About Perfect Saturdays
Looking for something to do this weekend? These great day trips are within a two-hour drive of DC.
Delaplane, Virginia
A day trip is fun, but what about a night trip to see a stunning display of careening lights in the sky? The Perseid meteor shower peaks the night of August 12 into the early hours of August 13, and Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane—an International Dark Sky Park located just an hour out of DC—is great place to view it.
While most of the grounds close at dusk and campsites are already booked for that night, there is a spot you can still go until 2 AM: Turner Pond is the park’s designated area for self-guided stargazing, with its own parking lot ($10 per car) plus a field for taking in starry nights.
(In general, if you’re looking for good stargazing, check out the Dark Sky Places map that highlights locations with minimal light pollution.)
If the Perseids are past your bedtime—but you’re still intrigued by all things celestial—register for astronomy programs at Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls. There are sessions on August 14, 18, and September 5 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. It’s a chance to learn more about the stars and planets and peer through telescopes in the roll-top observatory.
Looking for more day trip ideas? Check out our Perfect Saturdays series.
Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Takoma.
