Where can we go on a nature walk that is not crowded and people can safely social distance?

[Anonymous]

Huntley Meadows is good for a nature walk. Completely flat, never crowded (at least every time we’ve gone), easy to distance.

[Anonymous]

Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro is amazing. Lots of space, plenty of parking, and distancing is doable although I did notice some to most people were wearing masks outside this past week. There are fields, trails, a non-petting zoo farm (dont know if it is open), and the best playground I have ever been to, which is Wizard of Oz themed. 40 min drive from NW DC area per Google Maps. Its a 20 min ride for us and we go once a week, on average. Weve been three times and one time during the weekday there were kids from a summer camp but they all had masks on. The other two times there have been maybe 3-8 other kids and 5-10 adults, on average during the time that we are there.

We just went to Ferry Point Park from 10-12 today on the suggestion of a close friend. We will go earlier next time because the sun does get super hot. Its got about 1/8 mile deep of knee to hip-high water. People socially distance when putting their items down and it was a lot of fun. Its a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot through a boardwalk over a salt marsh (we saw ducks, turtles, and a heron) then a semi-paved path. Its got one picnic table and a couple trees for shade if you get there early. We brought a blanket and a pop-up tent. Next time, we will bring a wagon to carry everything and our 2.5 year old on the way back. He was kaput after two hours of sand and water play.

Weve also heard great things from the same friend about Greenbrier State Park, but you need to go during the week or very very early, like when it opens at 8. That a 60-90 minute drive for us so it would be a hike and so we will take a workday in the future to go check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro is amazing. Lots of space, plenty of parking, and distancing is doable although I did notice some to most people were wearing masks outside this past week. There are fields, trails, a non-petting zoo farm (dont know if it is open), and the best playground I have ever been to, which is Wizard of Oz themed. 40 min drive from NW DC area per Google Maps. Its a 20 min ride for us and we go once a week, on average. Weve been three times and one time during the weekday there were kids from a summer camp but they all had masks on. The other two times there have been maybe 3-8 other kids and 5-10 adults, on average during the time that we are there.

We just went to Ferry Point Park from 10-12 today on the suggestion of a close friend. We will go earlier next time because the sun does get super hot. Its got about 1/8 mile deep of knee to hip-high water. People socially distance when putting their items down and it was a lot of fun. Its a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot through a boardwalk over a salt marsh (we saw ducks, turtles, and a heron) then a semi-paved path. Its got one picnic table and a couple trees for shade if you get there early. We brought a blanket and a pop-up tent. Next time, we will bring a wagon to carry everything and our 2.5 year old on the way back. He was kaput after two hours of sand and water play.

Weve also heard great things from the same friend about Greenbrier State Park, but you need to go during the week or very very early, like when it opens at 8. That a 60-90 minute drive for us so it would be a hike and so we will take a workday in the future to go check it out.

*three times just since June*

[Anonymous]

Lake Artemesia in College Park. a little crowded on the trailhead but otherwise not very crowded at all, and nice wide, flat paths. That said, very little shade, so don’t go on a scorching hot day.

[Anonymous]

Aquatic Gardens?
It's even IN DC

https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm

Look at a map of the Virginia side of the Potomac. Pop over here and try some of the NoVA parks. (Riverview park ha sno view o fthe river https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/sites/riverview-park/) but it does have some...fun stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huntley Meadows is good for a nature walk. Completely flat, never crowded (at least every time we’ve gone), easy to distance.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Burke Lake Park in VA.

https://towncalendar.org/events/washington-dc/ongoing/burke-lake/

[Anonymous]

Thanks for these recommendations. Has anyone been to arboretum lately?