Fredericksburg's Hidden Gem: Alum Spring Park

I've always been an outdoorsy person, ever since I was young. I was lucky enough to grow up in a small town that was just about half an hour from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park; both places that I spent a lot of time in throughout my childhood and adolescence. I have so many memories of hiking, camping and simply exploring Virginia's landscape with family and friends, many of which are truly the fondest memories I have.

I left my childhood town after high school to attend VCU in Richmond, Virginia, and spent a few years there before moving to Fredericksburg, where I currently live. Both are farther away from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah than my childhood home, and are dramatically more urbanized. It's much less nature than I've been used to, and much more shopping centers, restaurants and highways - and I'm all too aware of the difference.

That's why I'm constantly on the lookout for hidden pockets of nature within the urbanization of Fredericksburg and the rest of Northern VA. There are a few areas, such as Government Island in Stafford, the river in downtown Fburg, etc., and I'm lucky enough to have some wonderful friends who introduced me to my most recent find: Alum Spring Park.

The park is not too far outside the historic downtown streets of Fredericksburg (surprisingly), tucked behind a couple apartment complexes. The entrance itself is barely noticeable and appears a little lackluster at first, but the park itself stretches far beyond the residential area. Once you pass a playground and the shaded picnic areas upon first entering, the walking trails bring you through a beautiful forest with multiple spots that have access to water.

My friends and I visited the park right after a snowstorm, which made the park all the more stunning to explore. We only walked a bit of the trails that day because it was so cold, but it was still a very satisfying experience and I can hardly wait to visit again in warmer weather.

I tried to document most of the adventure - here are my favorite pictures:

I highly recommend everyone visit Alum Spring Park one day if you are in the area - it's really one of Fburg's hidden gems. If there's any other parks, trails, or nature spots I should check out around NOVA, please leave a comment below!

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