Outdoor Activities in D.C.

Spring is finally in the air! After the long winter, everyone’s excited to enjoy the warm weather and fresh air.

Luckily, there’s a ton of fun outdoor activities in D.C. to take advantage of!

Hiking.

If you’re looking for a cheap way to get some exercise with friends, hiking is the way to go.

You can make it as intense or as leisurely as you want depending on the trail you choose and your pace.

There’s a bunch of trails near D.C including Sugarloaf Mountain near Frederick, Maryland, Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls, Maryland or even Rock Creek Trail in D.C. if you want to stay in the city.

Whatever trail you choose to take, make sure to wear supportive shoes and stay hydrated!

Running.

D.C. is the ideal city for the avid jogger.

From the monuments to the C&O canal, there’s plenty of jogger friendly, beautiful areas to run plus it’s a great way to explore the city.

Check out this article for more great running spots in D.C.

Remember to stretch before and after a run! It’s best to do dynamic stretches before you run and static stretches after.

Walking.

It may seem simple, but walking is great for the mind and body.

With the warm weather, skip the Uber or Metro sometimes and walk to where you need to go!

A lot of areas of D.C. are not very far from each other.

For example, it’s about 30 minutes to walk from Chinatown to Dupont and about a 20 minute walk from Dupont to U St. If you’re not in a rush, walking is a great option!

Swimming.

If you’re looking for a total body workout that’ll keep you cool, try swimming.

It’s great cardio that’s easy on the joints. Check out this list of indoor pools in D.C to find one near you.

Don’t know how to swim and want to learn?

There’s a lot of adult learn to swim classes in D.C. Here’s one through Old City Swim School.

Regular exercise is vital for so many aspects of health; it can affect your weight, energy, quality of sleep and so much more.

You might as well enjoy the weather and your city while your doing it!

Remember to switch up your routine so you’re working multiple muscle groups and giving enough time for recovery.

If injury does occur, see a physical therapist to speed up your recovery.