The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has a lot to offer, with plenty of places for families to enjoy a picnic, camping, or a chance to land some monster Bass. This agency is responsible for a lot of parks, which are located in Alexandria, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties. You can expect to find a lot of activities at each location, and one of these that I like to recommend is Algonkian Park, which is close to the bulging at the seams suburb of Sterling. It's a bit off the beaten path, which is makes it difficult to find without a map, and this does allow this park to be free of huge crowds that would only irritate you while trying to relax a bit. If you go during a weekday, its a bit on the lonely side, but weekend business during the summer does pick up a bit.

Want to Go Fishing?

You can catch some gigantic Catfish in here, on the Potomac River, which flows from West Virginia out to D.C. While a lot of this river is polluted, for the most part, it is relatively clean at this park. The fish bite like crazy during the spring and summer months especially, with a variety of Bass, Bluegill, Eels, and Sunfish in addition to the Channel Cats. I have caught some of the biggest catfish here, but there are some challenges with the current. The water moves at ludicrous speed here, so be sure to use heavy three ounce weights on your line. If not, you are going to be constantly having to pull your line in, or watch it get washed away down river. There are also some snags, due to the heavy brush and trees submerged, but its worth losing some bait and hooks to land big catfish.

The best spot is on the far right hand side of the park. It seems there are some channels about fifty to one hundred feet out, and this is where the catfish congregate. If you get uncomfortable, you can bring a small chair, or use the benches that are provided. They aren't the best ones, as they are a bit old, and made of wood. While I would support some cushioning, they do allow you to sit relatively comfortable for a couple of hours. Make sure you have your license here, as you'll see a Game Warden on a daily basis! Also, grab this spot early, as it can fill up quickly, as many anglers know this is an area to land a big cahuna.

What About Picnic Opportunities?

You can choose to have a lunch under the large Oak trees, which are wonderful providers of shade on those brutal Virginia summer days. The best choice is to reserve one of the pavilions. They are fairly protected from the elements, and have tables that you can set your spread out on. There are a couple of charcoal grills, but they are always a bit dirty, and while the fire may burn off germs and other contaminants I always bring my small portable model. You can go as just a family, or have a large group, as there is plenty of room under these roofed structures.

Do you Dress Funny? There's a Golf Course for You!

I'm not into golf, although I did have some drunken adventures on golf carts many years ago. However, I think I can accurately describe a well maintained course, and this is one of the best public courses in Northern VA. You also don't have to fork over your gold car, as you can play eighteen holes for $44. A golfcart is available for $15 per person, so you can afford a few beers at a local bar afterwards. There's no boozing on the park property, but there's a decent snack bar at the golf course, that has basic sandwiches and a cheeseburger.

What I do love though, is miniature golf. They have a really fun course here, that has all kinds of silly buildings to try your luck with. You also don't have to dress in a ridiculous outfit, and its cheap at around $8. This is a place you can spend an hour goofing off, and I've actually done considerably well on this small course. A lot of people aren't on this either, so you don't have to wait in long lines, or deal with too many obnoxious high school teenagers enjoying their summer break. The clubs are a bit old, but that's what you get when you play imitation golf!

Like Aquatic Activities? If You are an Octopus You'll Love This!

I totally am in love with their DownPour Water Park. It only costs around $10 for adults, and $7 for kids, so you can't beat this value. The waterpark is of decent size, and in addition to a regular pool, they have a whole bunch of slides and sprinklers. My favorite part is the downpour bucket. You stand underneath this, and it drops gallons of cool water all over you. Children and adults seem to love this one equally, and its a fine way to cool off. There are plenty of lifeguards, and I feel content with their approach to safety and breaks for the little ones.

Final Thoughts

You can have a fun day here, and even on a limited budget. If you have your own boat, you can launch it for a small fee of a couple bucks, and there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. There are always a load of squirrels, ducks, geese, and an occasional Eagle to see here. The site for this park is at http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/algonkian, and they are open from 7 am to dusk on weekdays, and 6am to dusk on the weekends. There are some cottages you can rent, if you want to stay longer, but this is a day trip spot primarily. The views of the Potomac are incredible here, and you won't be bored. If you have further questions, the NVRPA can be reached at 703-450-4655. Come on out and enjoy this treasure surrounded by suburbia.



**Thank you Di(SurgRN911) for adding this to the database**

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime