Arlington CemeteryArlington VAForrest GumpHirshhorn MuseumIwo Jima MonumentMount Vernon TrailPotomacrunningTheodore Roosevelt IslandVietnam War MemorialWashington DC
A Washington, DC Run
For anybody who is in the DC area and itching to do a run or hike, I have a 'can’t miss' route that should satisfy the requirements for both exercising as well as sight seeing.
Of course this depends on where you start out from, but either way, I believe Arlington, VA across the Potomac needs to be included.
For beginners, start on the Mount Vernon trail down by the river on the Arlington side, as close to Theodore Roosevelt Island as possible. This can also be your end point, since there are some wonderful places to relax, let your dog run, or simply kick back, rest and gaze at Teddy Roosevelt’s enormous statue.
For runners, this should be the end point. What I usually do is start at Arlington Boulevard and pass the US Marine Memorial Circle featuring the Iwo Jima Monument. Eventually you will pass Arlington Cemetery, if you fancy saying good morning to the Kennedys.
From there you will cross Arlington Memorial Bridge, where you will run into the Lincoln Memorial at the far west end of the Mall. From there you go south where you will pass the pool that Jenny waded through to gain easier access to Forrest Gump when he was making his speech, and eventually cross 17th Street.
The Mall in all of its green splendor still continues for quite a while and will hold more tourists than you think, so don’t be shy to continue your hike or run for as long as you please.
Past the Washington Monument, probably the most recognizable structure in DC aside from the Capitol or the White House, you will pass the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn, the Air and Space Museum and eventually the Botanic Gardens before you reach the Capitol. This is where you turn north and head back, with the difference now that you will be covering the entire northern side of the Mall.
Turn at the Peace Circle before you pass the National Gallery of Art. You will pass Sculpture Garden and Butterfly Park before it’s back to the Washington Monument again. Now look to your right and bingo, there’s the White House. Next you pass Constitution Gardens and its pond before you reach the Vietnam War Memorial, Honest Abe and the bridge again.
As a runner, I can cover this distance in less than an hour.
For walkers it will be an all day affair, visits to the various monuments and museums included. There is very little chance that you will not stop along the way somewhere if you are hiking it, not with all of the museums 100% subsidized, meaning free of charge.
Either way you look at it, the route is a winner.
Of course this depends on where you start out from, but either way, I believe Arlington, VA across the Potomac needs to be included.
For beginners, start on the Mount Vernon trail down by the river on the Arlington side, as close to Theodore Roosevelt Island as possible. This can also be your end point, since there are some wonderful places to relax, let your dog run, or simply kick back, rest and gaze at Teddy Roosevelt’s enormous statue.
For runners, this should be the end point. What I usually do is start at Arlington Boulevard and pass the US Marine Memorial Circle featuring the Iwo Jima Monument. Eventually you will pass Arlington Cemetery, if you fancy saying good morning to the Kennedys.
From there you will cross Arlington Memorial Bridge, where you will run into the Lincoln Memorial at the far west end of the Mall. From there you go south where you will pass the pool that Jenny waded through to gain easier access to Forrest Gump when he was making his speech, and eventually cross 17th Street.
The Mall in all of its green splendor still continues for quite a while and will hold more tourists than you think, so don’t be shy to continue your hike or run for as long as you please.
Past the Washington Monument, probably the most recognizable structure in DC aside from the Capitol or the White House, you will pass the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn, the Air and Space Museum and eventually the Botanic Gardens before you reach the Capitol. This is where you turn north and head back, with the difference now that you will be covering the entire northern side of the Mall.
Turn at the Peace Circle before you pass the National Gallery of Art. You will pass Sculpture Garden and Butterfly Park before it’s back to the Washington Monument again. Now look to your right and bingo, there’s the White House. Next you pass Constitution Gardens and its pond before you reach the Vietnam War Memorial, Honest Abe and the bridge again.
As a runner, I can cover this distance in less than an hour.
For walkers it will be an all day affair, visits to the various monuments and museums included. There is very little chance that you will not stop along the way somewhere if you are hiking it, not with all of the museums 100% subsidized, meaning free of charge.
Either way you look at it, the route is a winner.
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