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| 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
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| First Manassas Battlefield |
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| Stone Bridge |
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| First Manassas Trail |
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| 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.).
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.).
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