Visit Bon Air Park Memorial Rose Garden on Wilson Boulevard when the roses are in bloom. They also have an azalea garden, a shade garden, and a sun garden, but the roses are the real stars.
#35 – Stop and smell the roses
#33 – Take a blanket and go to Gravelly Point Park
You can get a great view of the Washington skyline while you watch airplanes take off and land from Reagan National Airport at Gravelly Point Park. The parking lot is accessible from the George Washington Parkway if you are heading North from the airport, or you can bike or walk there from the Mount Vernon Trail.
#31 – Visit Theodore Roosevelt Island
While technically a part of Washington, D.C., Theodore Roosevelt Island is only accessible via a Mount Vernon Trail footbridge from the Arlington side of the Potomac. Featuring a memorial to the famed “Rough Rider,” conservationist, trustbuster, and 26th President of the United States, the Island also features a network of trails and ranger-led tours.
#30 – Take a Bike Ride
Arlington County’s many bike routes include 50 miles of shared-use off street trails, 40 miles of bike lanes and 80 miles of recommended on-street bicycle routes. Arlington ranks among the most bike friendly jurisdictions in the nation and has received status as a League of American Bicyclists Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC).
One of my favorite routes is to take the Custis Trail to the Mount Vernon Trail where you ride along the river. The Washington & Old Dominion Trail is another great one. Part of the “Rails to Trails” program which converted unused railroad routes to multi-use trails, the W&OD Trail begins in Arlington and runs 45 miles through rolling Virginia countryside ending in Purcellville.
BikeArlington offers maps and rides of the trails in Arlington. And if you don’t have a bike, Capital Bikeshare has stations throughout Arlington and the DC metro area where you can rent one.
Below is a video of many of Arlington’s bike trails. Enjoy!
#20 – Play tennis at Bluemont Park
Bluemont Park, at the intersection of Wilson Blvd. and Manchester Street is the largest public tennis facility in Arlington offering nine courts with lights. Arlington residents can now reserve courts online.
#15 – Enjoy a picnic and watch a movie during the Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival
Every Summer the Rosslyn BID & Rosslyn Renaissance host an outdoor film festival at Gateway Park. The movies start just after dusk but if you arrive early there will be music and activities related to the theme. The movies are shown rain or shine but may be cancelled in case of high winds and thunderstorms. For the complete lineup and more information, see the Rosslyn Film Festival site here.
