Activities

Visitors to Washington can enjoy a wealth of outdoor attractions. Rock Creek Park is one of the city's treasures, with miles of wooded trails and paths for bikers, runners, and walkers that extend to almost every part of the city. The National Mall connects the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol and is one of the most scenic green spaces in the world. Around the Tidal Basin you can run, bike, tour the monuments, and rent paddleboats. Theodore Roosevelt Island, a wildlife sanctuary, has several paths for hiking and enjoyable spots for picnics. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular in the Potomac and Washington Channel. And these places are just a few among dozens.

Biking

The numerous trails in the District and its surrounding areas are well maintained and clearly marked. Washington’s large parks are also popular with cyclists. Plus, new bike lanes are on all major roads. The Capital Bikeshare scheme, with 400 stations around Washington, Arlington, and Alexandria, is also a great way to get around town.

Spectator Sports

Washington, D.C., has several professional sports teams, some with world-champion status.

D.C. United. One of the best Major League Soccer teams has a huge fan base in the nation's capital, finding many of its fans in the international crowds who miss the big matches at home, as well as families whose kids play soccer. Matches are played March through October in the new, state-of-the-art, 20,000-seat Audi Field in Southwest's Buzzard Point. You can buy tickets at the ticket office or through the team's website, which offers special youth pricing. Talon, the team mascot, entertains the crowd, along with enthusiastic, horn-blowing fans. Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave. SW, Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia, 20024. audiofielddc.com. From $50.

Washington Capitals. Stanley Cup winners in 2018, the Washington Capitals play loud and exciting home games October through April at Capital One Arena. The team is led by one of hockey's superstars, Alex Ovechkin, and enjoys a huge, devoted fan base. Tickets are difficult to find but can be purchased at the Capital One Arena box office, Ticketmaster, or NHL Ticket Exchange. Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, Penn Quarter, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004. 202/266–2222; washcaps.com. From $50.

Washington Football Team. The perennially popular Washington Football Team (formerly the Redskins) continues to play football in the Maryland suburbs at 82,000-seat FedEx Field. As an increasing number of people deem their original name insensitive to Native Americans, talks are underway to change it—unannounced as of press time. Individual game-day tickets can be hard to come by when the team is enjoying a strong season. Your best bet is to check out StubHub (www.stubhub.com, the official ticket marketplace of the Washington Football Team). FedEx Field, 1600 FedexWay, Landover, Maryland, 20785. 301/276–6000; www.washingtonfootball.com. From $60.

Washington Mystics. This WNBA team plays at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington and perennially leads the WNBA in attendance, at long last capturing their first championship in 2019. The games are loud, boisterous events. You can buy Mystics tickets at the Capital One Arena box office or through Ticketmaster. The women's season runs from late May to August. Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, Penn Quarter, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004. 202/628--3200; washingtonmystics.com. From $15.

The Washington Nationals. The 2019 World Champion Nationals have taken Washingtonians on a wild ride, finally clinching the apex title after several heart-wrenching seasons. But no matter how Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and the rest are playing, it's always fun to hang out in the modern ballpark, eating some of D.C.'s most iconic foods (including half-smokes from Ben's Chili Bowl), admiring a view off to the Capitol and Washington Monument in the distance. Buy tickets directly at the ballpark or through StubHub. Nats Park, 1500 S. Capitol St. SE, Southeast, Washington, District of Columbia, 20003. 202/675–6287; www.mlb.com.

Washington Wizards. From October to April the NBA's Washington Wizards play at the Capital One Arena and feature NBA All-Star John Wall. For showtime entertainment look for G-Wiz, G-Man, the Wiz Kids, and the Wizard Dancers. Buy tickets from the Capital One Arena box office, the Wizards' online, StubHub, or Ticketmaster. Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, Penn Quarter, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004. 202/661–5100; www.nba.com/wizards. From $12 (average is $54).