Parks and Gardens of Washington, D.C.

3501 New York Avenue, NE

Originally designed in 1927 as an experimental plant life center, the 446 acres that now make up the National Arboretum provide a beautiful, educational environment.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/

17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

This 50-acre park featuring a 6-acre lake, a landscaped island, walks, bike paths, picnic areas, and more than 2,500 shade trees is a legacy to the founding of the republic and an oasis in the middle of the bustling National Mall.

http://www.nps.gov/coga

In the Potomac River, George Washington Parkway

The island park memorial to our 26th president, an ardent conservationist, offers two and a half miles of trails, nature tours, and the Roosevelt Memorial statue.

http://www.nps.gov/this

1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE

This park is the only National Park Service site devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants. The parks cover 700 acres including 11 acres of pond which feature giant water lilies that close in the heat of the day. Morning visits are suggested.

http://www.nps.gov/kepa

1703 32nd Street, NW

Sixteen acres of formal gardens, terraces, and reflecting pools surround this 18th-century mansion.  The Dumbarton House is furnished in authentic period pieces.  

Admission is charged, and tours must be arranged in advance.

http://www.doaks.org

Parallels the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland

1057 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW (Visitor Center)

Built under George Washington’s direction in the 1700's, the 184-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal “opened up the western territory” to colonial influence and commerce. The canal towpath, where horses once pulled barges up and down the tranquil stream, is now a unique trail for hiking, biking, and leisurely strolls. The canal was recently dedicated to the late Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

http://www.nps.gov/choh