About Perfect Saturdays
Looking for something to do this weekend? These great day trips are within a two-hour drive of DC.
The Washington area is predicted to reach peak foliage from around October 20 to October 27, so it’s a good time to plan a colorful fall hike. (We’ve got a list of leaf-peeping destinations.) For a moderately easy trek close to home, the 1.8-mile Birch Bluff Trail in Prince William Forest Park is a leafy path that runs along the South Fork of Quantico Creek at some points. It turns into a vibrant painting with yellow and orange trees during the height of autumn, and you can potentially see traces of beaver visitors along the shore.
After exploring the park, drive 15 minutes to the Occoquan’s riverfront historic district. Ballywhack Shack Cafe is at the base of the area, an easy stop for sandwiches and all-day breakfast. It’s prime season for sitting on the quaint porch with a maple pumpkin latte. For a cozy souvenir, walk two blocks to tea shop Leaf and Petal and pick up autumnal sips such as apple pie black tea, spiced yerba mate chai, and a ginger pear blend.
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.
