Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Evan and I have been trying to get into hiking recently so I was excited when Washingtonian featured a great article on various hikes around the area a few issues back.  At the top of my list, after Mary's Rock, was Harpers Ferry.  It's a manageable hour by car and it offers beautiful scenery.  A neat tidbit - it marks the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail.

Today wasn't the greatest day weather-wise; it was overcast and humid BUT the temperature was relatively low.  We took one of the easiest and shortest hikes from the Visitor's Center area (we never did find the actual Visitor's Center) to Lower Town and then alongside train tracks on a pedestrian bridge.  People were tubing and rafting on the river below us.  It looked like so much fun and a great way to relax on a summer day.  We might have to try that out one of these days.  I also hope we'll try one of the longer hikes on another visit.

Some iPhone pictures because we didn't want to lug the regular camera around:

We ran into a troop of boys part of the Federation of North American Explorers.  We researched it after the fact and discovered it's a faith-based organization like Boy or Girl Scouts.  Anyway, the boys were very sweet.  As soon as we walked out of the woods and onto the path in front of the church they were offering spaghetti, drinks, cookies, and bathrooms.  Evan made a pit stop and came out with a cookie.  The boys were raising money to go on a trip to Canada.  I hope it happens for them!