Discover McLean: Nature, Culture and Play

McLean can be organized around nature, culture and play when planning a trip. At Great Falls Park, the extensive trail network and historic canal remnants are specific points of interest. The Alden and the McLean Project for the Arts offer different cultural experiences, while Clemyjontri Park has its own distinctive features, including an inclusive playground. You can consider which of these interests should be the focus of your stay.

Nature and History at Great Falls Park

Great Falls Park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22102. Its trail network covers 15 miles; some trails can also be used for biking and horseback riding. This distance refers to the entire network, not to a single trail. For planning, it is also helpful to distinguish between the hiking trails and the other uses permitted on some of them.

The park includes the remains of George Washington's original Patowmack Canal. It consisted of five navigation canals built between 1786 and 1802. Alongside the trail network, this historic canal project is a point of interest in its own right: the remains connect the park with the history of canal navigation.

Theater and Visual Arts

The Robert Ames Alden Theatre, built in 1975 and known as The Alden, is a cultural resource for residents of McLean and the greater Washington area. The theater has 383 seats and presents a full professional season featuring high-quality, interdisciplinary performances, lectures and educational programs for people of all ages. Individual seasons change, so the specific selection is not the same for every travel period.

The Alden also offers a professional theater production open to young people ages 10 to 16 who live in the MCC tax district. This offering complements the program for people of all ages with a production that has a specifically stated age group and regional participation requirement.

The McLean Project for the Arts presents contemporary art exhibitions and offers classes for children and adults, lectures, tours and the ArtReach outreach program. Unlike The Alden, its program includes exhibitions, classes and tours as well as lectures. Exhibition and program schedules change, so keep this in mind if a particular offering is important to your stay.

Play at Clemyjontri Park

Clemyjontri Park is a two-acre inclusive playground for people with different abilities. Ramps lead to elevated play structures. The paths between the equipment are wide and colorful; the ground surfaces are designed to be slip-resistant and porous. These features can each be considered in your planning, rather than describing the playground only in terms of its size.

The carousel has both swinging and stationary seats. There is also a trackless train ride: it operates seasonally and is weather-dependent, and its trailer car is equipped with a wheelchair ramp. If you plan to take this ride, check before your visit whether it will be operating on your date.

Seasonal Market Visit

The 2026 seasonal schedule listed the McLean Farmers Market on Fridays at Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road. The market operates seasonally. Check dates and hours before visiting, especially if you are planning a visit for a later date.

You can choose from different travel themes: trails and canal history at Great Falls Park, performances and art offerings, or the distinctive playground features at Clemyjontri Park. The seasonal market is another time-specific option to consider when planning.

Discover more destinations: Vienna, Reston, Burke, Chantilly, Centreville, Herndon, Lorton, Annandale

For the main travel overview: Fairfax County.