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Old 11-01-2012, 09:17 AM
 
Location: Great Falls, VA
771 posts, read 1,459,260 times
Reputation: 1302

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I love being outdoors, and on weekends I like going out to a local park for a stroll or just to relax, sit down and read a book. I especially like parks with water (e.g. a river, a lake, etc). My goal is to visit every park in Northern Virginia, but I was wondering what everyone's favorite local park is?

These are some of the ones I've visited so far (I moved to Sterling about 8 months ago):

Great Falls: This is my favorite one so far. I love the falls and whenever I have visitors I bring them here.
Riverbend: Beautiful views of the Potomac, and some interesting guided activities.
Algonkian: I love reading here, it has great views, plenty of picnic areas, and is very close to my house.
Claude Moore: I like that you can go fishing here and it's also very close to my house.
Dunn Loring: Very small, but I used to go a lot back when I lived in Merrifield.
Nottoway: Great place for picnics!
Turkey Run: My company used to have it's annual corporate picnic here, and it was nice.

Do you know any secret gems (and do you wish to reveal them )?
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Old 11-01-2012, 09:45 AM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
214 posts, read 499,658 times
Reputation: 106
The ones I go to most are Burke Lake Park and Huntley Meadows. They're doing work on the dam at Burke Lake, so the water level of the whole lake is a few feet lower than normal and part of the trail is closed. Huntley Meadows is a wetland area that is usually good for bird watching, but I think most of the birds have moved on for the season.
I just went to Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge, which is a good place to see eagles.
Belle Haven park by the marina off GW parkway has a small area with some picnic benches. You can see the Woodrow Wilson bridge and National Harbor from here.
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:51 AM
 
Location: Centreville, VA
154 posts, read 374,128 times
Reputation: 120
My favorites:

Scotts Run - lots of variety (Potomac riverfront, in addition to easy trails a small section of steep hill climb, nice little waterfall)
Huntley Meadows - my last visit here saw a very wide diversity of flora/fauna - my favorite of the day was a rough greensnake
E.C. Lawrence - lots of trails + connects with Big Rocky Run Stream Valley trails
Sully Woodlands - have yet to ever meet another person here
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:54 AM
 
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
14,129 posts, read 31,248,320 times
Reputation: 6920
Fort Hunt.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:34 PM
 
Location: Northern Virginia
4,489 posts, read 10,944,761 times
Reputation: 3699
Accotink was my favorite...because I could walk there

Just went to Turkey Run for the first time last weekend. What a fun hike! A bit treacherous at times with so many fallen leaves and steep trails, but fun nonetheless.
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Old 11-01-2012, 01:35 PM
 
564 posts, read 1,493,752 times
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We head to Accotink a lot to walk around the lake because it is closer but if we feel like going longer then we go to Burke Lake.
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Old 11-01-2012, 04:25 PM
 
Location: Fairfax County
1,534 posts, read 3,724,890 times
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I like Sky Meadows State Park. We go there at least once a month.
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Old 11-01-2012, 06:55 PM
 
3,852 posts, read 4,152,194 times
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I've never been, but have always heard that Clemyjontri Park is amazing for kids.
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Old 11-01-2012, 08:17 PM
 
1,295 posts, read 2,509,495 times
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I like Bluemont Park in Arlington. Four Mile Run meanders through it as does the W&O.D. bike and running trail. The whole stretch of the trail from Sycamore to Columbia Pike is really nice---lots of wetlands, small parks, a big rose garden, tennis courts, a frisbee golf course, playground, side trails. It's an oasis of quiet surrounded by dense suburban development.
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Old 11-02-2012, 05:24 PM
 
69 posts, read 121,699 times
Reputation: 22
Fantasic thread!!!! I have nothing to add as I will be moving to the area in 3 weeks but appreciate the info!
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