Looking to dip your toes in the sand this weekend but can’t stomach the thought of sitting in the Bay Bridge traffic with 500,000 of your closest friends? Switch up your waterfront routine by enjoying one of the many beach-esque options along the Potomac River instead. Listed below are a few of the possibilities along our beautiful Nation’s River.
Aquia Landing Park
You will find Colonial Beach, Va. Just a quick 1.5 hour drive south of the District. The town is not only an historical gem (don’t you want to visit the birthplace of George Washington?!), but the entire city is spanned by a calm, sandy beach.
Just north of Accokeek Creek lies Aquia Landing Park in Stafford, Va. This family-friendly park features fishing, picnic pavilions, and even sand volleyball courts. It is a quiet beach that is excellent for bird-watching and collecting seashells.
Another sandy spot seeped in American history is the Point Lookout State Park in Scotland, Md. Located at the mouth of the Potomac River, this park held more than 50,000 Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Boasting both a museum and a nature center, the park can fill up fast on the weekends so make sure to get there early!
The following beaches are not along the Potomac River but are on this side of this Bay. Flag Ponds Nature Park in Calvert County, Md. is an ideal area for kids of all ages to snag fossils from the Miocene era right out of the sand. Don’t forget your digging gear! A small and little-known beach, Beverly Triton Beach Park, is located outside of Edgewater, Md. It is a great place for both you and your dog to cool off during the sizzling summer heat.
Make sure to tag ICPRB when you are out enjoying the many amenities that the Potomac watershed has to offer!
Photo Credit: Aquia Landing Park by Instragrammer @buddysecor