Shipyard Park is in Slexandria, located along the waterfront. This was originally a shipyard back…read morein 1783, and one if the area's oldest shipbuilding sites. You can walk along the path to restaurants and shops in Old Town.

One of the parks right along the Potomac River just north of Jones Point Park…read more This is a park located to the north of the I-495 bridge and within walking distance to many other parks along the Potomac River. It does not have any parking associated with it but Jones Point Park, just to the south, has a large parking lot with over a hundred car parking spots right off Jone's Point Drive. This park is right along the water with a limited amount of greenery. There is a stone monument with a plaque that provides information about the history of the site. The path is a smooth asphalt walkway that meanders from Windmill Hill to Roberdeaux Park cutting through the Shipyard Park. It has a point that juts out into the water. A 5-minute walk will bring you to other parks (Ford's Landing, Jones Point, Windmill Hill, and Roberdeaux) to the north and south. Walking to the north will eventually get you to Old Town Alexandria with its many shops situated along the water. It is a good place to visit if you are planning to visit Old Town Alexandria and want an easy place to park and enjoy a walk along the river. It is nice and one of the many parks along the water overlooking the river.

Since I have moved to the area I have been to Fort Washington Park at least once a year. Why…read morehaven't I reviewed it until now? Your guess is as good as mine. I can't speak for the whole park as I have only really seen one area of the park on each visit. Picnic area B and I are very familiar, and I have come to like this part of the park. Maybe one day I will make it back out here and explore more, but this review at this time is for what I have experienced thus far. Picnic area B is a set of areas sandwiched between Battery Meigs and Battery Humphreys. A great area to have a big gathering as both ends have bathroom facilities for use and those can be very useful. The one thing that you do not realize is how close you are to the water. No matter where you are in this park you are a very short walk to the water. Picnic area B is fairly close to both the Potomac River and Piscataway Creek. There are also trails that will connect areas and take you along the waterways. Specifically for Area B, there is ample parking for any amount of people you may invite to an event. It is shaded, but not as shaded as you would think. Throughout the day, if you want to be in the shade you will either have to move or bring a way to keep the sun away. If you do plan an event here, be sure to clean up after yourself. Do not leave anything behind as this is a park that is patrolled and it is your duty to pick up after yourself.

I really enjoy going to this park, however there isn't any upkeep to the historic buildings at this…read morepark and it's sad to see the buildings in disrepair. Trash cans are overflowed no security or Park Rangers insight, when there are multiple spots where anything could happen. It doesn't feel safe and given the recent news it makes sense it happened here.

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.

Beautiful and well kept state park with picturesque walking trails. Perfect for enjoying the…read moreoutdoors, nature, picnics, and water outdoor activities. We went to a 2024 Eagle Festival and had a very wonderful & educational time. The entrance to the park was free on the day of the festival and free transportation from the parking area to the festival location was free. We saw beautiful birds: falcon and owls and snakes. The staff and the organizations at the events were very informative, professional, and fun. They gave a lot of free gifts, educational opportunities, information about wildlife & the environment, and photography moments with the birds. I can not fully express how impressed I was about the Eagle festival in Mason Neck in this review. I strongly suggest you visit next year festival event in Mason Neck or just visit it. Beautiful and well kept state park with picturesque walking trails. Perfect for enjoying the outdoors, nature, picnics, and water outdoor activities. We went to a 2024 Eagle Festival and had a very wonderful & educational time. The entrance to the park was free on the day of the festival and free transportation from the parking area to the festival location was free. We saw beautiful birds: falcon and owls and snakes. The staff and the organizations at the events were very informative, professional, and fun. They gave a lot of free gifts, educational opportunities, information about wildlife & the environment, and photography moments with the birds. I can not fully express how impressed I was about the Eagle festival in Mason Neck in this review. I strongly suggest you visit next year festival event in Mason Neck or just visit it.

Mason Neck is a peninsula which is mostly parkland but is divided confusingly among several…read moredifferent jurisdictions. The best views are the state park, which this is not. The federal wildlife refuge amounts to a couple of miles of trail through the forest, leading to an overlook. There wasn't a ton of wildlife when I dropped in, though I just caught site of a large bird of prey on my way back. The topography wasn't as varied, nor the trails as extensive, as compared to the state park which is just a bit farther down the road. However, that costs money and this does not, so this section is still nice for what it is.

