There is much more to the DMV area (as in, D for the District, M for Maryland, and V for Virginia) besides happy hours, brunch, and the next political or social event. This region offers many opportunities to explore and be one with nature. The DMV has some of the best parks with extensive trails for a phenomenal hiking experience. These beautiful natural parks allow the residents in the area to enjoy life and get a taste of the wilderness. These parks also allow visitors to be in a peaceful atmosphere with the birds and the trees. Living in solitude is needed every now and then, and what a better place to be than one these lovely parks.

For residents in the District of Columbia, I would recommend them to visit Rock Creek Park and Capital Crescent Trail. Rock Creek Park is the biggest park in D.C. that is great for hiking. It is open in the daylight and has 32 miles of trails that loop around it. The park also has a planetarium in the Nature Center that is open on the weekends with two shows a day. This park is ideal for people of all ages who seek adventure. Capital Crescent Trail is one of the most popular trails in the United States. It is a great place for people to walk, go biking, run, and even rollerblade. It is an 11-mile trail that starts at Georgetown (in D.C.) and ends in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is always open to the public, and it has a feature of woods beneath the trail that each visitor should check out before they leave.

I would like to highlight trails in Maryland like Seneca Creek State Park and Black Hill Regional Park. Seneca Creek State Park is best known for Clopper Lake, which is a beautiful site to see in the fall. The main trails are located at Clopper Lake and Schaeffer Farms. It is open at 8 a.m. to sunset from March through October and 10 a.m. to sunset from November through February. The Seneca Creek Greenway Trail travels 16.5 miles throughout the whole park, which will appeal to those who love a good, long hike. Black Hill Regional Park has hard- and natural-surface trails that surround Seneca Lake. This popular park is perfect for lovers of water and land. It is a beautiful spot for a picnic and a paddle in the lake; kayaks, canoes, and rowboats are available for visitors to rent throughout the summer. There are also water trails throughout the lake where people can view the scenery and watch birds fly above their heads in the sky.

Trails that are accessible in Virginia include the Shenandoah National Park and the Mount Vernon Trail. The Shenandoah National Park offers over 500 miles of trails and is always open. In this park, the most popular and challenging trail is called Old Rag. This trail takes you to the top of the mountain, which means you must scramble over plenty of rocks and climb steep hills on the path. Visitors should prepare themselves for the intense workout because walking along this trail will have people exhausted and hungry. Although the walk would make visitors tiresome, the views from the mountaintop are worth it in the end. The Mount Vernon Trail starts at Mount Vernon and follows the Potomac River allowing visitors to stare at the D.C. skyline. This trail is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it also allows visitors to have access to lots of other regional trails.

The trails I highlighted are suitable for bikers, hikers, bicyclists, and rollerbladers. These trails provide a wonderful experience for people who enjoy the outdoors and sightseeing in nature. I would recommend everyone to visit at least one of these trails to expose themselves to something new. The trails in these parks offer the best scenic views and adventures that one can encounter on their own or with their loved ones. However, visitors should remember to bring water and snacks for the hike, but might be advised to leave their cell phones behind due to the possible bad cell phone reception.