We’ve been #blessed with a few sunny and warm days in the District the past couple weeks, and with spring approaching these warmer days are almost here to stay. Gone are the days of only leaving your dorm to get your Chinese delivery and layering up to face the unpredictable D.C. weather. The great outdoors is calling and it’s time you answer by leaving your dreary dorm and discovering all the nature D.C. has to offer.
Hiking in Rock Creek Park
Yeah, that’s right- Rock Creek isn’t just a name of a major road you tell your Uber driver to take when it’s rush hour, but also an actual national park right in the middle of our beloved District. Look up from your phone when you’re zooming by on Rock Creek Parkway and you’ll see forest and you guessed it- creeks. Rock Creek park is over 2,000 acres large and weaves throughout many parts of D.C. One of the go-to trails is the Rapids Bridge Loops, a two mile hike that gives you great views of the whitewater section of Rock Creek Park. Here’s a link to the map, now go outside and let your journey begin!
Planes and a Picnic at Gravelly Point
Lay back on the grass and stare in awe at the sky where planes are flying extremely low as they prepare to either land or take off from Ronald Reagan airport just on the other side of the Potomac River. While the park is a short walk from the metro, it’s also on the Mt.Vernon trail so it’s easy to run/bike here as well. I dare you to try and find a bad review on Yelp, where people are constantly in awe of this little-known park. A great place to take children who love planes, a great place to take a date, and a great place to bring friends and kick around a soccer ball. One warning: there aren’t that many trees so it can get pretty hot in the humid D.C. summers.
Meditate at the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Located just a few blocks from campus, peaceful isn’t usually a word I would use to describe the National Mall, but this little island dedicated to the signers of the Declaration of Independence is just that. Located next to the WW2 memorial, this small memorial is easily overlooked next to the bigger memorials of the National Mall. Far enough from the touristy memorials and just far enough from Constitution Avenue, cross the small footbridge to the willow tree covered island and enjoy the rare stillness. Just be careful to avoid possible bird poop.
Walking on Roosevelt Island
Commonly deemed ‘the oasis of D.C’ to nature lovers, this lovely island offers great trails to run, hike, or bike (even though bikes ‘technically’ aren’t allowed). It’s not uncommon to see people fishing or even bird-watching. One of my favorite things about this park is that people commonly walk their dogs here, so get ready to see lots of adorable dogs just begging to be pet. Woods, the water, and dogs all makes this island a soul-replenishing trip from the chaos of D.C.
So go outside and treat yo self to some of the many positive effects of nature; your body and mind will thank you for it!