Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, Virginia
Tel:
(800) 777-7931
Our Botanical Gardens Expert Says:
The 27 acre River Farm Garden Park, an estate once belonging to President George Washington, is now a gorgeous horticultural park open to the public! Guests can become a part of living history by exploring the grounds of this pre-Revolutionary paradise!
Nature buffs will revel in the 12 thematically designed gardens; history buffs will learn about Washington's interest in horticulture (he introduced walnut, coffee, and Osage orange trees to the farm); and kids will love the butterflies, the dinosaur, the Children's Gardens, and the fun interactive educational programs, like digging for worms, making potpourri bags, and planting seeds in recycled newspaper pots! The Children's Garden houses the Scratch and Sniff Garden, the Hide-n-Seek Garden, the Maze Garden, and more than ten other fun-themed gardens and parks especially created with the youngster in mind. Also, since the River Farm Garden Park is the home of the American Horticultural Society, visitors can expect interesting programs and events throughout the year!
Located on the picturesque banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, the River Farm Garden Park offers guests a collection of large and small gardens that will cater heavily to their curious senses of sight and smell. Of note are the Garden Calm, a great place to hide in the shade, relax, and meditate, the Orchard, filled with apples, cherries, and Japanese persimmon trees, and the Azalea Garden, a colorful collection of azaleas interspersed with native and rare trees. Kids will particularly like the Wildlife Garden, where they can hang out by a pond and spot little creatures, like turtles, goldfish, frogs, and birds. Guests can also visit the elegant Estate House, offering gorgeous views and a rotating display of exhibits by local artists.
So bring the kids, a picnic, and your camera and spend the afternoon relaxing, learning, and having fun at George Washington's River Farm Garden Park!
From River Farm Garden Park - Alexandria, Virginia:
River Farm is a historic 25-acre site on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. Once part of George Washington's original five farms, River Farm has been the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society since 1973. Today, River Farm features an early 20th-century Estate House and an artful blend of naturalistic and formal garden areas.