Bull Run

Visit the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas, VA.  See the location where the Battles of Bull Run (First Manassas) and Second Bull Run (Second Manassas) were fought.  Then go to Bull Run Regional Park to cool off Atlantis Waterpark.

Manassas National Battlefield Park (Point B) and Atlantis Waterpark (Point C)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Manassas National Battlefield Park (31 miles, 39 minutes)

• Explore the Henry Hill Visitor Center when it opens at 8:30 a.m.
• Watch the park's 45 minutes orientation film
• Hike the 5.4 mile First Manassas Trail loop (blue dashes on map) and see the battlefield where newly formed Union and Confederate armies clashed for the first time, the Stone Bridge, the Bull Run, the Stone House, and the spot where Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" (Note: a future post will feature the Battle of Second Manassas) 
• Picnic at the Brownsville Picnic Area, off of Groveton Road   

First Manassas Battlefield

Stone Bridge

First Manassas Trail

Stone House

2.  Atlantis Waterpark (6 miles, 13 minutes)

• Play in the water, ride waterslides, and sun bathe for the rest of the afternoon (closes at 7:00 p.m.)

THINGS TO KNOW:

Walking through Manassas National Battlefield Park is an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the area in which we live, but if you take the time to go to the visitor center, you’ll develop a new appreciation for the area and the significant events that occurred here.  The movie at this visitor center is definitely worth the time.  You’ll also find water fountains, restrooms, and a gift shop at the visitor center.  There is a fee to visit the park, unless you have the annual National Parks Pass. 

The hike will take you through fields and forests.  Bring your sun block and bug repellant.  You’ll go up and down some hills, but nothing too difficult.  (If you’re not up to the hike, ask the visitor center about the driving tour of the park.)  After spending a couple of hours hiking the grounds and learning about the buildings and the Battle of First Manassas, you’ll probably worked up an appetite.  But don’t pull out your picnic just yet; the park only allows picnicking in specific picnic locations and if you’ve followed First Manassas Trail, you’re a few miles away from the picnic area.

If you’ve decided to pack a picnic, get in your car and drive to either the Brownsville Picnic Area or go straight to Atlantis Waterpark.  The waterpark does not permit you to bring your own food, so you’ll have to picnic on the grass near the parking lot.  If you’d prefer to buy lunch, Atlantis does have a café where they sell a variety of fast food.

Atlantis Waterpark is a great place for kids to play, but there’s also some fun for the adults.  Check the website for admission fees; discounts are given if you’ve decided to camp in the park and they’re also given for admission to the park after 4:00 pm. (weekdays only).  There’s quite a few rules at the park that you may want to familiarize yourself with prior to visiting (such as where non-toilet trained children are allowed to play, no water guns in the pool, no sunglasses on the waterslide, etc.).  

Gathland, Bluberries, Harpers Ferry

Visit Gathland State Park and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.  Some people prefer to visit the two parks while hiking the Appalachian Trail, we chose to visit the parks by car--allowing plenty of time to sightsee at both locations and pick blueberries in between.  

Gathland State Park (Point B), Frog Eye Farm (Point C), Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (Point D)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Explore Gathland State Park (62 miles, 1 hour 17 minutes)

• See the War Correspondent's Arch, a national historic monument
• Visit the remnant estate of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War and perhaps first syndicated journalist
• Walk through the small museum, featuring artifacts of Townsend's life and career and artifacts from the Battle of South Mountain, the first major battle of the Civil War fought in Maryland

War Correspondent's Arch 

Townsend Estate/Museum

2.  Pick your own organic blueberries at Frog Eye Farm (4 miles, 8 minutes)

Blueberries at Frog Eye Farm

Frog Eye Farm

3.  Visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (8 miles, 13 minutes) and walk in the foot steps of various prominent Americans

• Stop at the Visitor Center to pick-up maps
• Take the shuttle Lower Town
• Eat lunch at Hannah's Train Depot
• Walk through town, stopping to see various town life, industry, Civil War, natural history, and African American history museums
• Hike about 0.5 mile (roundtrip) to Jefferson Rock, made famous by Thomas Jefferson's description of the convergence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.
• If time and energy, cross the footbridge and hike the more difficult 4 mile (roundtrip) Overlook Cliff Trail for a great view of Harpers Ferry from the other side the Potomac River
• Take the shuttle back to your car
• If desired, drive to Bolivar Heights, site of the largest Civil War battle in West Virginia

Harpers Ferry Lower Town

Jefferson Rock 

Bolivar Heights

THINGS TO KNOW:

Gathland State Park is an interesting park.  The structures there are beautiful and would provide a nice backdrop for a photo shoot.  The museums are small, but informative.  It’s interesting to learn about journalism at the time of the Civil War and the roll that these writers played in our Nation’s history.  The museums are closed in the winter; check the website for specifics.  Don’t forget your bug spray, preferably something that repels gnats.  There are picnic tables at the park and restrooms are available; but don’t worry, there’s also restrooms available everywhere else along the route.

Frog Eye Farm is a serene little farm you don’t want to miss.  The owner was helpful and friendly, the blueberries were delicious (and organic), and there are places to just stop and sit down to relax and enjoy your blueberries.  Even if you don’t like blueberries, stop by this farm and pick a few to give to your neighbor.  Blueberry season is June – August, but varies slightly every year so make sure to check their website to make sure the berries are ready to be picked before you go. To get there from Gathland State Park, look for Frog Eye Road off Rt. 67; it’s a small road that’s easy to pass, so watch closely.  The road will turn into a dirt road and curve to the left.  When we went, there were small signs low to the ground that had pictures of blueberries and arrows making sure you find the driveway to the farm.  Bring cash or check to pay for the blueberries and a Tupperware container to take them home.

Harper’s Ferry is unlike most National Parks because it is a town.  There are lots of buildings that you can step into and learn various aspects of daily life during the civil war.   You’ll learn about why this town was important during the Civil War and how many times it changed hands over the course of the war.  In addition to the buildings that have been set aside for historical and educational purposes, you’ll also find plenty of modern shops, restaurants, and private residences.  The National Park Service (NPS) provides a shuttle from the visitor center because the town can’t accommodate the cars of all the visitors.  If you don’t want to take the shuttle, you won’t be stopped from driving there yourself and trying to find parking.  We recommend following the advice of the NPS and taking the shuttle unless you are visiting off-season.

The town is set right on a mountainside and there are steep hills.  If you’re not interested in the dealing with the hills, you’ll find plenty to do and see along Shenandoah Street, which is nice and flat.  Strollers aren’t terribly easy in this place: they’re awkward to get on and off the crowded shuttle, only to try to push them over cobblestone streets, and then drag them up two or three odd-sized steps to get into a building where you’ll find that there isn’t really much space for a stroller.  It’s not impossible to have stroller, but our advice is to skip it if your child is either small enough to be carried or big enough to walk on their own.   Bringing a picnic into the park via the shuttle is also not easy as the bus prohibits food and coolers.  For that reason, we suggest eating lunch at a restaurant in the town once you get off the shuttle (Hannah’s Train Depot on Potomac Street is a great place).  If you need to eat a lunch for home, we suggest eating it at either the Blueberry Farm prior to Harper’s Ferry. The hike to Jefferson Rock is short, but rather steep, so be prepared to climb quite a few steps and walk up hills.  It is a beautiful view and worth the effort.

When you get on the shuttle during the summer, Boliver Heights is the first stop on your way to Lower Town (the shuttle doesn’t take you there in the fall/winter).  When you get off the shuttle at Boliver Heights, you are required to stay there until another shuttle comes along.  During a busy day, you may be required to wait for several shuttles to come and go before there is room for you to board and go onto the main attraction.  For that reason, we suggest you stay on the bus and go right to the town.  When you’ve seen all you want to see at Lower Town, take the shuttle back to your car and drive up the hill to Boliver Heights.  You’ll find several signs describing why it is significant and a couple of different paths to follow, based on your interest level and time constraints.