DC Photo Destinations

Name: Blackwater Falls
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Waterfalls
Peak Time: All year
State: WV

Details:
P.O. Drawer 490, Davis, WV 26260, (304) 259-5216
http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/
Named for the falls of the Blackwater River whose amber-colored waters plunge five stories then twist and tumble through an eight-mile long gorge. More water in early spring. Lots of special events.

 

 

Name: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Birds, Wildlife & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: MD

Details:
2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, MD 21613
http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/
Schedule of Wildlife – http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/wcalendar.html

 

 

Name: Blue Ridge Nature Center
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Wildlife & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: VA

Details:
11661 Harpers Ferry Rd., Purcellville, VA 20132
540-668-7640, http://www.blueridgecenter.org/
“Our 894 acres are home to deep woods, streams, a working farm, wildflower meadows, historic farmsteads, apiaries, and wildlife.”

 

Name: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Primary Subject(s): Birds, Nature & Gardens
Peak Time: All year
State: DE

Details:
2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977
(302) 653-6872
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook

See the Wildlife Calendar for the best times to see flora and fauna.

 

Name: Bull Run Regional Park
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Bluebells and  Water
Peak Time: All year
State: VA

Details:
 7700 Bull Run Drive Centreville, VA 20121
T: 703-631-0550
http://www.nvrpa.org/park/bull_run
Early April: Bluebells Bloom
Free for locals, there is a fee of $7 for non-residents

 

Name: Brookside Gardens
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Flowers, Gardens & Butterflies
Peak Time: All year
State: MD

Details:
1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
301-962-1480,
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/
May – Sept: “Wings of Fancy” Live Butterfly Exhibit in a large greenhouse
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/wings_of_fancy.shtm
Best to visit weekday mornings after school is out.
There is a fee of $6.
NOTE: “Wings of Fancy” will close at 12 noon during the following National Weather Service conditions:
Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Warning, Code Red or Purple Air Quality Alert.
The exhibit may also close at other times during severe thunderstorms or other emergencies. Please call or check the website before your visit.

 

Name: C&O Canal National Historical Park
Primary Subject(s): History, Nature & Architecture
Peak Time: All year
State: DC, MD, WV

Details:
Georgetown Visitor Center, 1057 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 (202-653-5190
Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD 20854 (301-767-3714
Brunswick Visitor Center is located at 40 West Potomac Street Brunswick, MD 21716 (301-834-7100)
Williamsport Visitor Center, Cushwa Basin, 205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795 (301-582-0813)
Hancock Visitor Center, Bowles House near lock 52, 439 East Main Street, Hancock, MD 21750, (301-678-5463)
Cumberland Visitor Center, Western Maryland Railway Station, Room 304, 13 Canal St., Cumberland, MD 21502 (301-722-8226)
The park is open during daylight hours. Some visitor centers operate on a seasonal schedule. Contact each current hours of operation. There is access to a limited area of the Potomac’s Great Falls from the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center

 

 

Name: Cherry Blossoms
Primary Subject(s): Flowers
Peak Time: March – April
State: DC

Details:
The Tidal Basin, Washington, DC
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
Schedule varies year to year; be sure to check newspapers or web site.

 

 

Name: Colonial Plantation
Primary Subject(s): History, Civil War & Architecture
Peak Time: Apr – Dec
State: PA

Details:
Ridley Creek State Park, Media, PA 19063
(610) 566-1725
http://www.colonialplantation.org/index.html
There are several civil war reenactments and other events of historical significance.

 

 

Name: Covered Bridges
Primary Subject(s): History & Architecture
Peak Time: All year
State: MD, VA, PA

Details:
Maryland: http://www.tc2u.com/home/MD_Bridge_Index_01.html
Virginia: http://www.virginiadot.org/info/faq-covbridge.asp
Pennsylvania: http://pacoveredbridges.com/

 

 

Name: Cunningham Falls
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Waterfalls, Flowing Water
Peak Time: All year
State: MD

Details:
Cunningham Falls State Park, Inc.
14039 Catoctin Hollow Road, Thurmont MD 21788
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/cunninghamfalls.html
Cunningham Falls – more water in the early spring. Also of note: Historic Catoctin Iron Furnace, annual maple syrup program, numerous special events.

 

 

Name: Dunbarton Oaks
Primary Subject(s): Flowers & Gardens
Peak Time: All year
State: DC

Details:
1703 32nd Street, NW, DC 20007 (located in Georgetown)
202-339-6400, http://www.doaks.org/
Flowers bloom through the year, (http://bloomingatdoaks.com/average-bloom-times-2/).
Gardens are closed during inclement weather, federal holidays and on Christmas Eve.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children and seniors.
Commercial photography is not allowed. No tripods or monopods.

 

Name: Edgar J Kaufmann House (Fallingwater)
Primary Subject(s): Architecture
Peak Time: Apr – Nov
State: PA

Details:
1478 Mill Run Road, Mill Run, PA 15464
724-329-8501, www.fallingwater.org
Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, surrounded by deep forests.

