Out of town

OK, so you've come to see the capital, but you don't have to sweat it out in the city all the time! A short ride by car or subway can get you to inexpensive and quieter delights outside the town. These are just samples...

Great Falls Upriver on the Potomac and 12 miles from the centre of Washington, Great Falls provides a natural and historical attraction that has become a National Park. The falls are broad, dramatic and dangerous and notices around the site warn of an average of 7 deaths a year though drowning. Nevertheless, the area below the falls is popular with canoeists. Presenting an impassable barrier to navigation, Great Falls was once bypassed by a canal, whose owners included George Washington, fist president of the United States. The remains of the canal provide a further attraction to be seen from the walking trails that meander among the trees and along the river bank. Prominent among the birds to be seen in the area are turkey vultures, which often soar in the air currents above the rocky banks and sometimes perch on the rocks alongside the falls.
	... and you'll find many more places of interest if you check the local guidebooks. Just because it isn't famous doesn't mean that it's boring!
Gravelly Point For a low cost family outing just outside Washington, try Gravelly Point. It is little more than a car park, but overlooks the Potomac and stands alongside Washington National Airport, a favourite starting point for domestic flights. Landing panes fly right over Gravelly Point and take-offs can be seen just across from this small peninsular. Take binoculars to view the planes and the varied bird species that visit the Point - and look out for the Duck Boat rides that leave and enter the river here.

National Zoo The zoo also counts as a Smithsonian museum and requires the same admission fee - nothing! It is not, however, within the same area and to reach it requires a metro ride (Cleveland Park or Woodley Park/Zoo) or car journey. With no entrance fee or tickets to collect, the zoo can allow many points of entry, so any of the Car Parks allows easy access to the exhibits. Exhibits include a giant panda.