These Best Places to See Fall Foliage in America’s DMV
The DMV DC, Maryland and Virginia is one of the most verdantly beautiful stretches of land in the USA. The states and district are so closely connected that it’s easy to bounce between them, and they boast thousands of miles of parks, lined with deciduous trees, making your options for a fall foliage trip, well, extensive. Let find out These Best Places to See Fall Foliage in America’s DMV below.
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These Best Places to See Fall Foliage in America’s DMV
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
About an hour out of DC in West Virginia, this historic Civil War site is quite the walk, and is ideal for families who want to get their history on. They offer the miraculous trees in all their transitional glory, while also providing live historical performances, ranger guided tours, museums, craft stores and restaurants. Make this one into an all day event or request your kid’s school to make it their next field trip and you can tag along as chaperone.
Cunningham Falls State Park
Unlike the word Ferry in Harpers Ferry National Park, they didn’t throw Falls in there just for kicks. This state park located in Thurmont, Maryland in the Catoctin Mountains boasts a 78 foot cascading waterfall. It has plenty of light hiking trails that range from half a mile to 7.5 miles, so you can choose which path you wish to follow based on how much time you have. If you start to fall in love with the foliage here so much that you never want to leave, don’t worry. They have campgrounds available until the leaves turn from red to brown.
US National Arboretum
This is probably one of DC’s proudest accomplishments: 44 acres 18ha of trees, shrubs and plants right here in the city. You’re able to tour the garden on your own, including some major hiking or running, or take a 30 minutes tram ride to hear information about the Arboretum, its display gardens and its history.
Reston Lakes
Audubon and Anne which offer some lovely walking routes around them, spotting the various different tree species as you trace a route around the banks. Reston itself is a great place to relax, and two restaurants sit right on the edge of Lake Thoreau Cafesano and Red’s Table, so you can can take in the scenery with a hearty meal in front of you. That is once of These Best Places to See Fall Foliage in America’s DMV.
Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks Park
Georgetown is generally a great place to walk around and watch the leaves fall, but both of these historic parks situated site by side are especially worthwhile stops. Both were listed on the National Register of Historic places, and offer tranquil, winding routes through the tree cover. Dumbarton also has a formal garden designed by Beatrix Farrand, who also did landscaping work for the White House.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is a huge expanse 311 sq. mi. 805sq. km. encompassing Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains and more besides. The famed Skyline Drive is a great route to take during the autumn months, as you’ll get to experience the colors on a gorgeous winding road, but perhaps the best option is take the 6.5 miles 10.5kmMary’s Rock hike, following the Appalachian Trail up to an astonishing viewing point of the rolling hills.
Great Falls Park
Another stop on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Great Falls runs along the Potomac River, and offers 15 miles and 24km of good hiking routes perfect for an autumn day.
The Great Falls themselves are on the southern boundary of the park, picking from a range of easy or challenging routes to take you there and marvel at the Falls and the fall.
Mount Vernon Estate
This 500 acre and 200haestate that belonged to George Washington himself has a lot to offer. Walk along the Potomac River, tour his mansion, pet the livestock that’s still on the land and stroll through the garden Washington once tended to. That is once of These Best Places to See Fall Foliage in America’s DMV.
See he and his wife’s tomb, and be sure to visit the memorial where his slaves were buried. During the start of fall and when it’s warmer out, don’t miss the live performances and the large market that takes you back to simpler times of psychics, homemade goods and miracle cure shows.
