Explore Great Falls, VA

Visit Great Falls, VA.  Hike a picturesque 5.1 mile loop and see the Potomac River's amazing waterfall.  Stop to see a historic mill close-by before going home.

Difficult Run Trail Head (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Difficult Run

• Leave in the morning and pack a picnic lunch
• Drive to trail head (15.6 miles, 24 minutes)
• Park in the lot just off of Georgetown Pike, a couple miles before Old Dominion Drive
• Walk the 5.1 miles Difficult Run hike, which will take approximately 2.5 hours
• See trees, wildlife, and great views of the Potomac River

2.  Great Falls National Park

• About midway through your hike, stop at Great Falls National Park
• Explore the Visitors Center
• See the "Great Falls"
• Rest and eat lunch (if you didn't pack a lunch, a snack bar is open seasonally)
• Continue hiking and return to your car

Great Falls

3.  Colvin Run Mill

• Relax after your hike by driving to Colvin Run Mill (4.9 miles, 10 minutes)
• Shop in the General Store for something refreshing after your hike and for wheat milled at Colvin Run
• Tour the restored mill
• Wander around the grounds, taking the self-guided tours of the property (not that big)
• Return home (Colvin Run Mill closes at 4:00 p.m.)

Difficult Run Trail Head (Point A) to Colvin Run Mill (Point B)

THINGS TO KNOW:

Difficult Run Trail has a parking lot just to the south of the Great Falls Park boundaries.  The trail doesn’t follow the river, but instead leads through the woods to the ruins of Matildaville.  Its interesting to stand by the foundations and read about the history of the area. 

If you can’t handle hiking, drive directly to Great Falls National Park so you can still enjoy the view of the falls.  The park charges $5 per car, or $3 per person entering on foot, bike or horseback, unless you have a National Parks Pass.  Beginning in April 2013, it is a trash-free park, so be prepared to carry out all your trash with you when you go.  There are plenty of picnic tables and lots of grassy area if you prefer to lay out a blanket and sit on the ground.  There’s enough flat space for a game of soccer or frisbee.  The falls overlook is an easy stroll from the parking lot, if you’ve driven directly to the park.  One thing we love about the park is the plethora of boulders that captivate rock climbers of all levels.  Even small children have a blast crawling around on the rocks they can manage.  The visitor center has some educational exhibits on the area and a very small gift shop.

Colvin Run Mill is a small park and doesn’t require a lot of time to explore, but it is worth the stop.  Just down the road from the bustle of Tyson’s Corner, it is a serene park that transports you back in time.  Tours are available for a fee ($7 for adults and $5 for kids) or you can grab a brochure and do a self-guided tour of the grounds.  Check the website to find out when the mill is in operation and when you can see black smith and woodworking demonstrations.  Stop into the general store to complete that feeling that you’ve stepped back in time.  In our warehouse, bulk-buying culture, there’s something amazing about buying grains that have recently been milled a few steps away from the store in which you’re standing.  The store has recipes available for you to try a typical dish from the 1800’s.  If you purchase some cornmeal and want some of the best cornbread you’ve ever had, try this recipe.

Arlington's Point of View

Take several hours to honor those who serve our country and to enjoy Arlington, VA.

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Walk Around the Arlington National Cemetery Area (3.2 miles round trip)

• Park in the Arlington National Cemetery parking lot - there is a fee, but it is next to the visitor's center which has air conditioning, water fountains, and bathrooms
• Begin your walk at the Visitors Center (Point A) - stop and get a map and other information
• Walk to United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Point B)
• On your way back to Arlington National Cemetery, stop at the Netherlands Carillon (Point C) - this is one of the greatest views of Washington, D.C.
• Continue to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial (Point D) - take the time to walk the stairs to the top of the memorial and view the gallery inside the memorial
• Walk to President John F. Kennedy's Gravesight (Point E) - see the Eternal Flame and view the Arlington House
• Finish your visit by attending the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Point F) and visiting the Memorial Amphitheater

United States Marine Corps War Memorial

View of Washington, D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon 

Women in Military Service for America Memorial

Eternal Flame at President John F. Kennedy's Gravesite

Arlington House 

Tomb of the Unknowns

2.  Drive to Gravelly Point Park (4.7 miles)

• Have a picnic
• Watch the planes take off and land at Reagan National Airport

3.  Drive to the Air Force Memorial (3.0 miles)

• Take 20 minutes to walk around the memorial - this a yet another amazing place to view our nation's capital.

Air Force Memorial

4.  End the day at Hayes Park (3.0 miles) - especially if you are doing this day trip with children during the summer

• Cool down at the "spray ground" - be sure to pack swimming suits if you plan to do this - your children can change in the bathrooms
• Play tennis or basketball
• Play on the playground

Arlington National Cemetery (Point A); Gravelly Point Park (Point B);
Air Force Memorial (Point C); Hayes Park (Point D)

THINGS TO KNOW:

This is a great day trip that takes you to some wonderful memorials, but doesn’t pack in so much that you don’t have time to enjoy them.  

So that you can plan your bathroom/snack/water breaks: our walk around the Arlington National Cemetery area took about 3 ½ hours.  Had it been necessary, we could’ve gotten through it a little more quickly.  If we had the energy to get home very late, we could’ve spent more time enjoying this part of the day.  The gallery inside the Women in Military Service for America Memorial is a great resting spot if you need one.  If you’re too tired for the stairs to the top, take the elevator at the far end of the monument - it's worth the effort to go up there.  When you go to see the Changing of the Guard, try to get a spot on your right hand side as you’re looking at the tomb - that is where most of the ceremony takes place.  You will be asked to stand and remain silent through the 5-10 minute change, so find a place you can do so comfortably.

Gravelly Point Park is a lot of fun for the airplane and boat aficionados.  The picnic area is right next to the water and Reagan National Airport.  The planes fly right over your head and then make the sharp turn necessary to avoid D.C.  Be prepared for the loud noise of the planes’ engines.  We didn’t feel the need to provide earplugs for our family, but we did notice that some parents were protecting their children’s hearing.

The best place to get a photo while on the site of the Air Force Memorial is from the far corner of the parking lot.  As you drive into the parking lot, go all the way back to find the spot we stood to get the shot that we did.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that there is more to the monument than what you see from the road and we enjoyed walking around it and reading about it.

The “Spray Ground” at Hayes Park has a few little tricks.  The first important thing to know if you plan on playing in the water is that the water is only available from Memorial Day – Labor Day, and even then only during certain hours.  Check the website before you go.  Also, the sprinklers run on a timer so as to not waste water while people aren’t there. The local residents all know how to turn it on every 5 minutes or so.