Tagged : recreation

From shopping and dining to water sports and entertainment, there’s plenty to explore at National Harbor. Set right alongside the Potomac River, the waterfront destination is home to dozens of restaurants, countless stores, numerous hotels, residences, and a marina.

For hotels and entertainment, head to the MGM casino resort or the luxurious Gaylord National. There are also several other hotels in National Harbor to choose from, while a new Hyatt Place remains under construction right now.

For nightlife, options extend to a dueling piano bar, the lively Cadillac Ranch or a local Irish pub. For those of all age to experience some fantastic views high above the harbor, be sure to take a spin onboard the Capital Wheel.

There’s also a paint bar

If you enjoy the opportunity to get out and enjoy nearby greenspace, DC is the place to be. DC-area parks were just named tops in the nation.

The Trust for Public Land comes out with a ranking of urban parks and recreational space each year in the nation’s 100 largest cities. This year, the ranking put DC at the very top of the list for its ParkScore.

The ranking looked at how close people live to public parks, the size of those parks, the amount of land a city devotes to its parks and the amount of money a city spends on its parks. The study also considered park amenities, such as playgrounds, rec centers, splashpads, public restrooms, basketball hoops and dog parks.

While DC trails other cities in terms of the number of playgrounds, it does

Photo: akunamatata

Whether you’re an avid runner or just like to take an occasional jog around your neighborhood or through the park, Arlington is a great place to get in some exercise. While there’s plenty to do, see and experience living in Arlington County, it’s specifically tops when it comes to running.

The county was just named the top spot for runners for the second year in a row. The ranking comes from SmartAsset, a financial website that commonly tracks consumer-oriented things, including the best cities for runners.

According to SmartAsset, when comparing the number of races per 10,000 residents, Arlington has more than any of the other 97 cities it studied. Some options for the spring include Crystal City 5K Fridays, held in

Graphic: Capitol Trails Coalition

A “Bike Beltway” could someday become reality for the DC area. Transportation planners are currently working on a visionary plan to construct not only a large biking loop but also a regional bike trail network that connects up with the surrounding suburbs.

The 60-mile loop alone encircles the entire region, taking cyclists through Maryland, Virginia and DC. The plan involves using interconnected trails running from the Arlington County-DC border down to Alexandria, and then continuing on into the Maryland suburbs. While some trails already exist, the plan involves filling in the gaps, and upgrading sections of some of the existing trails along the way.

Its part of a much larger plan, however, aimed at

Graphic: OLA and Olin Studios

DC has some big plans for its visionary new 11th Street Bridge Park. Modeled after such locations as New York’s High Line, the park will eventually transform an old Anacostia River crossing into DC’s first elevated public park.

Scheduled to open in 2023, the park plans to link up the Capitol Riverfront with Anacostia, together sharing in cultural space and green space, high above the river. While bringing in such features as an amphitheater and an environmental center, the park aims to cover about three-acres with plazas, performances and public art.

The grand plan, however, involves much more than just an eventual park constructed in the area. Supporters hope that it will also someday serve as more of a way to

While its known widely by two different names, Meridian Hill Park is a true gem of the DC area. Right in the middle of DC, the park sits high up on a hill, with 12 full acres of shaded walkways, landscaped lawns and a majestic fountain.

The urban park is actually part of the Columbia Heights neighborhood, but neighbors of nearby Adams Morgan also delight in close proximity to the park. Designed and constructed in the early 1900s, the National Park Service maintains the location, found just to the north of the White House.

Once known as Peter’s Hill, the area gained the name Meridian Hill in the early 1800s, and then served a prominent role in the Civil War when Union troops camped on its grounds. Years later, a wealthy landowner pushed for a

If you’re planning on doing some shopping in National Landing or just searching for a bite to eat, you’ll find plenty of options. From the shops of Fashion Centre to Potomac Yard Center, the choices are endless in this urban community.

With well more than 150 shops, stores and restaurants to choose from, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City provides a wide variety of selections. Shops in this location include upscale selections such as Nordstrom, Coach and Michael Kors, plus Kate Spade, Microsoft, Apple and many other traditional clothing and specialty shops.

In addition, the site also includes several different options in dining, from trendy eateries and cafes to more casual burger and pizza shops. This three-level shopping area is accessible via

Photo: Tim Evanson

Three DC golf courses could be in for a boost, as the National Park Service just made a move to lease and improve the courses and a tennis center. This includes improvements to the Rock Creek Golf Course, the Langston Golf Course and the East Potomac Golf Course. It also adds in the East Potomac Tennis Center, but only those interested in operating and leasing all four locations under one lease will be considered.

The announcement launching a competitive solicitation brings an end to previous hope for an agreement between the Park Service and the Federal City Council, a private nonprofit. All three courses were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, while the Langston course sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo: Richard Ricciardi

With plenty to do, see and experience, Theodore Roosevelt Island presents a delightful site to visit and explore. Now maintained by the National Park Service, the island that once held farmland now serves as a tribute to a former president.

It’s said Roosevelt was a true conservationist and outdoorsman, and that’s evident across the island. You’ll find trails leading through wooded areas and swampy areas on the island. Visitors can even try and spot native birds, just as the former president likely enjoyed in his spare time.

As president, Roosevelt helped enact the protection of millions of acres of land across the United States, creating national parks, forests, bird reservations and game reserves. He also helped

With millions of square feet of commercial space and upwards of 100-acres of land ripe for development, National Landing provides plenty of appeal overlooking the DC area. Set right alongside the Potomac River, National Landing, however, is also known for its green space and outdoor recreational possibilities at area parks.

Crystal City Water Park

Options include the Crystal City Water Park in Arlington. The park offers up a great place to sit and relax with friends and family. While not necessarily a water park in theory, there is a fountain at the park and it provides a relaxing location to listen to the rushing water or sit under the shade of one of the tables and area benches. You’ll find live music on certain summer nights for added