McLean's Best Parks: Turkey Run Park

It's summertime, which means it's time for outdoor fun. But where are the best places to go in and around McLean for your summer fun needs? We're highlighting the best the area has to offer when it comes to public parks.

You don't have to go far in Northern Virginia to get away from the gleaming high-rises and into nature, and Turkey Run Park is one such oasis.

Sandwiched between the Potomac River and George Washington Memorial Parkway at the northern end of McLean, Turkey Run Park is about as good of an example you'll find of the Potomac Gorge ecosystem, with its own unique collection of flora and fauna.

Each season brings its own sights and sounds to the park. The spring brings wildflowers and warblers, but the attention shifts to the loud calls of woodpeckers high in the trees in the summer before the fall brings brilliant colors of red and yellow. All of these experiences are available to anyone willing to hike through the trails that wind through the park, including the Potomac Heritage Trail.

There's also picnic tables, water fountains and restrooms for those looking to enjoy a relaxing lunch surrounded by nature -- although there aren't any trash cans, so take your trash with you.

The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Image via National Park Service