Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia: Fun Stops for Urban Explorers

The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the stately US Capitol Building – if there’s a single place that showcases the history of the USA, it’s the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 

Thanks to the National Parks Service (NPS), there are free, ranger-led tours and special lectures if you want to explore the National Mall on foot. The NPS also has a handy (and free) app for your phone with maps, historical information, photos and special-events calendars.  For a speedier option, tour the tree-lined boulevards of the National Mall by bike or Segway. A bike-sharing program, as well as bicycle rentals, are conveniently available at the National Mall. Outfitters such as Bike and Roll DC, Capital City Bike Tours and City Segway Tours offer bike and Segway tours. For both walking and biking resources, check out DC by Foot, which leads pay-what-you-like walking and bicycle tours. If water travel is more your style, check out Tidal Basin Paddle Boats and paddle your way to a great view of the Jefferson Memorial. 

This national park is an outdoor retreat located right in the middle of the city. Enjoy bike trails, a planetarium, an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and playgrounds. There are nearly 52 kilometers of hiking trails, as well as a boating center that offers canoe, kayak and small sailboat rentals and lessons.

Seeing D.C.’s awe-inspiring monuments from the Potomac River is something you simply can’t miss. There are plenty of reputable outfitters offering guided kayak tours, including nighttime rides under the stars.

Here’s one for your photo album: whitewater rafting down the James River through Richmond, Virginia, just two hours from D.C. Trained guides are available and all equipment is provided, so even a novice paddler can experience the thrill of the rapids in this unexpected urban setting.

Baltimore’s action-packed Inner Harbor is a treat to experience by boat. Narrated tours, lunch and dinner excursions, even late-night party cruises – there are boat tours for everyone’s tastes. When you’re back on land, check out Inner Harbor’s plentiful shops, restaurants, attractions and entertainment.

Just 42 kilometers west of Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles International Airport is centrally located in the Capital Region USA and convenient to all destinations and activities across Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Nonstop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport from major destinations worldwide make getting here easy.