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Beautiful hidden gem along the Potomac. We watched the August 2017 Solar Eclipse from ALP and it was the perfect place.
Nice pavilion for picnicking or getting out of the sun. There are a few charcoal grills next to the pavilion that have definitely seen better days but still manage to get the job done.
There's a small beach which is nice for sun bathing or maybe volleyball, but we do not recommend going into the water. First because there is a park sign warning of snakes (we did not see any). Secondly there is broken glass in the sand underwater (several people at the park mentioned this). Third reason being there is a lot of river grass vegetation.
Terrific for canoeing, kayaking, paddle surfing & fishing. We saw people catching fish. Beautiful views. Good place for bird watchers, nature photographers and artists. Having a picnic. Yoga and exercise. Relaxing in the sun and fresh air. Nice historic side trip - several plaques explain the areas interesting and frequently sad history.
The restrooms were not well maintained when we were there August 21, 2017. And although other reviews mention a summertime concession stand we never saw it. It must be Sat & Sun only.
A few reviewers mention dead fish and a lot of insects. We did not see any dead fish and the air was fresh and invigorating. The water looks clean - a beautiful dark blue. In some of my photos the water color looks strange. This was due to the solar eclipse.
There were a lot of dragon flies and some bumble bees along the pavilion river side a good 20 feet from the pavilion - they did not bother us. No one in our group saw or was bitten by mosquitos.
However, as soon as we brought our picnic food out onto the tables, flies appeared. We tried using our all natural insect repellant without success. On our next visit we will bring an all natural fly attractor.
It's still a beautiful park and we will definitely return. Perhaps with the work being done across the river at the new and much larger but not-yet-open Widewater State Park, Virginia will find some funds for little charming Aquia...
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I honestly love this place! Water isn't the clearest but I've gone with many friends and family members and have swam in it at least twice a week last summer and no one has gotten sick so I don't think it's filthy, just a loooooooot of plant life in the water which makes the water that much darker.
Wear swim shoes to avoid the annoying plants and walk through the water. The water stays at knee-thigh height for several meters and it's quite relaxing and loads of fun with friends.
I hosted my graduation party here under one of the pavilions. Everyone had a great time, the grill was a grill-nothing fancy, pavilions are fairly spacious, and the park recently built a new bathroom...during the summer it gets pretty gross because mostly everyone is wet so there's water and dirt tracked it. They should hose it down every so often in a day.
A few more trash cans would help but I've seen LAZY / UNCONSIDERATE people litter and end up walking past a can anyways so it's more of a problem with the people going there than the park's fault.
All things considered, I will definitely be back. My friends have gone with their (massive) dogs and walked the trail and they enjoyed it so I would say just give it a try, the drive there is beautiful...
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We wanted to give Aquia Landing Park a try this morning. We move around alot so we have been to many beaches, parks, etc. It's not too far of a drive if you live in the Stafford area.
The park itself is OK. They have plenty of picnic tables, when we went it was very quiet only a few folks out there enjoying themselves. Pets are allowed at the parks, although the ones I saw did not have leashes on them (forgot to check the leash law - if any). Additionally, a few fisher man out and about.
The beach itself is (as one earlier post mentioned) a reclaimed beach. The sand is OK, but it's got alot of growth in some areas. The Parks Department could put some TLC and make it better.
The water itself was a no-go for me... it's a river so not as much movement as a major ocean so it doesn't look that great. We opted NOT to go in the water at all - there were a few folks in there (mostly fishing), but not our cup of tea to be honest.
If you are just looking for a free/quiet little park with a water view - give it a try. If you are hoping for a nice beach day with the family... I'd not go in with too high of...
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