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Day Trip from Washington, DC: Harpers Ferry
While looking up trails and parks in the area, I came across Harpers Ferry! Harpers Ferry is located right where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers converge at the corners of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It’s just over an hour away from Washington, DC by car or by train making it a super easy day trip.Β Β Harpers Ferry feels like a town frozen in time.Β The town is well preserved with 19th century buildings and is full of history! Harpers Ferry was witness to the first successful American railroad, more than 5 civil war battles, and the abolitionist movement! Harpers Ferry National Historic Park has various museums where you can…
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A Guide to Leaf Peeping near Washington, DC
Fall is one of the best times to explore Washington, DC and the surrounding region. With cooler temperatures, the city comes alive with color making familiar neighborhoods and monuments feel different.Β Whether you want to admire fall colors against iconic landmarks or take a scenic drive into the mountains, there are plenty of ways to enjoy autumn. Below are my favorite spots for leaf peeping in and around Washington, DC! National Mall The National Mall is always a great spot for a stroll or a run.Β In the fall, it’s a nice spot to check out the changing trees.Β You won’t find super bright trees on the mall but the…
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Hiking Rock Creek Park in the Fall
Rock Creek Park is one of my favorite parks in DC!Β Founded in 1890, the park is located in the upper NW quadrant of DC.Β Within its 1,700 acres, this park offers more than 32 miles of trails, as well as open areas for gatherings and picnics.Β Β In my opinion, the best part of Rock Creek Park is obviously Rock Creek!!Β There are trails on both the East and West side following the creek from Miller Cabin down to Boulder Bridge.Β You can also follow the creek on the East side all the way up to Boundary Bridge on the border of DC and Maryland.Β Β I usually drive to Rock…
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Autumn Visit at the US National Arboretum
One of the silver linings of the pandemic for me has been that with so much downtime and very limited things to do, I discovered many local spots that I hadn’t explored much before!Β The US National Arboretum in Washington, DC is often mixed up for the US Botanic Garden.Β The botanic garden is right next to the Capitol while the National Arboretum is located in NE DC. While exploring lots of local parks and trails, the arboretum in DC was one of my favorite discoveries.Β The park was established in 1927 and is comprised of 446 acres!Β It is gorgeous to visit year-round, but fall time is especially astonishing…
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Fall Foliage on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
One of my favorite fall activities is to visit Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park! Skyline Drive is a scenic route atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching 105 miles long. This is the only public road through the park. Not only does Skyline Drive boast stunning views from Front Royal to Waynesboro, it also offers access to hiking trails, camp sites, picnic areas, and cabins. Β There are four entrances to Skyline Drive: Front Royal Entrance (off of 66 in Front Royal, VA) Thornton Gap Entrance (off of 211 near Sperryville, VA) Swift Run Gap Entrance (off of 33 near Harrisonburg, VA) Rockfish Gap Entrance (off of 64/250 near…
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I Love Paris in the Fall: Three Best Autumn Activities
I love Paris in the springtime.I love Paris in the fall.I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles,I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles. My Grandfather used to sing me this song and replace Paris with Shelby. π Just as the song says, I love Paris all times of the year! It is my absolute favorite city. Until my teaching assignment, I had only visited Paris during the other three seasons of the year. Exploring Paris in the Fall with the beautiful changing leaves is something else entirely! Autumn provides great weather for exploring the city on foot (with a jacket of course), with significantly less tourists…
