Manassas National Battlefield Park — Attraction in Gainesville

NOTE: This park is huge so this review is broken into particular sections as they are experienced.

Stone Bridge Loop This park offers a nice parking lot and paved walking paths up to the Stone Bridge where one of the many Civil War battles took place. If you are interested in checking out the bridge, most people will be able to access it. From there, there are two walking paths: one straight ahead which is relatively flat and features a wooden plank bridge over the marshlands until it reaches an inclined area that leads to the top of the hill where the first shots were fired. You have to keep your footing and if you are not able to make the climb, it would be better to retrace your steps back to the bridge. If you turn to the right back at the Stone Bridge, the path runs along the river. It is more rustic in comparison to the wooden plank bridge, but a very nice journey through the wooded areas and a nice experience walking along the river. It does incline eventually (also to the hill where the battle began), but the incline is more gradual in comparison. (The attached photo is the view from the top of the hill.) Once you reach the top of the hill, turn left and run along the gravel path to rejoin the other path back to the wooden bridge. With a decent pace (moderate walking) you can make the full loop in 30-35 mins. My 5 and 7 year old made it very well, but the 3 years old had to be carried up the hills. All in all, a nice park and walk if you want something different from a paved walkway. Kids loved the spring flowers too.

Deep Cut Loop Coming from Lee Highway, you can access Deep Cut from Featherbed Road. There is a nice parking area and a park map available for reference. A padded trail leads to a marker where you can see the monument from a distance. Past this point, the trail is no longer wheel chair accessible. The trail is more like mowed grass, but follow it along up to the stone monument. From there, you can take a left to follow the Deep Cut Loop and Brawner's Farm loop. Make sure to wear pants because the rocky terrain makes it difficult for the parks to cut the grass and it becomes overgrown quickly. Lots of level changes as well. Follow along the path and you will find a hidden jewel in the field: cannons! Real actual cannons! Take a pic and move along. After this point, the path got a little murky. There are some break away trails that I did not attempt, but seemed to be fine. There was not a lot of trees so it was difficult to find the blue markers. I had a time limit so I decided to complete my exploration for another day. From the stone monument, if you take a right, you are on the Second Manassas Trail. This trail goes through the forest and to the Unfinished Railroad. It is pretty short and finally ends at Featherbed Road. If you cross the street, you will continue on the Unfinished Railroad. I did not do that yet, but plan to soon. This trail I was able to walk with my kids (7, 5, 4) pretty easily with just carrying the youngest...

Definitely in my top 5 most scenic places in Virginia! Why, you ask? First off, you cannot find a more awe-inspiring inland sunset anywhere, except maybe from the top of a mountain, but point is, the sprawling open fields with a smattering of tall grassfields and the Shenandoahs in the distant background make for amazing views. Parking is also free, and the best part, the whole park is open from dawn to dusk! For most photographers, this is pretty much as good as it gets without having to pay an admission fee or photography permit. For videographers, I suggest visiting the website to get more information, but generally, groups of 5 people are allowed to film without additional prerequisites, but it won't hurt to call ahead to make sure. The visitor's center does have normal business hours so be prepared and use the restroom before visiting outside of that time frame. There's plenty of hiking trails, a few picnic spots, and even areas that allow for horseback riding. Just be ready for a lot of walking and wear comfortable shoes if you're planning to enjoy the several trails here.

As for food choices, it's within 5 minutes of some fast food restaurants and a short 10 minute drive to Centreville, which has a wide assortment of cuisines to enjoy. Definitely highly recommended for any history buffs and outdoor lovers. If you're only in the area for a short while, it is definitely worth your...

The visitors center is is shockingly high quality and beautifully well done. The docent was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, unhelpful and helpful. He guided us to displays that would be of interest to a 10-year-old boy in particular.

If you go- the visitors center s critical. do not miss the 6 minute video! Must go inside! Incredible artifacts and history. Homeschooling my son and he learned more in the museum and visitor center, as well as looking around the field, that he could've learned in two weeks studying a textbook.

We scoured the forest, based on the detailed historical battle sequence map, for trees that would have been alive during the Confederate reinforcement entrance to the battle, on the opposite side of the visitor center, down the path; the turning point of the battle. We spent some time gazing out behind the trees, imagining how the soldiers felt. Then we went down the hill and imagined the union side and how they felt when they realized they were being overrun. It was dramatic, educational, historic, and emotional. Then we discussed the battle on the way home and how both sides must have felt at this initial battle that was so under prepared for...