Washington, DC, is known by those who live here as the land of overachievers. After all, you don’t get a job on Capitol Hill by settling for a B+. This penchant for uber-excelling professionally and academically also extends to residents’ health and fitness pursuits, leading to participation in a boutique group fitness class or training for a triathlon, both of which become just average workouts. The merest hint of bearable weather sees trails, paths, and sidewalks crowded with runners and cyclists acting out their work-hard/play-hard philosophy, don’t forget the Garmin and heart monitor, please. It can all become rather intense.
The upside for visitors to this, ahem, enthusiastic approach to leisure time is the availability of numerous active alternatives to wandering through another museum or doing the hop-on hop-off bus tour for a third day. Here are a few energizing ways to spend an afternoon in Washington, DC, with the bonus being that you’ll get to see some areas of this beautiful city that are off the traditional tourist path.
Kayaking on the Potomac River
In spring and summer, head to Thompson Boat Center, located just up the street from the Kennedy Center, to rent one- and two-person kayaks and canoes by the hour. Further up-river in Georgetown you can rent kayaks, canoes, and rowboats at Fletcher’s Cove. You’ll gain a whole new appreciation for this town as you paddle up and down the river, spotting wildlife and feeling pleasantly separated from the bustle of the city.
Cycling the City
Washington, DC, has made great strides toward being a bike-friendly city, with numerous bike lanes and paved trails running throughout the city and its suburbs. Finding a bike is also easy: Thompson Boat Center and Fletcher’s Cove both rent bicycles by the day (though not in winter). The Capital Bikeshare program, with dozens of racks of red bikes throughout the city and suburbs, is a convenient way to tool around the city on two wheels for a few hours. Check out the Bike Washington website for a partial list of bike shops that rent bikes by the day or half-day.
For those wanting a longer or more serious ride, several paved trails extend from Washington, DC, and Arlington to nearby suburbs. The Capital Crescent Trail runs seven miles from Georgetown to Bethesda, Maryland. It’s wide but also very popular so go early if you don’t want to dodge too many pedestrians, dogs, and roller-bladers. The scenic Mt. Vernon trail starts at the base of the Key Bridge in Arlington and runs south for 17.5 miles to George Washington’s historic home, Mt. Vernon, passing through Old Town Alexandria, marshlands, and woodsy areas along the way. Also on the Virginia side of the Key Bridge, you can pick up the Custis Trail, a four-mile long hilly trail running west behind residential neighborhoods in Arlington. It meets up with the longest area trail, the 45-mile-long Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) trail, which extends into Washington, DC’s, far suburbs, extending past Dulles airport to its terminus in Purcellville, VA. A popular ride is a loop that encompasses sections of the Custis, W&OD, and Mt. Vernon trails (17 miles total).
Rock Creek Park also has paved paths that are used by both runners and cyclists, and on weekends a large section of Beach Drive is closed to cars, making a haven for cyclists. While the scenery can’t be beat, the Rock Creek trails are generally narrower than and not as well-kept as the other trails mentioned here, so be attentive and courteous as you’re riding. Open year-round.
Running with Locals (for Fun!)
If running is your thing, consider participating in a free group fun run. Sponsored by local running stores, these fun runs will take you on routes you might not have scoped out on your own and you’ll be able to meet people to boot. Most are held in the evening—ideal for burning off stress after work—but some locations do offer morning runs too.
Hiking in Rock Creek and Great Falls Parks
In addition to the paved trails mentioned above, Rock Creek Park—a woodsy oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle—has miles of unpaved hiking/walking trails that are gentle enough for kids and novice hikers. The Western Ridge Trail parallels the western side of the park while the Valley Trail parallels Rock Creek and Beach Drive. The two main trails are connected by other trails criss-crossing the park so you can do a loop.
Great Falls Park is on the Virginia side of the Potomac River while its sister park on the Maryland side is the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Both offer spectacular views of the falls and the river as well as hiking options for all levels and ages. On the Maryland side, just north of Washington, DC, you can walk the wide, gravelly C&O Canal trail or, for the more adventurous, leap among big boulders on the Billy Goat Trail. The Virginia side features picnic tables, a lookout of the falls, and a handful of more traditional woodsy trails with great views of the river below. Open year-round.
Ice skating in the Sculpture Garden
When the weather turns frosty it’s time to don a pair of skates and take a turn around the ice rink in the Sculpture Garden. This outdoor seasonal rink on the National Mall in downtown Washington is surrounded by larger-than-life modern art sculptures from the National Gallery of Art’s collection. The rink is open daily until well into the evening during late fall into winter. The Pavilion Café next door serves hot chocolate and other light fare when you need to warm up.
What other active Washington, DC, activities would you recommend?
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