The DC Traveler

It’s the classic Victorian love story scene — a couple lounging in a rowboat, on a lazy summer afternoon in the middle of the lake, while he woos her with poetry by Byron or Keats.

And you too can add a bit of romance to your life and surprise your loved one with an afternoon or sunset rental of a rowboat at Burke Lake Park, in Fairfax Station, Virginia. All you need is a book of your favorite poet’s work. Mother Nature can proved a romantic sunset.

In the late 1950s, Fairfax County Park Authority decided to create a public fishing lake. They found a 218 acre location that could be flooded in Northern Virginia, inside of a 900 acre track of land, less than 30 minutes from Washington, DC.

After a dam was erected in 1961, the newly created lake property began to fill and was stocked with fish.

The area was originally considered to become an small international airport, but area residents defeated the plan, in favor of a park and lake.

The 200+ acre lake and 900 acre park boasts over 5 miles of shoreline, with plenty of places to relax and read something like this, She Walks In Beauty Like the Night, by Lord Byron.

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

If boating isn’t your pleasure, or romance isn’t in the air, the park also offers fishing (license required), camping, a 4.7 miles crushed gravel and paved shoreline hiking and biking trail, disk golf, horse shoe pits, volleyball courts, and picnic areas with grills.

On weekends for the children, the park provides a 1.75 mile miniature train ($2.00), carousel ($1.50), along with miniature golf ($6 for adults, $5 for kids), three playgrounds and an ice cream parlor, all open daily.

The golfer can also have some fun on the par-3, 18-hole golf course, or hit a bucket of balls at the park’s driving range.

Row Boat Rentals
Burke Lake
7315 Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA (map it) directions & park map
703-323-6600

Dates and Times - Park hours - daily sunrise to sunset, May 24, 2008 - September 1

Row Boat Rentals (weather permitting)

• Saturday & Sunday 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Reduced days/hours before Memorial Day and after Labor Day

Admission & Boat Rental Costs - Free admission to the park on weekday, weekends - non-Fairfax County residents in a car or on motorcycle - $8.00. Row boat rentals* fees extra.

• Rowboat Rental - ½-day - $10.50, full-day - $16.00, includes up to 3 life preservers. Add’l. life preservers - $1.00,
• Rowboat with electric motor - ½-day - $27.50, full day - $41.00

* Poetry not included.

Half-day rentals begin at 3:00 p.m., full day rentals at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and 8:00 a.m. on other days.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Metro is not convenient. Vienna/Fairfax-GMU - Orange Line or Franconia-Springfield - Blue line, line, then a 10 mile cab drive.

Parking - Free.

Images - wedding couple, sunset, train, carousel,

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