Spring Has Sprung: 10 Ways To Get Outside in the DMV

After a winter of Zoom everything – meetings, workouts, happy hours – it’s time to get outside this spring. As the days get longer and the District warms up, take a break from your computer screen for some fresh air. Whether you choose to take a safely distanced workout class, hike on a new trail or try a new sport, the ways to get outside and active this spring are endless. Here’s a list to get you started.

Bike the W&OD Trail

Spend a balmy spring afternoon with your bike and some brews. The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail is a 45-mile paved trail in Virginia dotted with bars and breweries, and even if you choose to do a shorter ride, nearly every stretch has somewhere to get a drink within a 1.5-mile radius. Some notable stops directly on the trail are Caboose Tavern in Vienna (mile 12), Bike Lane Brewing and Café in Reston (mile 16.5) and Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn (between miles 25 and 25.5). Learn more about the W&OD on www.novaparks.com and @novaparks on Instagram.

Bike Lane Brewing and Café: 11150 Sunset Hills Rd. Reston, VA; www.thebikelane.com // @bikelanebrewing on Instagram

Caboose Tavern: 520 Mill St. NE, Vienna, VA; www.caboosebrewing.com // @caboosetavern on Instagram

Old Ox Brewery: 44652 Guilford Dr. Unit 114, Ashburn, VA; www.oldoxbrewery.com // @oldoxbrewery on Instagram

Compete in a Road Race

The DMV is full of fun, festive virtual and in-person races to compete in this spring. Test your luck in the Virtual Lucky Leprechaun 5K, which runs through March 31. Check out the blooms while completing the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Virtual 10-Mile Run between March 20 and April 11. Support veterans at Boulder Crest Retreat by running in the Boulder Crest 5K, 10K or half-marathon on March 20 or We Rock Cancer by competing in the in-person Rock Creek 5K and 10K on March 27.

Boulder Crest 5K, 10K and Half: www.bouldercrest.org // @bouldercrestfoundation on Instagram

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run: www.cherryblossom.org // @cucb on Instagram

Virtual Lucky Leprechaun 5K: www.potomacriverrunning.com // @potomactiverrunning on Instagram

Rock Creek 5K and 10K: www.werockcancer.org // @werockcancer on Instagram

Take a Yoga + Beer Class

Eat.Yoga.Drink’s mission is to create “traditional yoga and mindfulness experiences in nontraditional spaces.” Yoga in a brewery is just that. This spring, Eat.Yoga.Beer is hosting outdoor classes at Fair Winds Brewing Company in Lorton, Virginia and Rocket Frog Brewing Company in Sterling, Virginia, where yogis can enjoy an hour of vinyasa flow followed by a craft beer. “We welcome people to these safely spaced outdoor classes who want to feel the energy of community and togetherness once again, while treating themselves to mindful movement and self-care,” says Erin Sonn, yoga instructor and founder of Eat.Yoga.Beer. “We’re all ready to bust loose, release stress and fear, and fill up with happiness and hope once again. Namaste and cheers to all that.”

Eat.Yoga.Drink: www.eatyogadrink.com // @eatyogadrink on Instagram

Fair Winds Brewing: 7000 Newington Rd. Suites K&L, Lorton, VA; www.fairwindsbrewing.com // @fairwindsbrew on Instagram

Rocket Frog Brewing Company: 222560 Glenn Dr. Sterling, VA; www.rocketfrogbeer.com // @rocketfrogbrewing on Instagram

Join a Sports League

Grab your mask for game time. Join a sports league with DC Fray this spring for a way to get outside, stay fit and meet new people. If you’re looking for a more athletic experience, try flag football, soccer or volleyball. If the social aspect is more your forte, go for bocce, cornhole or trivia.

DC Fray: www.dcfray.com // @dcfray on Instagram

Play Disc Golf

Take a walk in the park with a game of disc golf. With rules much like regular golf, the goal is to throw a disc from the tee pad toward the target, which is a metal basket that catches the disc. The DMV is home to many disc golf courses, including Bluemount Park in Arlington, Virginia and Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Seneca Creek’s disc golf course features 27 holes and is surrounded by scenic forest and streams. It is also becoming an increasingly popular spot for people to try out the sport. “We are currently seeing a huge influx of new disc golf players and park visitors,” says Shelby Smith, a park ranger at Seneca Creek. “We encourage park users to plan ahead or visit during the week, as the park often fills to capacity on nice weekends.” Learn about Seneca Creek Disc Golf on www.dnr.maryland.gov or @marylanddnr on Instagram.

Seneca Creek State Park: 11950 Clopper Rd. Gaithersburg, MD

Hike the Billy Goat Trail

The Billy Goat Trail is a rugged, 2-mile long path along the Potomac Gorge. The change in altitude of the land by the gorge allows for a unique combination of animals and plants to live and grow there. In the spring, the area is host to many wildflowers and birds. Due to the proximity of the trail to the river, it is closed after any conditions that could result in high river levels, like heavy rain or snow melt. Learn more about Bear Island on www.dnr.maryland.gov or @marylanddnr on Instagram.

Billy Goat Trail: 11710 MacArthur Blvd. Potomac, MD

Hike Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah has countless trails to explore, but here are a few ideas to get you started. In just a mile-and-a-half, Stony Man Trail starts on the Appalachian Trail, loops around Stony Man Mountain and leads to a scenic lookout. The Hawksbill Gap Loop is 2.6 miles of moderately difficult trail that offers a view of the Shenandoah Valley. The South River Falls Trail is a moderately difficult 3.3-mile loop leading to an 83-foot-tall waterfall. The park has an entrance fee of $30 per vehicle, but once in, all trails are free to explore.

Shenandoah National Park: www.nps.gov/shen // @shenandoahnps on Instagram

Try a 305 Fitness Class

Dance your cares away at an outdoor 305 Fitness class on Union Market’s rooftop. With all participants distanced and masked, these classes are a safe and fun way to burn some calories. “305 Outdoors is a place where you can not only get your daily dose of Vitamin D, but also safely connect with others within your community,” says Dionne Eleby, a 305 Fitness instructor. “The 305 community has been, and will always be, a safe space where you can authentically be yourself without judgment.” Each class is $20 but free for 305 Fitness members. Classes are Monday and Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

305 Fitness: www.305fitness.com // @305fitness on Instagram

Union Market: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.unionmarketdc.com // @unionmarketdc on Instagram

Take a Class with Cut Seven

Cut Seven workouts are on a rotating schedule and isolate certain muscle groups each day. The studio has a 2,000-square-foot, open-air studio outfitted with all the equipment needed for workouts, where athletes can stay socially distanced while warming up and moving between stations. The studio offers special discounted rates for beginners, so you can try it out before committing to a membership.

Cut Seven: www.cutseven.com // @cutseven on Instagram

Visit Massanutten Resort

Massanutten Resort’s 6,000 acres of land provide many opportunities to get out this spring. Ski season isn’t over yet, and it’s cheaper (and warmer) than ever. Take advantage of late season rates and milder temperatures as the season comes to a close at the end of March. Then, in mid- to late-April, keep an eye out for the start of mountain bike season. The resort hosts skiing and mountain biking lessons and rents equipment, making it the perfect place to learn a new sport this spring.

Massanutten Resort: 1822 Resort Dr. Massanutten, VA; www.massresort.com // @massresort on Instagram

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