sarawilsonufl-blog

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~June 4, 2017~

A Summertime afternoon in Great Falls, Virginia

 Whether it is exploring, hiking, rock climbing or canoeing, Great Falls Park is the perfect spot to visit during the summer.

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Pictured above is Great Falls Park. It is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. This national park is 32 miles long and includes more than 7,000 acres. This park includes several historic sites, wildlife refuges and many spots for recreation. This is the ultimate destination to visit for a thrilling day full of fun!

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Great Fall Park is a major attraction for tourists that are visiting Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. This park is located on 9200 Old Dominion Dr., Mclean, VA 22101. The fee to enter the park is $10 per car, but the ticket is a 3-day pass. Field trips, family outings and other recreational plans circulate these grounds.

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Mayra Pelayo, 20, of Gainesville, FL poses during the 5-mile hike at the bottom of the Patowmack Canal Trail in Great Falls Park. The hundreds of stairs offered maximum views to other trails and sceneries. This workout had a reward - a beautiful overlook.

“I loved hiking through Great Falls! Even though the hike was long, the panoramic view made the walk worth it,” Mayra said.

Hikes like these are what makes Great Falls Park an enjoyable experience to many during the summertime.

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Great Falls Summer Bucketlist

In Great Falls, VA, there are endless activities for everyone to enjoy during the summer! Here is a creative list that everyone should complete when they are visiting.

 Hike on the rocks

Paddleboard

Walk your dogs

Picnic

Rock climb

Swim in the Potomac River

Jump swing

#summertime #greatfalls

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At the very end of the N. River Trail, there is a pet-friendly area to allow dogs to swim and play around the shallow stretch of the Potomac River. Pictured above is a dog overlooking the beautiful scenery. This park provides a relaxing component to everyone - not exclusively humans!

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The Great Falls Visitor Center is extremely welcoming and provides additional information to visitors. Inside includes many maps, pamphlets, auditorium showings and much more!

Taylor McPrennon, manager of Great Falls Visitor Center, said “Great Falls Park was constructed in 1784 by the Patowmack Company. This was the first canal in the United States that used locks to raise boats.” 

McPrennon also guided many tourists to other sublime backdrops that only he knew! An interesting take-away was that on average, 7 deaths occur per year due to swimming and other catastrophic incidents throughout the park.

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Pictured above is Rachel Cuevas, 20, of Vienna, VA and my sister, Ashley Wilson, 18, of Herndon, VA. The benches are an extra bonus along the trails! This is for visitors to relax and rest during the exhausting walks through nature.

Throughout this historic park, there is not much wifi or connection (it gives the visitors an opportunity to absorb the nature)! This aspect is very important to many; they are taking a moment to relieve their stresses and to not worry about the outside world.

Although there is almost no service out in the woods, Rachel and Ashley found the perfect area, this bench, to snap a picture of their journey - the best day of summer in Great Falls.