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 the Grand daddy of them ALL! The original "OG" of the National Wildlife Refuge. This is…read morewhere Teddy Roosevelt established this now over 500 NWRs. It's considered a research center but is an NWR in the passport book. There are educational classes for children and adults. A gift shop, clean restrooms, an EV charging station and a float of art work of photography and drawings. Our Two Entrances: South Tract,also known as the Dan Ashe Division, hosts 5 miles of walking trails and two scenic lakes. It is also the site of The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - closed on federal holidays.  The grounds are open sunrise to sunset every day.  Fishing and hunting is available seasonally.  North Tract offers 25 miles of trail for walking, biking, and horseback riding. With less visitation than South Tract, North Tract offers a quiet atmosphere for those seeking solitude. The grounds and Visitor Information Station are open from Thursdays through Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  In addition, extended hours will be offered on the third Thursday of every month. Third Thursday hours will be the following: April 18 - 8:00 am to sunset.  May 16, June 20, and July 18 - 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. August 15 and September 19 - 8:00 am to sunset. The grounds and Visitor Information Station and are closed for federal holidays and occasionally for scheduled hunts.

Very cool visitor center with beautiful displays about different species to include Gray Wolves…read more Whooping Cranes etc. There is also a viewing area of lakes from the visitor center near the displays with clear viewing of wildlife. Very friendly staff with a gift shop, nice restrooms and information on area. The refuge has hiking trails which provide different opportunities to see wildlife from waterfowl to birds. Definitely will be back !!!

The guided tour were interesting. There isn't much original furniture to see here but you will…read morelearn so much about Clara Barton's life. This place is located next to Glen Echo Park.

I think this is a four star or four and a half (you can't give "halves"). It's steeped in very…read moreinteresting history. The park ranger was awesome (09/05/25) and knew everything about her. You got a real sense of what kind of person she was, how she was not perfect like people think but how she truly believed in what she did and she lived it literally, making her home a place to take in fire/flood and natural disaster victims/war victims. She truly did care and it weighed on her. The house itself is huge. However at this time, the furnishing are mostly in storage as they are awaiting rehab on the building. You can't go upstairs. If it'd of been rehabbed and all moved back in and you could go upstairs, I think this would be a 5 star review. Right now it needs TLC. Her stuff is still there though. I wish they' d of upkept the garden it's a jungle mess back there. However, it's in a cool area to check out and a lovely drive just outside of DC. Enjoyed the visit there and the park ranger was the highlight of the trip.

Tucked away along Rock Creek in N.W. D.C. is an old estate now hidden park. There are two access…read morepoints- 1) Down Williamsburg Lane N.W. and 2) A small dirt trail that connects into the Melvin C. Hazen Trail. The main house was built in 1823 by a horticulturist who introduced box gardens to D.C. and supplied plants to the likes of the White House and U.S. Capitol. The house was used as a residence until 1890 when the federal government bought it as part of Rock Creek Park, the first national park. It was leased as a private residence and now is open to the public. During the pandemic, you can't go inside the main mansion built in the Pennsylvania Dutch farmhouse style. However, the grounds are open. The mansion itself is on a hill with wide open grass perfect for dog walkers and picnickers. There's a trail that connects into the main trails along Rock Creek.

A good view of the river and one of the few railroad bridges open to walk across…read more This is one of the more interesting spots in Harpers Ferry. The bridge is old and rusty, but it is still in use by trains, and it has a safe walkway along the side that people can use. It's one of the few places that I have visited or know of where you can actually walk across a river on the side of an active railroad track. The views of the Potomac River and the surrounding mountains are very good, especially looking back toward the historic town. Looking at the river you can often see kayakers, innertubers travelling downstream on their whitewater travels. The bridge connects directly to the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath on the far side, so it is an important crossing for hikers and bikers. Many people use it to link the town of Harpers Ferry to the trails without having to drive. Both the bridge path and the trail can get busy with visitors, but it is worth the short walk for the scenery and the unique experience of sharing space with a working rail line. Overall, this is a short but memorable walk that is worth the effort to see a part of Harpers Ferry and get great views of both the river and the city.

Plummers Island is an island covering 12-acres seated in the Potomac River approximately nine miles…read moreupriver from Washington, DC. Owned by the U.S. Nationals Park Service, the island purportedly holds the distinction of being the most scientifically studied island in North America. Every plant species present in this island has been catalogued and its DNA analyzed. Getting to the island is most easily done by boat or kayak, or you can attempt to forge the waterway at the island's southeastern tip, where there is a makeshift log bridge.

This 12-acre island is located in the Potomac River in Maryland. You have to do a short hike to…read moreget here through the forest and then cross some rocks or ride a small boat. A cabin is located at the top of the island and has some nice views. The Washington Biologists Field Club takes care of the island and conducts research there.

Cool discovery of little Falls…read more Four miles north of Georgetown on the Potomac River. According to one website, Thomas Jefferson visited Little Falls several times. The canal was made to get around this rapids. There are other spots to view it (like a Chain Bridge). I found an awkward viewing spot just downstream.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A great park for a walk…read more *Parking available *No restrooms *Map of the trails posted A great park with beautiful views of the pristine landscape. Walk near the Potomac river or up the hills of trees and rock formations. There are (3) trails which are marked and easy to follow. Quite and tranquil

Beautiful , shaded park that is a bit of a hidden gem since it's not very often talk of around the…read morearea. They have hiking trails that are for beginner and also for ones that are a bit more advanced.