 

 

Name: Fort Frederick State Park
Primary Subject(s): History
Peak Time: Mar – Nov
State: MD

Details:
11100 Fort Frederick Road, Big Pool MD 21711, 301-842-2155
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.asp
See calendar of special events

 

 

Name: Fort McHenry National Monument
Primary Subject(s): History
Peak Time: All year
State: MD

Details:
2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230
http://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm
See calendar of special events

 

 

Name: Fort Washington State Park
Primary Subject(s): History
Peak Time: Apr – Oct
State: MD

Details:
From I-95/495 take exit 3, Indian Head Higway South/MD 210.
Travel about 4 miles to Fort Washington Road, turn right.  The park is located at the end of the road.
http://www.nps.gov/fowa/index.htm
See calendar of special events

 

Name: Gettysburg Battle Reenactment
Primary Subject(s): History, Civil War
Peak Time: July
State: PA

Details:
Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100, Gettysburg, PA 17325
http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm
Civil War Re-enactments http://www.gettysburgaddress.com/HTMLS/Reenact.html

 

 

Name: Great Falls Park
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Waterfalls, Flowing Water
Peak Time: All year
State: VA

Details:
9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA 22102
http://www.nps.gov/grfa/
See C&O Canal for Maryland access.
$5.00 Vehicle Pass. Good for three consecutive days for one vehicle, including motorcycles, in Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland. $20.00 Annual Pass. Good for one year from the date of purchase in Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland.

 

 

Name: Harpers Ferry, WV
Primary Subject(s): History & Festivals
Peak Time: All year
State: WV

Details:
There is Harpers Ferry Historical Park, which includes much of the oldest part of the town.
Park Visitor Center is at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
http://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm And there is the town of Harpers Ferry, which is very quaint with many old buildings and is host numerous festivals and craft/art fairs. http://historicharpersferry.com/ & http://www.harpersferrywv.net/

 

Name: Horseshoe Crabs on Delaware Bay
Primary Subject(s): Nature & Wildlife
Peak Time: May – June
State: DE

Details:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/features/Horseshoe_Crabs.asp
http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/dbhsc/SBMigration.html
Near the full and new moons of May and early June, predominantly at night, hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs will make their way on to sandy beaches to spawn. This spawn also serves as fuel for the migration of shorebirds from Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America to the Northern Arctic circle where these birds will nest. There is some spawning activity on Maryland inland sandy beaches both in the Chesapeake Bay and along the coast if you don’t want to travel so far. Also if you intend to observe the horseshoe crab spawning on the Delaware Beaches make sure you stick around until day time to observe the shorebirds which feed on the horseshoe crab eggs.

 

 

Name: Huntley Meadows
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Birds, Wildlife & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: VA

Details:
Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center
3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, 703-768-2525
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/
1,425 acres Fairfax County’s Hybla Valley has ½ mile boardwalk wetland trail, wildlife observation platforms and a 2 mile interpretive trail system. Offers some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington metropolitan area with excellent views of beavers, frogs, dragonflies and herons. Huntley. Is well known as a prime birding spot, with over 200 species identified in the park. Visitors center closed Tuesdays, but the park is open. Hours vary; see web site.

 

 

Name: Ida Lee Park
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Gardens & Architecture
Peak Time: June – August
State: VA

Details:
60 Ida Lee Drive, NW, Leesburg, VA 20176
http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=463
Near the heart of old town Leesburg, great day of shooting and lunch!

 

 

Name: Lake Anna Winery – Renaissance Festival
Primary Subject(s): Festivals
Peak Time: May or June
State: VA

Details:
5621 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553
540.895.5085
http://lawinery.com/
The winery has a Renaissance Festival on property, In addition, you have access to the lake (a bit more of a drive), but lots of opportunities for shooting in this area.

 

Name: Lily Pons
Primary Subject(s): Flowers (aquatic)
Peak Time: June (mid) – July (mid)
State: MD

Details:
6800 Lily Pons Road, Adamstown, MD 21710,
800-999-5459
http://www.lilypons.com/
Lily Pons is a private dealer of aquatic plants and water gardening supplies. They allow public access to their extensive landscaped ponds.

 

Name: Long Branch Hot Air Balloon Festival
Primary Subject(s): Festival
Peak Time: October
State: VA

Details:
830 Long Branch Lane, Millwood, VA 22646
877.868.1851
http://www.historiclongbranch.com/balloonfestival.htm

 

Name: Manassas National Battlefield Park
Primary Subject(s): Battlefield, Nature, Boardwalk & Bluebells
Peak Time: All Year
State: VA

Details:
6511 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109

http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm

National Park: $3 per person, good for 3 days.  National Park Pass accepted

Bluebells bloom by the old bridge early April.
http://www.nps.gov/mana/naturescience/bluebells.htm

 

Name: Margaret’s Garden
Primary Subject(s): Flowers & Gardens
Peak Time: May – June
State: VA

Details:
12410 Lawyers Road, Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 860-3378
A private collection of irises and other flowers that is open to the public each spring. Open sunrise to sunset. There is no entrance fee.

