Find Your Park - The Manassas National Battlefield Park

Located just outside Washington, DC, in the Virginia countryside, this is the site of the First & Second Battles of Bull Run (a.k.a., the First & Second Battles of Manassas). The visitors’ center has a good movie that talks about how both sides of our American Civil War underestimated the strength and resolve of each other. The book store features more history books and souvenirs than you’ll ever be able to read or afford. Take advantage of the ranger guided tour or ask for a map and hike about the rolling hills and woods where the Union and Confederate Armies first clashed and oh-too-many soldiers died. And if you can schedule your visit during a reenactment, do it.

NOTE: Both the FIRST and SECOND battles can be studied by hiking the BLUE and RED trails, respectively. Neither hiking trail is very difficult. The BLUE is roughly 5.3 miles in length. The RED is 6.6 miles in length. There are benches and monuments located along the way and it’s a good idea to pack snacks and water when stretching your legs along either route.