Great Falls Park - Maryland

We got the chance to visit Great Falls Park in Maryland on this long weekend.  The park is basically divided into two sections, Virginia and Maryland,  cut by the Potomac River.  The fall colors are just beginning to show and the weather changed from a high of 80 degrees to a high of 58 in a matter of 24 hours...which meant those of us from the Pacific Northwest finally felt at home with fleece and jeans for our fun nature hike.  George Washington commissioned a series of approximately 20 locks along the falls, which are no longer in use, but very much still standing and fun to walk along.  We went with about 15 other Einstein Fellows and a geology teacher who gave us this natural history of the area.  The kids loved listening to stories of the rocks and were "rock stars" themselves hiking with a bunch of adults with no complaining. 

We traveled to Maryland to visit Great Falls Park for a unique and challenging hike.

The kids (and adults) loved the rock wall climb.

Kids, Britta and fun colors.

Kids and George Washington's Potomac locks, and green slime. 

The Falls.

The old locks.

Very big blue heron.

Crazy stuff growing on the river...but pretty!

The fellow "fellow" hikers.

Dad and kid looking across to Virginia from Maryland.

Very "serious" ladies looking across the water.

Another cool old lock.