The D.C. area has plenty to offer for those who want to get back to nature
It always seems so natural to enjoy the Washington, D.C., area in the summer, until you step outside and are clobbered with a slap of humidity.
How fortunate that this summer has been a bit milder than usual. That cooler weather has prompted many of us to step outside and enjoy nature.
But the problem becomes, where to go and enjoy the summertime? Sure, there are lots of places, but it’s almost a full-time job to decide what to visit.
“There are scenic drives inside and out of Washington that people don’t realize are national parks,” said Vincent Santucci, a chief ranger with the National Park Service. “People don’t take the time to stop and get out and explore. If they do, they will find a lot of parks are available.”
Use this guide as a starting point to find some of the hidden recreational gems in and around the D.C. metro area so you make the most of your weekend:
Theodore Roosevelt Island
You likely drive by this park frequently and don’t realize what it has to offer, Santucci said. “It’s nice to have this green space so close to a large population in an urban area,” he said, noting people often think of the Grand Canyon National Park in Colorado and Arizona and Yosemite National Park in California when they think of the areas served by the National Park Service. Those who visit Roosevelt Island enjoy the gentle nature trails and boardwalk that takes them by forests and swamps filled with wildlife — including large black turkey vultures that fly overhead. Although pets on leashes are permitted, bicycling is not. Details: Free; accessible from the northbound lane of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The entrance to the parking lot is just north of the Roosevelt Bridge in Washington; 703-289-2500; nps.gov/this.
Great Falls Park
The only downside to this park is that it’s so vast, it’s easy to overlook charming areas. Consider Turkey Run Park — the largest intact forest within the Capital Beltway — which has 700 acres of woodland in McLean, very close to Maryland. Many longtime area residents aren’t even aware Turkey Run exists, said Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge habitat restoration manager with the Nature Conservancy in Maryland/D.C., located in Bethesda. “People don’t realize it’s there,” she said. “Many times, they just think of [the area] as a commuter route.” Visitors to the area especially enjoy wildlife — including pileated woodpeckers and Louisiana waterthrush — and an array of wildflowers. There are a number of walking trails and access to the 10-mile Potomac Heritage Trail. Details: Free; located off the George Washington Memorial Parkway, two miles south of the Capital Beltway; 703-289-2500; nps.gov/gwmp/turkey-run-park.htm.
Rock Creek Park
Like many other areas in the National Park System, Rock Creek offers many activities, including quiet walking trails and bicycling paths. What some don’t realize is there is also an array of ranger-led programs and the only planetarium in the National Park Service, which is a nice refuge on rainy or overly humid days. The planetarium is an astronomy laboratory. Although the programs hosted there aren’t very technical, fundamental concepts are explained so visitors can study the sky. Details: Free; tickets available at the information desk in the park’s Nature Center; various shows including 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for kids 5 and older with adults and 4 p.m. for kids age 7 and older; 5200 Glover Road NW; 202-895-6070; nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/planetarium.htm.
Billy Goat Trail/C&O Canal
The Billy Goat Trail is 4.7 miles long and takes hikers between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River, near Great Falls, Md. The trail has three sections. Make sure you read information about the trail to see which section is right for you, because some areas are rugged. Jennifer Folsom, of Alexandria, takes her three sons — ages 7 and 2 — to stroll areas that offer variety. She said Fort Hunt Park (located off the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, nps.gov/gwmp/fort-hunt.htm) was a great area for families because inexperienced bicycle riders could make the 1-mile loop, stop at the playground and then continue on. Details: Free; 11710 MacArthur Blvd.; Potomac, Md.; 301-299-3613.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Though this area is a great place to enjoy rugged cliffs and more than 500 species of plants, be careful. Along with all of the wildlife — which includes red foxes, flying squirrels and wild turkeys — you’ll find more than a few timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. With those cautions in mind, Robin Bectel, of Alexandria, recommends the areas as “great, easy hiking for all ages with really nice views of surrounding farmlands and Catoctin Mountains.” Rock climbing for kids ages 8 and over and kayaking are also great ways for families to spend their days there, she said. Details: Free; Interstate 270 to Hyattstown, then Maryland Route 109 to Comus. Entrance is on Comus Road in Dickerson, Md.; 301-869-7846.
