Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
This is the National Anthem for Washington in the summer. Average temperature in the District between July and August is in the 90's; add a touch of humidity; a full day of sunshine and mid-day temps can peak at 98-105 degrees. The only thing you will want to do if you visit us this month is to stay cool. So here's a recipe that will mix in sightseeing and a little bit of splash!
Washington, DC
Visit the Monuments on the Mall or head over to the East Potomac Pool at the East Potomac Park, Ohio Drive S.W., (202) 727-6523 and catch the view of the Washington Monument from the pool.
Visit Georgetown, then dive into the Francis Pool at 25th and N streets N.W., (202) 727-3285.
Hanging in the "Burbs"?
Bethesda Outdoor Pool
Little Falls Parkway and Hillandale Road, Bethesda, (301)652-1598.
If you like the letter Z - and hate traffic then this pool fits the bill with a six-lane, 50-meter course; a 25-meter course; 1 and 3-meter diving boards plus a junior pool, a tot pool, a snack bar and an ample, shaded lawn.
Rockville Municipal Swim Center
355 Martins Lane, Rockville, (301)309-3040
Located beside Welsh Park, there's a 50-meter outdoor lap pool with diving boards, a recreation pool with a beach and slides and a tot pool flowing with fountains. A snack bar offers drinks and snacks, and two indoor lap pools are open year-round.
Six Flags America
13710 Central Ave. (Route 214), Largo, (301)249-1500
Formerly known as Adventure World, this huge water park has changed little. Highlights include Crocodile Cal's five-story spurting treehouse, the Tahiti Twister inner-tube ride, the Black Hole pitch-dark water slide and the Kids' Cove 16-inch splash pool.
Summit Hall Farm Park
510 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, (301)258-6445
Twist and turn on their 250-foot water slide. The little tykes can slide down a frog's back into a tot pool. There is a dedicated swimmers pool as well. Dry-land diversions include sand volleyball courts, a playground and a miniature golf course.
Virginia
Great Waves
Cameron Run Regional Park, 4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, (703) 960-0767.
Older children can ride the wild surf in the splashy wave pool and zoom down four-story water slides. Younger kids ride alligators in the play pool and the youngest slosh through the "tad pool." No outside food is permitted, but you can buy pizza, ice cream and the like. Batting cages and miniature golf are located right next door.
Sizzling Events This Month
Free Movies
A Movie Festival on the National Mall is sponsored by Banana Republic and HBO. Monument Grounds, The National Mall, between 17th Street and Constitution, Washington, DC. All movies start at Sunset. Free. 7/19 Wizard of Oz, 7/26 Citizen Kane, 8/2 King Kong, 8/9 Rebel Without a Cause. (202) 333-2554.
Free Concerts
In the tri state area summertime = free music. From ragtime to New Age and from mariachi to Celtic, the bands play at dozens of concert venues. So if you like to tap your toes, clap your hands or get up and dance to the beat, then the fresh air concert series at parks in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. will fit your bill. A few parks offer limited seating and/or on-site food sales, but for the most part you'll need to haul chairs or blankets for B.Y.O.S. (seating) and picnic baskets (no alcohol, no glass bottles) for self-catering.
In the City
Fort Dupont Park (202.426.7723) On Friday and Saturday nights through Aug. 28, spread your blanket in the grassy bowl facing the jazz-filled stage. The music starts at 8:30, but park rangers advise coming early to the Anacostia park if you want to snag a parking space on the grounds; latecomers have to troll neighborhood streets to find parking.
Meridian Hill Park - Metro to Red Line Dupont Circle (15 minute walk) Tel: 202-619-7222. Across town, jazz also takes center stage on Friday nights at 7 p.m. Meridian Hill (aka Malcolm X Park) has a long musical tradition: The park opened to the public in 1936 with an upper lawn designed for concerts by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead.
Woodley National Zoo - Metro Red Line - Woodley Park Zoo (15 minute walk) Different bands keep you seeing the stars on Thursday nights at 6:30.
In the "Burbs"
Bethesda Metro Plaza (Metro Red Line to Bethesda) - A Concert - August 6th. Swing Shift, one of the area's finest Big Bands, playing swing classics, jazz favorites and popular vocals will take the stage at tonight's Friday Dance/Concert at the Bethesda Metro Plaza. Take Metro Red Line to Bethesda. Free parking in Hyatt Hotel garage w/ purchase from the Food Court. Seating is limited, so arrive early or bring your own lawn chair!. Call 301-652-4988 for more details & weather updates.
Kughn Park - Silver Spring (301-565-7300). On Thursday nights at 7 p.m., the lineup includes Motown favorites the Marvelettes (July 8) and Harold Melvin (July 22) as well as bluegrass legends The Seldom Scene (Aug. 5). You don't have to pack a picnic for the Kughn Park concerts: Pizza, cheese steaks, ice cream and funnel cakes are among the offerings from on-site vendors. Kids love the clowns, balloons and face painting.
Columbia Lake Front Summer Festival - Columbia Maryland Lake Kittamaqundi (410-715-3363). Not metro accessible. Features concerts up to five nights a week. On a stage that backs up to Lake Kittamaqundi, the acts range from local favorites to national like Tom Paxton (Aug. 22) and Eddie from Ohio (Aug. 25). Sunday concerts start up at 6:30, on other nights, it's 8p.m.
Virginia - not only for Lovers.
Herndon's Town Green - Two concert series bring bands to the spacious lawns of Herndon (703-435-6868). The Thursday Night Summer Concerts (6:30p.m.) feature a diverse lineup of top-notch bands including the sounds of world beat, Dixieland, modern folk, alternative, Celtic and swing groups. At the same location, Friday Night Live (7:30p.m.) features rock bands and on-site food and alcohol sales.
Other evening park productions in Virginia include concerts at Alexandria Waterfront Park (703-883-4686), Cherry Hill Park (703-248-5178), Crystal City Water Park (703-228-6960), Fort Hunt Park (703-285-2553), Fort Ward Park (703-883-4686), Lake Accotink Park (703-569-3464) and Royal Lake Park (703-425-9300).
Wanna Pedal?
Contact the absolute authority on biking in DC - the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. 818 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite300 (202) 872-9830. They publish the Greater Washington Area Bicycle Atlas, which is filled with maps and relevant information.
The following locations have bicycles available for rent.
Big Wheel Bikes
1034 33rd Street NW - in Georgetown near C&O Canal (202) 337-0254
315 7th Street SE - Capitol Hill region (202) 543-1600
Big Wheel Bikes also rents rollerblades
City Bikes
2501 Champlain Street NW - Rock Creek bike path (202) 265-1564
Fletcher's Boat House
I highly recommend this place (see C&O Canal National Historical Park)
4740 Canal Road (202) 244-0461
Metropolis Bicycles
709 8th street SE (202) 543-8900
Metropolis also rents rollerblades
Thompson's Boat Center
Rock Creek Pkwy. and Virginia Ave. NW (202) 333-9543
See Boating and Sailing section for more information.