 

 

Name: McKee Besher Wildlife Mgmt Area
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Wildlife, Birds & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: MD

Details:
Off River Road adjacent to C&O Canal National Park
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Publiclands/central/mckeebeshers.asp
The two sunflower fields are major attractions in July.
http://hankinslawrenceimages.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/sunflowers-at-mckee-beshers-wildlife-management-area-in-maryland/.
There are two fields. The first is located just off River Road at the first parking lot for Mc-Kee Beshers.
The second field is on Sycamore Landing Road, just south of River Road. You’ll need to park along the side of the road for the second field since there isn’t a convenient parking lot. Each field covers a few acres.
(Note: different fields planted for 2012 – flowers scattered along with wild growth

 

 

Name: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Primary Subject(s): Gardens & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: VA

Details:
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court Vienna, VA 22182
703-255-3631
http://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/
95 acre complex of large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than twenty varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms and foliage.

 

 

Name: National Arboretum
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Gardens & Flowers
Peak Time: All year
State: DC

Details:
There are two entrances: 3501 New York Avenue, NE, DC 20002
24th & R Streets, NE, off of Bladensburg Road. (best)
http://www.usna.usda.gov/

 

 

Name: National Mall
Primary Subject(s):  History, Gardens, Flowers, Statues & Architecture
Peak Time:  All year
State:  DC

Details: 

http://www.nps.gov/nacc/index.htm
Lots of photogenic monuments, memorials, museums and small secluded gardens. Don’t forget about the Vernal Equinox (March) when there is alignment of full moon with monuments. Can also be viewed from Arlington, VA

 

 

Name: Oatlands Plantation
Primary Subject(s):  Gardens, Flowers & Architecture
Peak Time:  April – December
State:  VA

Details:
20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA 20175
703.777.3174, http://www.oatlands.org/
Oatlands is beautiful throughout the year. The facility is closed January through March.

 

 

Name: Occoquan Nationa Wildlife Refuge
Primary Subject(s):  Nature & Birds
Peak Time:  Mid April through Mid July
State:  VA

Details:

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 13950 Dawson Beach Rd., Woodbridge, VA   22191
http://www.fws.gov/occoquanbay/index.html

Excellent place to photograph Osprey

 

 
Name: Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Primary Subject(s): Nature, Birds & Wildlife
Peak Time: All year
State: DE

Details:
11978 Turkle Pond Rd. Milton, DE, 302-684-8419
http://www.friendsofprimehook.org/index.htm
Directions: http://www.friendsofprimehook.org/directions.htm

 

 

Name: Rich Mountain Battlefield Reenactment
Primary Subject(s):  History & Civil War
Peak Time:  June or July
State:  WV

Details:
Rich Mountain, PO Box 227 Beverly, WV 26253, (304) 637-RICH
http://www.richmountain.org/ Battle of Corricks Ford Reenactment.  http://www.corricksford.org/

 

 

Name: Riverbend Park
Primary Subject(s):  Nature, Birds, Wildlife & Flowers
Peak Time:  All year
State:  VA

Details:
8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls, VA
703-759-9018
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/

 

 

Name: Rock Creek Cemetery
Primary Subject(s):  Cemetery, Stained Glass & Sculpture
Peak Time:  All year
State:  DC

Details:
St. Paul’s Rock Creek Episcopal Parish
Rock Creek Church Road & Webster St., NW, Washington, DC 20011
http://www.rockcreekparish.org/pages/Rock_Creek_home
Open daily 8:00 am until 6:00 pm
Dates to 1719 and contains may sculptures and monuments. It is of note because of the several mausoleums with stained glass. There are also many notables in residence,

 

 

Name: Seven Oaks Lavender Farm
Primary Subject(s):  Flowers
Peak Time:  June (mid)
State:  VA

Details:
8769 Old Dumfries Rd. Catlett, VA 20119, 540-272-7839
http://www.sevenoakslavenderfarm.com/
Park along the lower drive; you may walk past the lavender shop up to the lavender field in front of the gray Cape Cod house.

 

 

Name: Shenandoah National Park
Primary Subject(s):  Nature, Birds & Flowers
Peak Time:  All year
State:  VA

Details:
See Directions to the four entrances
540-999-3430
http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm
This area could be visited in any month.

 

 

Name: Union Mills Homestead Civil War Encampment & Living History
Primary Subject(s):  History & Civil War
Peak Time:  July
State:  MD

Details:
Union Mills Homestead
3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD.  21158
410-848-2288
http://www.unionmills.org/2011_events/2011_encampment.htm

 

 

Name: US Botanic Gardens
Primary Subject(s):  Gardens & Flowers
Peak Time:  All year
State:  DC

Details:
100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001
http://www.usbg.gov/
Use of tripod requires a permit; call (202) 226-4145

 

 

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