With an actual winter (see: snow, cold) behind us for the first time in years, D.C. is ready to enjoy spring and summer. Inside the city’s 68 square miles are national parks, neighborhood green spaces and tons of other places to enjoy the outdoors. Here are ten places in the area where DCist writers can be found when the weather outside is agreeable. See last year’s list here before you type “Hey, why didn’t you include ‘X,’ you jerks?”
Photo by Kevin H.
GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT: Georgetown’s ample shopping and college bars might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the waterfront is hard to pass up on a beautiful day or night. The view of the Kennedy Center, Roosevelt Island, and boats on the Potomac offer a feel of D.C. different from almost any other part of the city, and can be enjoyed while dining outside or lounging in the well-maintained waterfront park. On especially warm days, embrace your inner child by running through the giant sprinkler in the park (just watch for actual kids underfoot). —Nicole Dubowitz
The waterfront is located on Water Street NW.
THE BILLY GOAT TRAIL AT GREAT FALLS PARK: The Billy Goat Trail is a great way to spend a couple of hours on a nice day, especially if you go early enough to avoid the crowds. Parts of the hike can be technical, as there is some rock scrambling involved. But the “A” section of the trail only takes a couple of hours, is a great work out and offers some wonderful scenic views of the Potomac River. Great Falls is just outside the city, so early risers can be back home by lunch time.
Great Falls Park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Va.
ELIZABETHAN GARDEN: The Folger Shakespeare Library has an herb garden that features plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays, play-related sculptures, benches, and giant magnolia trees. It’s fenced in, so it looks like you’re not allowed to go in there, but you are. It’s open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s a secluded little oasis on Capitol Hill that’s a great spot to eat your lunch. I’m sure the people who do know about it will be annoyed that the secret is out. —Elisabeth Grant from 2013
The Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE.
Photo by Sarah Anne Hughes.
FORT DUPONT PARK: Located just over the Anacostia River, Fort Dupont Park features trails friendly to a non-hiker, gardens and a pavilion that hosts a summer concert series. Like Rock Creek Park, Fort Dupont offers a chance to feel immersed in the wilderness while inside the city limits. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Fort Dupont Park’s parking lot is located at 3600 F Street SE.
NATIONAL ARBORETUM: I confess that I haven’t been to the arboretum since it was a regular family outing years ago, but I’m dying to go back this spring. Of course there’s year-round appeal depending on your plants of choice, but the vibrant azaleas, tulips, and lilies that bloom April to June are personal favorites. The Arboretum offers hikes, demonstrations, and more listed on their website, and absolutely don’t miss their National Capitol Columns monument, which looks like something out of Inception.—Nicole Dubowitz
The two entrances to the National Arboretum are located at 3501 New York Avenue NE, and 24th and R streets NE, off Bladensburg Road.
MERIDIAN HILL PARK: On Sundays, this is about as close to a West Coast commune as D.C. Between the drum circles, tightrope walkers, jugglers, and couples doing sexually charged acrobatic yoga in public, it’s a slice of Berkley in Columbia Heights. —Alicia Mazzara from 2013
Meridian Hill Park is bounded by 16th, Euclid, 15th, and W streets NW.
Photo by Rob Cannon.
YARDS PARK: Offering perhaps the best place to sit and enjoy the Anacostia River, Yards Park is the perfect place to spend a summer day in Southeast D.C. There’s plenty of green space at this Metro-accessible park, as well a futuristic pedestrian bridge, boardwalk and huge fountain where children swim and play. Yards Park also hosts events like concerts and yoga, while the nearby Canal Park shows movies during the summer. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Yards Park is located at 355 Water Street SE.
OLD RAG MOUNTAIN IN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK: Shenandoah is a wonderful place if you have access to a car and are willing to drive just a couple hours outside of the city. Sure, Skyline Drive is nice, and there is plenty of hiking to be done, but we’d like to recommend Old Rag Mountain. This at-times-arduous day hike is consistently rated among the best in the Mid-Atlantic, especially in the fall during leaf peeping season. That is also when it gets the most crowded, so taking a weekday off or going very early is highly recommended. Still, the challenging rock scrambles and amazing vistas are well worth the effort. Pack a nice lunch and take some time to enjoy the beautiful 360 degree view at the summit. —Sriram Gopal
Old Rag Mountain is located in Shenandoah National Park, near Sperryville, Va.
Photo by Kevin H.
KENNEDY CENTER ROOFTOP: Yep, you can walk right into D.C.’s best-known performance hall, ride the elevator to the top floor, and take a 360-degree stroll around its rooftop. In a city where birds-eye views don’t really exist, the Kennedy Center is one of the only spots where all of the District’s big landmarks — the monuments and government buildings; Georgetown and the National Cathedral; Rosslyn — are viewable at once. Rooftop visits pair nicely with free shows at the Center’s Millennium Stage, which go on every weeknight at 6 p.m. Talib Kweli and Russell Simmons are playing tonight, actually. Not too shabby. Plus: No grass! — Jonathan Neeley
The Kennedy Center is located at 2700 F Street NW.
THE NATIONAL MALL AND MEMORIAL PARKS: Last year’s conventional pick was Rock Creek Park. This year we’re going for the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Yes, you’ll have to deal with tourists, what with their being different than you and injecting money into the local economy. But you have the distinct privilege of living in a city where you can picnic or play frisbee in front of the Smithsonians, watch the sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial and see the sun set on the Potomac from the Jefferson. Where’s your sense of wonder, guys? —Sarah Anne Hughes
The National Mall is located between the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial.
Photo by A Bull.
HAINS POINT: Hains Point at this time of year is the cruelest Catch 22: with the cherry blossoms in peak bloom, this is probably the best time to head on down. However, it is also probably the worst time as everyone and their grandmother is flocking there to see them. But even when it’s not cherry blossom season, Hains Point is one of the best spots in D.C. The tree-lined stretch of East Potomac Park tips out right to the Potomac River, offering a breathtaking view overlooking the water. And if you’re a biker, it’s one of the best biking routes in the city. — Matt Cohen
Hains Point parking is located at 972 Ohio Drive SW.
A FRONT YARD: Sometimes the best place to be outside is right out your own front door. After years of apartment living, I recently moved into a house with a front porch and fire pit. Having yard space in a city is special, so share it if you have it. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Across the city.
