River Farm — Attraction in Hybla Valley

First, I have to say — the venue itself is absolutely beautiful. Right on the river, surrounded by tons of green space, it made for a gorgeous setting. I was there for my niece’s wedding, and the space truly was lovely.

So why only two stars?

Unfortunately, the management’s attitude completely took away from the experience. More than once, guests could clearly hear staff saying, “If all guests are not off the property by the designated time, we’ll be calling the police.”

I don’t usually jump to conclusions or assume race plays a role, but when that kind of statement is repeated multiple times — at a joyful family celebration — it’s hard not to wonder. At minimum, it was rude, unnecessary, and disrespectful to the couple and their guests.

By 11 p.m., it was obvious the planner, her team, and family members were working quickly to clear the space. Threatening to call the police on people who were clearly packing up was completely out of line.

To make matters worse, we were also expected to empty trash cans in the bathrooms and kitchen — not exactly what anyone anticipates after a long day celebrating a wedding.

The venue gets full points for scenery, but management needs serious work on professionalism and basic...

Went to River Farm for the first time today with my wife and infant daughter. We live in Alexandria and have passed by this place on a number of occasions but we've never gone in. This place is the national headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. It used to belong to George Washington. It's a beautiful place to spend time with family, especially children. The entry is free, you can't beat that. It's all well landscaped and has alot of rolling hills, trails, flowers, gardens, etc. You can walk down to the Potomac River although I think you can't actually go into the water because they rope it off. This place has a large tent pavilion for a formal party such a wedding. The pavilion has powerful fans all along the top of the structure. You can also picnic in the grounds if you want. They have a small children's garden area. When we went today, there were so many butterflies. You can become a member too and you get the American Gardener magazine plus entry across the country to other associated gardens that charge an entry fee. There was a gift shop there but we...

River Farm is the headquarters for the American Horticultural Society (AHS), but it's so much more than that. It's a property along the Potomac River just outside of Washington, D.C. with a story. The story starts with the River Farm property being established in 1653-1654. It was then sold to George Washington as an outlying property to Mount Vernon. It transferred owners a few times before going up for sale in the 1970s. That's when then Russian Embassy made an offer to purchase the property as a summerhouse (a dacha). Due to public outcry, the AHS took over the property.

Despite being AHS' headquarters, it's open for the public. You can tour the historic brick home on the property and walk the gardens alongside the main house and near the Potomac River. There's even a children's garden. With plenty of green space, you can even bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic.

If you have kids, it's a fun little spot. If you love history, it's a must-visit. You can even find a gate that was at the White House...