Fort Ward is a must-see; whether you're a history buff visiting the area or a long-time local -…read morethere is much to see and learn here. It doesn't cost a thing to visit the museum, which is staffed by city of Alexandria employees. There are brochures and fact sheets upon entering the museum and the staff will be happy to answer questions. They have events throughout the year and there's a donation box for those that want to support their ongoing efforts. The park itself is a nice retreat from the city. There are a few areas that are off-limits in terms of picnics and events - and most people seem to respect that. It's pet and kid friendly as well.

Fort Ward Park is a former Union Civil War defense in Alexandria that protected Washington, D.C…read more from 1861-1865. Now it's a public park and museum. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) History: There's a small museum (currently closed due to COVID-19 as of July 27, 2020) and a trail that leads through a white gate to earthworks that are mostly still intact. Signs along the way explain the history behind the defense. 2) Space: It's now a large park with a free parking lot and paved trails for strollers, joggers and dog walkers. 3) Amenities: There's an amphitheater for performances and a playground in the park that my toddler loved. The park is wooded well so expect more shade than other public parks in the area.

After a period of construction, this area has been renovated. It contains some previously neglected…read moreburial sites. A swampy area, it has a boardwalk as well. The park is not large and the waterway here possesses no great aesthetic merit. However, the heritage here is important to ponder, and the setting is peaceful, so there is some value in a city like this to having this little interstitial space.

What a beautiful walk around this nice surprise I found today while I'm here in Alexandria. Loved…read moreseeing people out and about especially with their little furry friends. The surrounding cemetery gives you pause of thought for your blessings. The sculptures, as well.

It's one of those hidden gems!…read more Great place to walk / hang out Great place to walk around, play basketball, chalk art the sidewalks, have a picnic. Located below the I-495 -Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the park is right at the southernmost point and great water views of Virginia and sites within Maryland like the National Harbor across the Potomac River. There is a walking trail along the river with informational signs and displays that describe the really cool, informative information markers of sights and the past history of the area along the trail. A 10-minute walk on the trail will bring you to other parks (Ford's Landing, Shipyard, and Roberdeaux) and eventually to Old Town Alexandria with its many shops and restaurants --situated along the water. Another added plus is that the park offers a place for fishing, playgrounds, basketball courts, and multi-use fields. I came here with some friends for the first time and had a relaxing time just being outdoors and enjoying this great space in nature. We grabbed a picnic table....while having lunch and taking in the weather. Between the space and multi-use areas, it is the perfect spot to for walks along the river, running, exercising or simply....raking time to put things on pause and enjoy the outdoors. ELITE TIP: It is a good place to park if you are planning to visit Old Town Alexandria and want an easy place to park.....without having to deal with the limited street parking, risk of parking meter tickets or the high price garage parking. and enjoy a walk along the river.

Beautiful park in Alexandria with water views. We walked about a mile, just past the restaurants…read moreBarca and some on the water. Then circled back for about a little over 2 miles. It's best to go early. Plenty of benches and covered areas for comfort while in the sun. Great place to walk with your dog or go on a date. There were also other places you could park further down the walk if you don't want to start at the end near the bridge. Lovely walk that I would enjoy doing again.

What a tranquil place. I really needed to get out of the house, was feeling in a bit of a funk,…read morefound this place close by and decided let's get in a walk. So this place is great for walking and biking and being outdoors - however if you're disabled or handicap this probably wouldn't be ideal for you. As far as difficulty is concerned I'd put it on about a 1 or 2 out of 5, there's some mild inclines and rough terrain but nothing most people can't handle. I don't get to walk the whole refuge but I walked on the outside perimeter and it puts you right next to the water which is great. Also there's some benches along the way so if you need to just sit and be quiet there's spaces for that

Visitor center rdor stamps are open Thursday -Saturday 10am-4pm. Located near the city but tucked…read moreaway makes you feel secluded. Great walking trailer. I was not impressed with the auto tour today but I am sure it's the time of the season. The visitor center had an excellent educational area for large groups. Was able to get three stamps here today so I am a happy gal. The diverse upland and wetland habitats of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge support a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife, including over 200 species of birds, 79 species of butterflies, and 77 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies. A must visit.