Pretty cool old steel bridge in a beautiful area. With views of the Potomac River down below, and…read morepretty vistas all around, you can enjoy Maryland and Virginia.

It's a beautiful bridge. This connects southern Maryland to Virginia. Have driven it quite a few…read moretimes, and also hiked/bikes underneath it on the C&O Canal. Crossing this part of the Potomac River is stunning. One thing I don't like, is there looks like a section to walk the bridge, but that would be a no. Barricades aren't in place, and it's a thin bit of sidewalk. Also when you drive across this it's two way two lane traffic. Definitely pay attention, as not much clearance. Yet the blue bridge is stunning. If you're lucky enough to be a passenger, the views of the Potomac are truly impressive. It's a fairly rural area, although rush hour can be frustrating. If there's a wreck on or near the bridge, you will not be moving anytime soon. My hope is this can continue being operational, but that Whites Ferry can return.

Very nice tour and house of George Marshall. Tickets are not required in advance, and as I wasn't…read moresure when I'd be in town, we just called to confirm they were open for a tour, and that worked out. Just look up the address of where to park (as it's in the back on a different street) and you're good to go. The tour starts off with an informative movie. The house stayed with Marshall's family until it became a public historical site, so all the rooms were just as he left them. The tour guide had a lot of good stories about the private life of Marshall, which was really interesting to hear about. I'm glad the house was preserved, despite it being in rough shape when the last family member sold it. It's a gem of a site. There is a very small gift shop section. The tours are a bit over an hour and totally worth it to visit.

Dodona Manor is the former home of General George C. Marshall, who served as Chief of Staff of the…read moreU.S. Army, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, among other positions. I visited Dodona Manor (also called the George C. Marshall International Center) this past Friday when I was in Leesburg, and I'm so glad I made time to stop by. They offer tours Friday through Sunday, and you should check the online schedule, because the hours vary depending on the day. I was the only person on the 1pm tour last Friday, so I got a private tour from Kerry, a guide at Dodona. The tours are 75 minutes (which includes a short video that provides some context for the rest of the tour), and I learned a lot. I knew the name, but I didn't remember much of what I'd learned about Marshall in school. Kerry was a great guide, and I really learned so much about Marshall's accomplishments, his life, and the house (where Marshall and his second wife lived from 1941-1959). The house has been beautifully restored to the way it looked when the Marshalls lived there, and much of the furniture and collections are original (Marshall's actual possessions, photographs, books, etc.). If you're interested in American history, include Dodona Manor on your itinerary for a visit to Leesburg!

Want to step into a time portal? Rent this place. Meet the ghosts. Escape modern life. If only…read morefor a weekend. Beautifully preserved pre-Civil War Lockhouse. Make sure you bring candles and/or lanterns because there is no electricity. Or running water. Bring that too. Forget charging your phone, if you're staying more than a night do yourself a favor and turn it off until you re-emerge into civilization. Maybe going 19th century it's not your cup of tea, and that's fine. But if you want to "primitive camp" with young children in your family this is a nice option because at least you won't get rained on. It's two stories, four walls, and roof, with beds for up to 8 people. Not to mention the rich history of the place. Very cool experience. If you're into this sort of thing, this is a great place for your family to stay over the weekend. Please note that it is about 3/4 of a mile from the closest parking lot on the C & O canal trail. Anything you want to bring with you (food, water, bedding, etc.), your best bet is to bring a wagon or two (Radio Flyers are ideal for this) to cart your stuff to and from. And don't worry, they have a modern port-a-pot on site, so you don't need to bring a shovel. Although importing your own TP isn't a bad idea since riders and hikers on the trail also have access to it. Seriously this place is a one-of-a-kind experience.

