Real trip: Great Falls, VA
Distance from DC: 25 minutes
If you haven't been near the Canadian border since turning 21, it is likely that one of the things that will lure you back now that you can legally drink in the US is one of the other things you can't get here- Niagara Falls. But, hold on to your passport because you can get a sense of it without leaving the country- or even the beltway. Great Falls Park, located in McLean, VA, is the perfect American alternative.
Offering a whopping 800 acres of unspoiled nature, it's hard to believe that you are only 15 miles outside of the nation's capital. Situated along the Potomac River, the park offers numerous outdoor activity options including hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Observation areas throughout the park give multiple angles for photo ops with the falls as a dramatic background. The 20 foot waterfalls are the steepest of any eastern river, and are impressive enough to pass as the famous Niagara Falls in strategically angled pictures. Fool your friends!
Inspired by Jim and
Pam's Niagara nuptials? Great Falls Park is also a hot wedding spot, with permits available for those wanting to tie the knot in the great outdoors, while still be within a short drive of downtown Washington. For day trippers and the city dwellers, Great Falls Park offers an urban oasis for a mere $5 entry fee per vehicle. Not sure where to go or what to do? The Visitors Center offers maps, information, a bookstore, and even a snack bar. Like the great Niagara Falls, Great Falls straddles a border- the one between Virginia and Maryland. The Maryland Side is part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. However, for the most part, the Virginia side offers more services and better views. With designated observation areas, ranger-led programs, miles and miles of hiking trails, and plenty of parking- the only thing missing from the waterfalls on the Virginia side is TLC.
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