Suggested Trip
Harpers Ferry: Where History and Natural Beauty Converge
From the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers to the hilltop vistas and the richly historic town itself, Harpers Ferry is well worth visiting.
November 6, 2022
Dueling Heron Bills at Mason Neck
The Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the largest great blue heron rookeries on the Potomac River. Whenever I visit, I look for shadows in the tree canopy and wild clattering, both telltale signs of a heron rookery.
April 20, 2022
Top Places For
Top Ten Places for Spring Migration Birding in the District of Columbia
You may be surprised to learn that you do not need to leave the confines of Washington, DC to find world-class spring migration birding opportunities. There are a number of parks and habitats throughout the city that provide important habitat for breeding or foraging on the journey northwards.
March 27, 2022
How-To
Shad Fishing in the Chesapeake
It’s April on the Chesapeake Bay, what is the best way to wet a line, bend a rod, and get some steady action? The answer is shad!
March 4, 2022
Suggested Trip
Winter Hiking the Billy Goat Trail
Hiking Section A is a fun activity at any time of the year, but if you want to avoid the crowds and maybe see some beautiful ice features, plan your trip for the winter.
February 18, 2022
Top Places For
Top Places for Trout Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The innumerable small creeks and streams that spider through the Bay’s 64,000-mile watershed are tailored made for fly fishing due to their intimacy and solitude.
December 9, 2021
There's Something for Everyone at Westmoreland State Park
Exploring the natural world, visiting historic sites, boating, relaxing on the beach, fossiling – this place truly has multi-faceted appeal.
November 10, 2021
Suggested Trip
Foraging and Fossiling in Nanjemoy Wildlife Management Area
Shark teeth weren’t the only fossils I gathered. I picked up a few pieces of ray dental plates, and some turritella gastropod molds. At Mallows Creek I saw wild rice, American persimmon, paw paw fruit, and arrow arum.
September 22, 2021
Suggested Trip
A Four-Season Eden in the Middle of DC
While summer is always the busiest time at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens – when countless varieties of lotus and water lilies begin their much-awaited display in the ponds – fall, winter and spring are also beautiful times to visit.
August 9, 2021
Suggested Trip
Western Maryland’s Haven for Outdoor Recreation
Potomac State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland seems to have something for almost every outdoor enthusiast, and makes a very worthwhile winter hiking destination.
December 8, 2020
Suggested Trip
Still Waters Run Deep at Seneca Slackwater
". . . I took some time to appreciate the shallow, rocky downstream sights on the Potomac juxtaposed with the clear, open-water upstream section that forms Seneca Slackwater. The dam, streams, islands, wildlife, clear water, and historical sites all come together to make this a truly magical place to paddle."
September 9, 2020
Suggested Trip
High Tide and Exotic Blooms
This 7.1-mile paddling route is one of the more interesting ones in the Washington, D.C. area. It is suitable for many skill levels and adaptable in that one can reduce the paddling distance down to 2.6 miles by just sticking to the Anacostia River and visiting the Kenilworth Gardens.