This is a fantastic place to spend a night or 2 and get a real taste of what life was like on the…read morecanal in the 1830's. No power or water at the lockhouse, so bring plenty of water and flashlights/lanterns. I spent my final night on the towpath here while bicycling from Cumberland to DC, and probably had the best night of sleep on the whole trip. The beds are wood frame, with rope to support the mattress. It's a lot more comfortable than you might think. Please note-there are no linens provided, and the mattresses are covered with vinyl sheets, so you'll either want a sleeping bag, or bring your own linens. There is a table in the sitting room with a guestbook that you can sign, as well as several books on the history of the lockhouse and the C&O Canal. There are cooking utensils and plates/glasses available, but the nearest water is 3 miles away at Swain's Lock, so I didn't use anything, just used the mess kit that I had been using the whole trip. But if you need to use them, they're there. There are also some games and toys from the time period. Jacks, checkers, and some others. This is a really peaceful place in a beautiful setting. I wish I'd had the time to spend another night here. Maybe another time...

Nice spot to start a walk along the towpath away from the crowds of DC. Along with an old…read morelockhouse, there's a gravel parking lot and an outhouse.

I've seen a lot of water tanks. Nearly all of them are boring and forgettable. Some are not:…read more The Giant Penis in Ypsilanti MI: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ypsilanti-water-tower-ypsilanti?hrid=n7mkjkQ-PxF4OICBGQLo6Q The Giant Dixie Cup in Lexington KY: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dixie-cup-water-tower-lexington?hrid=d3f8MadsyvYAJiFwG0Vcug The Peachoid in Gaffney, SC: https://www.yelp.com/biz/peachoid-water-tower-gaffney?hrid=1yVcejo353VlCHINw7YWGw The Giant Baseball in Fort Mill, SC: https://www.yelp.com/biz/baseball-water-tower-fort-mill?hrid=uxn7C0DT4bFlhJA2mivOcg Add the Earthoid to the list of not forgettable. In 1980, the students of Montgomery College's Germantown campus were tasked with designing the water tank that stood on the edge of their university. After a vote, the students designed that the spherical tank would emulate our wonderful planet. Using a National Geographic globe image and satellite photos for reference, artist Peter Freudenberg got it done. The global is approachable with a parking lot nearby for your ideal selfie. Thank you, Atlas Obscura https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/earthoid-water-tank [Review 14267 overall, 1591 of 2020, number 589 in Maryland.]

If you enjoy finding the quirky in the D.C. area, stop by the Earthoid Water Tank on the Germantown…read morecampus of Montgomery College. It makes for a beautiful picture and parking is really close.

A nice marker but with small print, you'll have to get close enough to read it and the back. On the…read moreplus side, the verge is wide enough that you can stop your car easily. On one side: "Saving the Declaration of Independence" On 22 Aug. 1814, two days before British forces entered Washington, Sec. of State James Monroe ordered government records, including the Declaration of Independence, removed to Virginia for safekeeping. They were first deposited in an abandoned mill just across the Potomac River. State Department clerk Stephen Pleasonton, believing the documents still in danger of discovery, sent them 35 miles west to Leesburg. They were secured south of town here at the abandoned Rokeby mansion, probably in its brick vault. The Declaration, the papers of the Continental Congress, and other historical government records remained here for several weeks until they were returned to Washington. On the other side: "The War of 1812" Impressment of Americans into British service and the violation of American ships were among the causes of America's War of 1812 with the British, which lasted until 1815. Beginning in 1813, Virginians suffered from British naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and from British troops plundering the countryside by the Bay and along the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers. The Virginia militia deflected a British attempt to take Norfolk in 1813 and engaged British forces throughout the war. By the end of the war, more than 2000 enslaved African Americans in Virginia had gained their freedom aboard British ships.

Last Saturday, we visited the largest, permanent, model railroad display in the mid-Atlantic, owned…read moreby the Baltimore Society for Model Engineers. The Society was founded in March 1932 and is the oldest exclusively model railroad club in the United States. They maintain 2,500 square feet of model railroad displays of steam and diesel freight and passenger trains and trolleys, plus so much more. It was fun to see all the parts of the display - it really gives you a glimpse into the history of railroading. It is not easy to find, as the doorway is tucked into the left front center of the building and the society is located on the third floor with no elevator. The display is normally open on the second Sunday of each month, except May.

These gentlemen have been around 81 amazing years. Great family environment with extremely…read moreknowledgable guys working. Displays are very detailed and even showcase popular Baltimore landmarks.