paced locales in the DMV, folks should at least give the beach and town a shot to visit. It is a DMV day-trip destination for sure!

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!

This is a lovely park, with plenty of hiking options and the feel of being in deep woods while…read moreactually located in the middle of town (Rockville). The lake itself is gorgeous, and always so picturesque.... I have hiked the Lakeside Trail a few times, which is about three miles and mostly wooded, with two creek crossings (one easy, the other more difficult, requiring stepping on stones that could be slippery or even, at times, underwater). The first time we hiked the trail we did get lost as we skipped the difficult creek crossing and ended up going straight, and almost right back out of park...so bring water to drink and wear (or bring) a pair of shoes that can handle the creek water (it's not safe to swim--so I'm assuming, or wade around--in). UPDATE: Part of the Lakeside Trail has construction going on around it (near the easier stream crossing) and last time we encountered it we decided to turn around rather than trying to get around the mess...but there are other parts of the trail to explore, including hiking along the path that' intersects with Rock Creek Trail (or you can go around the other end of the Lakeside Trail, close to the Avery Park entrance...) Usually when we're here we don't do the entire trail, anyway, but turn around at various points, depending upon how long we want to walk. Although the park does get busy on weekends (and it can be difficult to get a parking spot at the Avery Park lot) the further along the trails you go the less people you'll encounter. Weekdays are also pretty peaceful. I look forward to visiting the Meadowside Nature Center when it reopens--this is located at the other park entrance at Muncaster Mill Road.

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!!

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.

I've been to Oronoco Bay Park on two occasions: 1. the International Food Festival (don't quote me…read moreon that name) and 2. Alexandria Half marathon post-race shenanighans. I love that fact that this park sits on the shore of the Potomac River. Everyone says that if you visit Alexandria that you have to take a quick stroll around this park. While the park is nice, it feels more like a huge lawn, rather than an actual park. However, there is nothing wrong with that because it's a perfect place to have large events such as food festivals. Also, the views of the Potomac River are pretty nice. I will say that during my last visit, I noticed quite a bit of trash/debris that washed up on shore. But, this wasn't something too off putting.

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

Brought the family back here for the festival of lights. First I would recommend buying the…read moretickets online as they are cheaper online than at the gate. It's a great drive through light show that allows you to stay warm and cozy in the car. The ticket is for the vehicle and allows you to enter any time during your entry day. It's a 2-2.5 mile drive with light displays on the left, right and overhead. They also have hayrides if you want to brave the cold. A fun and inexpensive holiday event for the whole family.

I love Watkins park and the turkey trot/festival of lights was amazing and took the park to the…read morenext level for me. I've never ran through the park at night and with the lights it was truly magical. I can't wait to attend next year and many years to come !

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.