Waterfronts
18 places · Rivers, bays & harbor scenery
Washington DC, DC
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A mile of Potomac riverfront with views of Key Bridge, Roosevelt Island, and the Virginia shore. Kayakers, scullers, and rowers add life to the scene throughout the day.
Washington DC, DC
Washington Harbour
Georgetown's fountain plaza and marina district offers sweeping views of the Potomac, the Key Bridge, and the Virginia shoreline. The tiered terraces and sculpted fountains create layered compositions at every hour.
Washington DC, DC
FDR Memorial
Seven and a half acres of waterfalls, sculpture, and quiet garden rooms trace the years of FDR's presidency. The cascading water walls are among DC's most photogenic features.
Washington DC, DC
The Wharf
A mile-long waterfront development on the Anacostia with marina views, sunset terraces, and glittering reflections of the city lights on the water at night.
Washington DC, DC
Meridian Hill Park Cascades
A 13-basin cascading fountain is the centerpiece of this formal Italianate park in Columbia Heights - the longest cascading fountain in North America.
McHenry, MD
Deep Creek Lake
Maryland's largest freshwater lake sits in the Allegheny Mountains - 65 miles of forested shoreline and mountain reflections make this a four-season photography destination.
Washington DC, DC
Yards Park
An industrial waterfront park on the Anacostia River with cable-bridge pedestrian crossings, sculpture, and views of the Navy Yard - a modern urban landscape gem.
Annapolis, MD
Sandy Point State Park
A broad sandy beach on the western Chesapeake Bay with dramatic views of the Bay Bridge's twin spans - one of the most recognizable engineering landmarks in the state.
Annapolis, MD
Annapolis City Dock
The historic harbor of the Sailing Capital of the US frames Maryland's State House dome in every direction - sailboats, colonial architecture, and waterfront life perfectly combined.
St. Michaels, MD
St. Michaels Waterfront
A preserved Chesapeake Bay waterman's town with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, skipjacks tied at dock, and the Miles River framing everything in quintessential Eastern Shore scenery.
Scotland, MD
Point Lookout State Park
The southernmost point of Maryland's western shore juts into the Chesapeake where it meets the Potomac - dramatic sky, lighthouse, and endless open water in every direction.
Richmond, VA
James River Park System
The James River tumbles through downtown Richmond over Class III-IV rapids that are unique among major US cities - the exposed granite, river islands, blue herons, and skyline reflections create an unmatched urban wilderness scene.
Solomons, MD
Solomons Island Waterfront
A maritime village at the confluence of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, Solomons Island's working waterfront, wooden skipjacks, and views across the open bay make it one of the most photogenic coastal villages in Maryland.
Towson, MD
Loch Raven Reservoir
Baltimore's primary water supply is a 2,400-acre forested reservoir with a stone dam, dramatic morning mist, and some of the best fall color accessible by road in the region.
Alexandria, VA
Old Town Alexandria Waterfront
18th-century cobblestone streets and Federal rowhouses lead to the Potomac riverfront where sailboats, kayakers, and the DC skyline create a perfect tableau.
Alexandria, VA
Belle Haven Park
A broad Potomac shoreline park with unobstructed views of the DC skyline, the Wilson Bridge, and abundant waterfowl - one of the best DC-skyline sunset locations from Virginia.
Woodstock, VA
Seven Bends State Park
Named for the seven serpentine bends of the North Fork Shenandoah River visible from the park's ridgeline trail, this recently opened state park preserves extraordinary river meadow habitat and elevated valley perspectives.
Lexington, VA
Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve
A dramatic mountain pass where the Maury River cuts through the Allegheny Mountains, creating gorge walls, riverside boulders, and swimming holes. Rhododendron blooms in late May and June are exceptional.