"The booming sound of a low-flying airplane may not fit into your idea of a day at the park, but for many Gravelly Point visitors, it's the main attraction. Located on the shore of the Potomac River, just a stone's throw away from the airport, the park is a hotbed for aircraft spotting, a decades-old pastime that involves relaxed to obsessive watching and photographing of airplanes.
"On any given weekend when the weather is right, the park is full of tourists and locals who come to Gravelly to see commercial jets make their final descent into Washington. With a view of the Washington Monument to the north and a cool breeze coming off the river, the park is considered one of the best spotting areas in the country."
"For many, the primary appeal is not the planes themselves but the compelling pictures they inspire. Gravelly is a haven for professional and recreational photographers looking for something a little more exciting than snapping portraits of flowers."
"Though it's hard to ascribe an exact history to something as simple as observing planes, some say spotting as a hobby began in Europe during World War II. With radar technology in its infancy, some countries encouraged their citizens to watch the skies for enemy aircraft.
"As commercial air travel grew, the activity became a leisurely pursuit practiced all over the world." ...
Moving…
All content on this blog from Tim McGhee has moved to the Tim McGhee Substack, and soon, Lord willing, will be found only on that Substack.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2005
(348)
-
▼
October
(36)
- Katie Wernecke gets to go home
- House Republican Study Committee reining in Leader...
- Specter praises Alito
- Harry Reid on Alito: 'we want to cooperate'
- The Nature of Rights
- Bridges to Re-election
- Bush Wants U.N. to Deal With Syria Report
- ABC News: Venezuelan Tribes Protest Chavez Expulsi...
- Trip to Louisiana an eye opener
- Katie Wernecke may never go home
- Young Democrats Sharpen Tactics Against Old Rivals
- Venezuela Debates New Tribes Mission Expulsion Order
- Groups Support NTM Staying in Venezuela
- Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church
- Sen. Coburn: It's about principles, not power
- Senator Gregg: $850k leadership deficit
- George Allen: The Reagan of 2008
- Vonage Goes to Washington
- MA: Oppose Homosexuality = No Voting
- The Abortion Debate No One Wants to Have
- Venezuelans Criticize Missionaries' Expulsion
- NTM: we want to stay so we can help
- NTM: Our goal is to serve indigenous people
- New Tribes Mission Urges Prayer
- Plane-spotting at Gravelly Point
- New Judge for Katie Wernecke coming
- To a very special Dartmouth freshman class...
- New Tribes Mission expelled from Venezuela
- DC Public Transportation Tracking
- On the National Mall, It's a Fresh New Testament
- DC Festival: rains come down, hands go up
- Party Time on the National Mall
- Sens. Coburn & Obama: Rebuilding with accountability
- Buying what should be free
- Blogging Past the Censors
- Constructs of the Physical World
-
▼
October
(36)
No comments:
Post a Comment