Springtime in DC

Well, the weather in Washington DC is just beautiful this time of year - it's just on the cusp of summer, you can feel it. We awoke to sunshine and the forecast of temps in the 80s. We hired a car for the day, packed up a picnic lunch, and headed over to Great Falls National Park, about 30 minutes outside the city.

The area around the park is gorgeous, lots of rolling hills and horse farms. The park is visited most for the waterfalls, of which there are many! This is a part of the Potomac that few get to see; a wild torrent of water as opposed to the tranquil expanse of the river you see winding through the city and up to Mt Vernon.

The park is full of walking trails, fishing spots, and places for kayakers to enjoy the rapids. We wandered around several of the Overlooks before plunking down beside the river for a spot of lunch and a leisurely read of the day's newspapers.

We then walked a few miles alongside the River (on the aptly named River Trail!) before ending up in a place called Matildaville, a former canal town which then turned to ruins as the canal ceased to be used with the onset of modern transportation. Throughout the park and on all of the trails, there are places to climb rocks and get a great view of the falls, wherever your perspective. The best was watching all of the guys in kayaks fighting the rapids and looking like they were having the time of the lives! Even when they were sucked underwater.....! We ended the walk with a much-deserved ice cream and both agreed it was one of our more memorable days out - one of those perfect days that you don't plan, but just happens.