Dear reader, It is…read moreonly fair that I report the National Arboretum remains one of the coolest places in DC. It is massive, gorgeous, and the kind of place that makes you feel like you have briefly escaped the city without actually going very far. There is so much space to walk, relax, and just be outside for a while, and it never really feels crowded. Every time you turn a corner there is something new to look at, which makes the whole place feel like a very peaceful little adventure. The bonsai museum is easily one of the crown jewels. It kind of blows my mind every time that there are so many bonsai there, and some of them are up to or over 400 years old, including the famous Yamaki Pine. It is one of those places that really makes you slow down and pay attention because the amount of care, history, and detail in everything is just incredible. A very quiet flex, if you will. I also love that the Arboretum is not just about plants, although those alone would be enough. We saw bald eagles, there are beavers on the grounds, and it always feels like some kind of wildlife cameo could happen at any moment. Between the trees and plants from all over the country and the world, the Capitol Columns, the bonsai, the gardens, and all the open space, there is so much to take in without it ever feeling overwhelming. Dogs are welcome too, which feels very civilized, though they cannot go into the bonsai museum. Overall, this place is just such a gem. Beautiful, relaxing, and full of little surprises. I will absolutely keep going back, and frankly, I think society should too.

According to their website, this is a collections-based research facility and public garden of the…read moreUS Dept of Agriculture. The Arboretum is home to the world's first museum dedicated to the art of bonsai, and that's where we started. These bonsai trees are between 30 to 100-200 years old. There is one that is 400! This section alone is impressive. We also walked over to the columns that were once a part of the State Capitol building. With 451 acres the collections are based on categories which is nice. You want to look at conifers all day? Go right ahead. Azaleas and magnolias? Knock yourself out. Pick your spot. Don't feel like you can see everything AND enjoy it in one day...because you can't. Pick 1-3 things and enjoy the day. Stop by the the visitor center for a map and events for the day. Today there were Ikebana classes. Do a restroom call with the gang there before you venture out. There are portables throughout if you need to go. Read the website for areas that are wheelchair accessible or you could drive through to assess your beginning and endpoints.

Turkey Thicket is a great place to exercise. There are programs for kids and adults. They have…read moreparking. The pool has classes and lap swimming. DC residents can use the facility for free.

My rating for Turkey Thicket continues to drop because of their lack of mechanical maintenance…read more Only one of the two drinking fountains in the pool area works, and just barely. Only one of the men's showers works and has a soap dispenser. The middle one has been broken as long as I have been going there, with a big HOLE in the wall covered with see-through plastic where you can see the (nonfunctional) pipes. The third is missing its handle and its soap dispenser and they can't even put even hooks on the shower curtain. And now the swimsuit spinner is simply MISSING from the wall, with connections still hanging out where it used to. DC LOVES to built NEW facilities but apparently has zero interest in maintaining the ones it already has. I note that users are "required" to use the shower before getting in the pool. Good luck with that. Is the women's locker room this crappy or is just the men's locker room nobody cares about?

Small, but perfect for younger kids is how I describe the Mount Rainier Nature Center. With a…read moreparking lot our front and a nearby gazebo in a field, the small nature center comes with several animals for kids to see, including turtles, a snake, a rabbit, and goldfish. The animals have names, the staff are friendly, and there are activities and play spaces for smaller children. Entrance is free and they do lots of kid programming.

It's just a tired old space that could be revamped and really used for its intended purpose. The…read morestaff members we met were also meh. For a place designer to entertain children, more thought needs to be put into that first impression since that's what determines whether visitors will be back or not.

Nestled in the neighborhood of Fort Totten is Fort Totten Park, a spacious park run by the National…read morePark Service on the grounds of an old Civil War fort that once defended the city. The fort itself is long gone, but the earthworks are still there. What's also there are picnic tables, trails, green space, and a sign honoring the fort's history. The Metropolitan Branch Trail runs by it. Note: There are no restrooms at the park.

A park with a lot of history. Fort Totten Park was an important fort before it became a park. It…read morewas a fort that protected DC during the Civil War. Cool place even though it never saw any battle action. The fort has mostly been overtaken by vegetation. Fort Totten was one of many forts surrounding DC. It doesn't have much left of it. There's the moat that's dry now of course, and there's some left still of the walls. It doesn't take long to look at. There just isn't that much here to see. As for the park, there's a circular open area. This is surrounded by woods. In these woods are lots of deer. They aren't afraid to get close, and you can see a lot at once. It only is a few minutes from the Fort Totten Metro. It's located on the street that goes from the west of the station. This is interesting if you like deer or if you're into Civil War kind of stuff.

Langdon Park Community Center is a massive space if you include the surrounding park. The building…read moreitself is old, but provides space for events, etc. Just outside the building is the Chuck Brown Memorial Park with lots of open grass, tables, and memorials for Chuck. There's even a skating park making it one of the only public skating parks in the city.

If you want a more secluded, peaceful park, this is your spot. It's hyper local and where neighbors…read morewalk their dogs and sometimes play in the grass. There's a trail that leads to the top, but there isn't a playground, restrooms, or anything like that. Street parking nearby is easy to find.

Great lifeguards. Knowledgeable, professional and friendly. Wonderful pool experience!…read moreVery Clean locker room too.

Out of all of D.C.'s recreation centers, this one is among the most spacious. An outdoor pool, two…read moreplaygrounds, a community garden, a forest garden, courts, and a field give visitors plenty to do! Street parking is nearby and the grassy area even has some shade!

I like any public park that is enclosed because it allows me to keep my eyes on both boys without…read morebeing on top of them. It also has a private parking lot. The playground is nice, and so is the field. The swing set area could use some maintenance but all in all we can dig it.