George Washington lived in and traveled from this region, pursuing his dream of westward expansion to connect the Atlantic Seaboard with the frontier West. His efforts to use the Potomac River as a commercial artery influenced industrialization and development in the 1800s and beyond. Today, wild landscapes intermingle with urban ones as stands of oak, tulip poplar, and paw paw trees and varied wetlands contrast with the Piedmont, highways, and a growing metropolitan area. Along the upper tidal Potomac, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network offers access to the region's history, culture, and ecology through hiking, bicycling, and water trails that foster intimate connections with the river and the region's distinctive landscapes.
