Living in DC means there is always something to do. But at times it's like having a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. So if you are in the DMV for the summer and you need some summer fun inspiration here it is!
Great Falls
Great Falls park is a perfect place for summer fun. On the Virginia side the park includes a couple of beautiful overlooks, a small museum and several different walking/hiking path options. It is a perfect place for people of all different fitness levels thanks to the variety of paths. Want to go on a little bit of a hike? Come here. Want to just take a light walk? Come here. There is a fee to park your car, but if you carpool with friends the cost is pretty minimal.
Sunrise at the Monuments
If you live in the DMV you have seen the monuments plenty of times and in the summer they are tourist trap. But if you have never watched the sunrise at the monuments you are seriously missing out. That early in the morning the national mall is quiet and the view is just amazing.
Water Sports
While we all joke in the DMV about how gross the Potomac is we are pretty lucky to have the river. You can kayak, paddle board, take a boat ride, canoe and more on the river and you can even do it surprisingly cheap. Key Bridge Boathouse has great prices for paddle board and kayak rentals. It is a great way to spend a hot afternoon and get a full body workout at the same time.
Museums
If you live in the DMV and you don't take advantage of all the free museums then shame on you. The Smithsonian museums are some of the best in the world and there is literally a museum for everything. Last summer the Building Museum had an indoor beach, this summer the Building Museum is turning its great hall into a huge and interactive iceberg exhibit complete with undersea caves, grottoes, and shaved-ice snacks! Also the DC Zoo is renowned and a super fun date night activity.
Concerts
All around DC there are plenty of free/cheap concerts for every music taste imaginable. Take advantage of the outdoor concerts and free concerts that are held all over the city.
Nats Games
Even if you aren't a big baseball fan there is something to be said about spending a summer evening eating a hot dog and a beer and enjoying our country's national pastime. You can get tickets to the Nationals games insanely cheap on stubhub and the Navy Yard metro stop is a five minute walk from the park. This is my number one summer fun activity.
Picnic at a Park
There are plenty of parks in the DMV area and a summer picnic is a cheap and fun way to spend the afternoon. The lawn at the national mall is a great place to just hang out, eat, read a book or play a pick up game of football or frisbee. Gravelly Park is also a great place in Virginia to have a picnic: it is right on the water and right next to the airport so you can relax and watch the planes take off and land above you.
Shopping
Okay this one may not end up being cheap depending on how much of a shopper you are, but there are plenty of great malls in the DMV area and it is a great way to spend a rainy summer day. If it is a nice day out Eastern Market is a great farmer's market in the Capital Hill neighborhood that is a personal favorite of mine.
Whether you live in the DMV year round or are just around for the summer, there is always something to do for fun. What will you be doing this weekend in DC?
