Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont, MD

One interesting aspect of living near Washington, D.C. is the sense you have of sharing many of your day-to-day experiences with the political  elite.  I’ve shopped at the same Target as Michelle Obama.  I’ve shared early morning jogging routes with heads of state.  I’ve eaten at restaurants favored by several of the less gastronomically  discerning presidents.

For the Engineer and me, a day spent at Catoctin Mountain Park, located 75 miles from Alexandria in north central Maryland, evoked this same feeling of our lives intersecting with those of the politically powerful as we explored the rugged forested trails of the park that also contains Camp David, the mountain retreat of presidents from FDR to Obama.

C&O Canal National Historic Park, Great Falls to Swains Lock

Unambitious was the prevailing mood in our household this past Sunday morning.  Despite the fact that it was a gorgeous day – the first weekend in fall – the Engineer and I both felt pretty lazy and uninspired.  Perhaps it’s just the time of year; we’re beyond the organic extravagance of mid-summer, where every life form that exists in the mid-atlantic, exists simultaneously and noisily; but we’re not yet enjoying the bittersweet visual spectacle of the fall foliage.  Everything just seems bored.

Determined to overcome our own sense of bored malaise, we decided to take a quick trip up the George Washington Parkway to Potomac, Maryland for a stroll along the C&O Canal towpath.

George Washington National Forest – Buzzard Rock Hike

The calendar may say we have a week of summer left, but the air is saying its time for fall mountain hikes!

After a cool, rainy Saturday, the Engineer and I woke to a crisp, clear Sunday morning.  The temperature at our home in Alexandria had dropped into the mid-50’s for the first time in several months.  As we loitered over coffee and newspapers, we debated where we would hike that day.  We each threw out a few of the nearby favorites – Prince William Forest Park, Great Falls, etc. – but nothing was sounding too exciting.  So, turning once again to the Hiking Upward database, we started searching for something new.  After a short search on the interactive map, we decided on the Buzzard Rock hike in the Elizabeth Furnace area of George Washington National Forest.

George Washington National Forest, Mill Mountain/Big Schloss Overnight

Sunflowers on Mill Mountain Trail

The George Washington National Forest covers a vast portion of western north and central Virginia, and even spills over the border into West Virginia in a few spots. When combined with the Jefferson National Forest, immediately to its south, the two forests make up one of the largest swaths of public land in the Eastern U.S. at approximately 1.8 million acres. The two national forests have something for every outdoor enthusiast to love (wilderness areas, fishing, campgrounds, mountain biking, etc…) but the big attraction for the Engineer and me is the nearly 2,000 miles of hiking trails to explore!

Prince William Forest Park, North Valley to Turkey Run Ridge Trail

Waterfall in Prince William Forest Park

Another August weekend, another gorgeous Sunday!

After last weekend’s mini-excursion to Delaware, the Engineer and I decided to stay closer to home this weekend, and visit one of our favorite hiking spots in the area. Prince William Forest Park is  located in Northern Virginia’s Prince William County, about 30 minutes south of the Beltway.

Trap Pond State Park, Delaware

Quiet morning on Trap Pond

A little over 2 hours drive from the District, tucked away in southern Delaware’s rural Sussex County, lies Trap Pond State Park. One of the oldest state parks in Delaware, the area was originally developed for recreation in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp before becoming a state park in 1951.  Visiting today, you can easily get the feeling that you’ve been transported back to those earlier times when plane travel was a luxury, and family vacations took place close to home.