OUTDOORS & NATURE >> But don't think Great Falls, once known as the “Niagara of the South,” is just majestic scenery. The cool visitor center is welcome on this sunny day and, as I watch a short film about the area's history, I get a glimpse of George Washington – not as the assured father of our country, but as the struggling entrepreneur behind the Patowmack Company. Washington hoped to connect Georgetown and Alexandria to Ohio, then on to the frontier. To do that, he envisioned a series of canals – then a civil engineering feat – so cargo-laden boats could skirt the treacherous falls. But there were headaches: the canals would flood after heavy rains, freeze over in the cold and dry up in the summer heat. I make my way to the expansive picnic area beside the bustling visitor center and enjoy a relaxing lunch. But the longer I sit here, I’m drawn to see the ruins of Matildaville, once home to the Patowmack Company's headquarters, homes, a boarding house for workers, a forge, a sawmill, a market house and more. That’s all the motivation I need to finish my visit with a hike, so I enjoy a quiet walk and find myself thinking about poor George Washington’s dashed dreams. And about all the millions of tourists who have followed him here and fallen in love with the result. • HIDDEN GEMS In need of a little outdoor fun? These natural escapes will cure what ails you. § Benefactor Adele Lebowitz gave land and a vision for Clemyjontri § Wildflowers, hummingbirds and streams make Green Spring Park , a wondrous playground for kids, including those with disabilities, that debuted in 2006. The unusual name is a mashup of the names of Lebowitz's offspring, Carolyn, Emily, John and Patrina. Locals shorten it to “Clemy.” Gardens a delight. But thanks to a horticultural center, themed demonstration gardens and workshops, the park doubles as an uplifting classroom. Fountainhead Regional Park , 2,000 acres set aside for rugged adventure in peaceful, quiet Fairfax Station. to the Wild West-themed water park, chockablock with sprays, slides, flumes and the lazy Rattlesnake River . § Mountain bike, fish, kayak, hit the equestrian trails or hike at § Ride a vintage carousel at Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park or head PHOTOS (this page, from top) : CLEMYJONTRI PARK (FAIRFAX COUNTY PARK AUTHORITY); LAKE FAIRFAX (FAIRFAX COUNTY PARK AUTHORITY); (opposite page, from top): MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS (PXHERE.COM); BURKE LAKE PARK (APRIL GREER/VISIT FAIRFAX) 32 • FAIRFAX COUNTY VISITORS GUIDE
Fairfax County Official Visitors Guide Fairfax County Official Visitors Guide 2020: Page 32
