The Washington area offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Joggers can enjoy a run on the Mall or along the path in Rock Creek Park.
Rent a bike at Fletcher's Boat House, Reservoir and Canal roads (tel. 202/244-0461; www.fletchersboathouse.com), or Thompson's Boat Center, 2900 Virginia Ave. at Rock Creek Parkway NW (tel. 202/333-4861 or 202/333-9543; www.thompsonboatcenter.com. Metro: Foggy Bottom, with a 10-min. walk); both Fletcher's and Thompason's rent bikes from about late March to November. At Big Wheel Bikes, 1034 33rd St. NW, right near the C&O Canal just below M Street (tel. 202/337-0254), you can rent a bike year-round, Tuesday through Sunday. If you need suggested routes or want company, check out Friday's Washington Post "Weekend" section listing cycling trips. Rock Creek Park has an 11-mile paved bike route from the Lincoln Memorial through the park into Maryland. Or you can follow the bike path from the Lincoln Memorial and go over the Memorial Bridge to pedal to Old Town Alexandria and to Mount Vernon. On weekends and holidays, a large part of Rock Creek Parkway is closed to vehicular traffic. The C&O Canal and the Potomac parks, also have extended bike paths. A new 7-mile path, the Capital Crescent Trail, takes you from Georgetown to the suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, following a former railroad track that parallels the Potomac River for part of the way and passes by old trestle bridges and pleasant residential neighborhoods.
Thompson's Boat Center and Fletcher's Boat House (see above for both addresses and phone numbers) also rent boats (of course), following the same schedule as their bike rental season, basically March to November. Thompson's has canoes, kayaks, and rowing shells (recreational and racing), and is open for boat and bike rentals daily from 6am to 8pm. Fletcher's is right on the C&O Canal, about 3 1/4 wonderfully scenic miles from Georgetown. The same family has owned it since 1850! In addition to renting bikes and canoes, Fletcher's also sells fishing licenses, bait, and tackle. Fletcher's is accessible by car (west on M St. to Canal Rd.) and has plenty of free parking.
From late March to mid-September, you can rent paddleboats on the north end of the Tidal Basin off Independence Avenue (tel. 202/479-2426). Four-seaters rent for $16 an hour; two-seaters are $8 an hour. You can rent boats daily from 10am to about an hour before sunset.
Hikers will be happy to know about Washington's numerous hiking paths. The C&O Canal offers 184 1/2 miles; Theodore Roosevelt Island has more than 88 wilderness acres to explore, including a 2 1/2-mile nature trail (short but rugged); and Rock Creek Park boasts 20 miles of hiking trails (maps are available at the Visitor Information Center or Park Headquarters).
If you're coming to Washington in winter, you can go ice skating on the C&O Canal (call tel. 301/299-3613 for information on ice conditions), as long as you bring your own skates. For a really fun experience, head to the National Gallery Sculpture Garden Ice Rink , on the Mall at Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW (tel. 202/289-3360), where you can rent skates, twirl in view of the sculptures, and enjoy hot chocolate and a sandwich in the Pavilion Café, right next to the rink. Another outdoor rink where you can rent skates is Pershing Park, at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW (tel. 202/737-6938).
If you're here in summer and your hotel doesn't have a pool, you might consider one of the neighborhood pools run by the District's Department of Parks and Recreation. These include a large outdoor pool at 25th and N streets NW (tel. 202/727-3285); and the Georgetown outdoor pool at 34th Street and Volta Place NW (tel. 202/282-2366). Keep in mind that these are likely to be crowded.
Tennis lovers will have a hard time finding public courts in Washington. East Potomac Park has nine tennis courts, including five indoors (tel. 202/554-5962). Fees vary with court surface and time of play; call for details. Montrose Park, right next to Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown has several courts available for free on a first-come, first-served basis; but they're often in use.
