Trailside Park is a nice place to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon with the family. The park has a spacious playground for kids, a skate park and several wooded trails, midst which you can wander peacefully.
Owned and managed by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is an extensive botanical park. Apart from serving as an open green space for the visitors, the park is also used an event venue.
The Dumbarton Oak Park is a public park that includes woodland gardens spread over 27 acres (10.9 hectares) of land. Native as well as exotic flora in the fountain terrace feature wildflowers and shrubs, and this park also has several benches, footbridges and waterfall dams. Its verdant landscape and natural surroundings make it a must visit when in the city.
The Fountainhead Regional Park of Virginia offers something for all age groups and interests. Go for a hike, embark on exciting orienteering excursions, relax in a boat, indulge in fishing, or simply enjoy a family picnic by the lake here. Sprawled over 2,000 acres (809 acres), the park also features equestrian and mountain biking trails, picnic shelters, boat rentals, and a snack bar. Those inclined to leisurely recreation can stroll along the lakefront and soak in the sights and sounds that abound here. Additionally, visitors can participate in the nature programs held at the park.
Canal Park is a paragon of creative and sustainable urban planning in the heart of Capitol Hill. Design firm OLIN, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Planning has revamped a disused bus parking station into this beautiful garden and won international awards for the same. The elongated park features colored dancing fountains and uses water recycling methods that have won it LEED Gold certification. Modern art and sculptures dot the entire garden, while the expansive lawns are the site of public games, storytelling events, farmer's markets, festivals, environmental workshops and art exhibitions. In fact, it has become a hub for both free and paid cultural and community events in Capitol Hill. Every winter, the on-site ice rink opens up for a new season, where children and adults alike can enjoy hours of ice skating. This garden is also home to Park Tavern Restaurant, a beautiful spot for both alfresco and sustainable dining.
The Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens is the legacy of Marjorie Merriweather Post, a famous socialite and founder of General Foods. Consisting of numerous rooms, this mansion dates back to the 1920s and houses an outstanding collection of art, jewelry and other decorative artifacts that belonged to her. View rare Faberge eggs, historic portraits, exquisite tapestries and priceless ceramics, among others, at this stunning museum. Visitors can also enjoy a leisurely stroll through the landscaped estate, which notably features a French parterre garden, a rose garden, and even a cemetery that inters many of Post's pet dogs.