With cooler temperatures and disappearing mosquitoes, fall is a wonderful time to head outdoors in the DC area. There are a range of options for your next excursion.
If you’re looking for a shorter outing, Theodore Roosevelt Island is a lovely spot in the Potomac with easy trails and beautiful views. You can even rent a canoe or kayak from Fletcher’s Boathouse on Canal Road to paddle around the entire Island.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail is another fun outdoor spot. It’s a paved 22.5-mile trail near Hancock that’s great for biking or walking.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a little-known site in Northeast DC. It’s a natural area of Anacostia Park where you can enjoy birding along the boardwalk, a short hike, or explore the water garden. You can even arrive at the gardens via canoe.
Lots of people know that Calvert Cliffs State Park is a good place to find shark teeth in Maryland. But fewer know about Purse State Park along the Potmac River in Charles County. It’s a tiny park, but also provides opportunities for fossil hunting at low tide.
Cultural Tourism DC is starting their 13th annual Walking Town DC event today. It’s a week of free walking tours of DC neighborhoods. There are hour-long tours at noon and 6 PM each weekday. On the weekend (October 5 and 6), Walking Town DC will offer two-hour tours. One tour, which takes place at Rock Creek Parish and Rock Creek Cemetery in Northeast off North Capitol Street, delves into the art, architecture, and sculpture of the sites. Other tours explore Anacostia, Congress Heights, and downtown, among other locations.
Our area also has plenty of farms where you can pick apples, roam pumpkin patches in search of the perfect jack-o-lantern surface, take a hay ride, or get lost in a corn maze. Be sure to spend some time enjoying the outdoors this season.
