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Photo: NortyNort, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The most dramatic section of the C&O Canal National Park on the Potomac River is at Great Falls, a series of cascading falls dropping 76 feet over two-thirds of a mile. A footbridge leads out from the canal trail to an island in the middle of the river, where you'll learn to appreciate why it was necessary to build a canal instead of simply navigating the river! This is a fantastic place for a hike or picnic. The visitor center is in a hotel dating from 1831, which served nineteenth century admirers of these same vistas. During the warm months, W-Su, you can take a ride through the locks of the canal from the tavern on a historic mule-pulled boat! The ride costs $5/person, and be sure to call ahead to make sure it is in operation on the day of your visit.
Great Falls is a series of rapids and waterfalls on the Potomac River in the state of Maryland 14 miles (23 km) upstream from Washington, D.C. As the border between the states of Maryland and Virginia generally follows the low-water line on the Virginia side, the river and falls at Great Falls lie within Montgomery County, Maryland, which abuts Fairfax County, Virginia on the far shore.
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A beautiful contemporary art museum and expansive sculpture garden with many large-scale works, owned by local billionaire Mitchell Rales. Worth going for the architecture and landscaping alone. Ages 12+ only. Reservations are required, although if you just show up, they'll try to let you in if there's room.
See where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, lived the last 15 years of her life.