I've lived in this chunk of Arlington for a few years now. My initial interactions with this place…read moreare as a polling place every year, in which case parking is very limited and you find yourself snaking around the inside of the building to vote. However, throughout the years this has been a great place to jog through, or sit in the grass at the picnic tables scattered through the grassy area behind the tennis courts. Now that I have a daughter, we walk through this community center with her stroller just about every day that the weather allows it. She's still too young to join the other kids on the playground, but I look forward to when she can. The place is always kept nice and clean, the gardens looking pretty, and sidewalks/pavement kept up (since having to push around a stroller, I seriously notice which sidewalks/pavement are and aren't well maintained...) Anyway, I feel like this place truly gives meaning to the COMMUNITY aspect of this center.

Came here for Covid booster. Great service, well organized…read more Looked around and they have great rec facilities and a clean building area..

A magical rose garden in Arlington VA! This place is so stunning when the flowers are in bloom and…read moreI highly reccomend checking out. Frolick the garden then head over to the italian store for some pizza or subs to make a perfect outing. - SpicyAivy

Can I call you rose? Absolutely, because this garden was definitely calling my name. Unfortunately…read moreI decided to come here after work so the sun was already setting which gave the perfect golden hour sheen. It's a gorgeous free park with beautiful roses all around. There's also a tennis and pickleball court nearby, and a trail behind the garden. There's also a lot of grass and greenery for picnics. The free parking is also a plus. I'm definitely going to visit this garden again with more people for a picnic or a stroll along the trail. Or even play tennis/pickleball! Truly, a beautiful addition to Arlington!

This park is truly fantastic! It's ideal for sunny days, offering a great time for young children…read more There's a designated dry play area for them to enjoy. Additionally, you'll find shaded spots, a small kids' hut, and a convenient parking area. Restrooms are not available, so make sure to bring along your swimwear and sunscreen for a perfect day out!

Along the Potomac River northwest of Georgetown is a close-knit community called The Palisades…read more This is its recreation center. There's a small parking lot in the front and trails that lead to an actual recreation center, fields and a playground that doubles as a splash park in the summer. My four-year-old daughter loved the playground. It's modeled after an Indigenous American village along the Potomac River with slides, etc. For being in a wealthy neighborhood, it's a little run down, but still a lot of fun. If you like quirky art, take the small dirt path to the right when facing the parking lot. Walk a few yards to a small opening in the forest to find the "Glass Forest" with art hanging on the trees. It's a little creepy, but also quirky!

My cousin and I camebl here this morniing with a couole of kids she was baysitting and it was fun…read more Actually the kids had a better time than we did becaise we were hanging-out on the outdoor playground and it was quite brisk. I think mid 20's which was ok for a littke while. After about an hour into it my ears and fongers were starting to feel numb. The indoor recreation center had not opened yet and I think that would have been better fun for everyone. They do a great job in terms of the maintenace andnthere was also no trash around like what younwoukd see at some other parks in the city. Plus this park and rec center was ckose to where we were at. I wouldn't mind coming back here sometime to check out the actual recreation center.

This playground was ideal for my 4-year-old child. It offered a variety of climbing structures that…read morewere suitable for her age and also engaging. Next to it, there is a bigger playground designed for older children, providing a great mix of options for all ages.

Highly recommend Penguin Paddling. We spoke to Dan and got a one hour 1:1 session…read more.. This was perfect for an adult and an 8yr old- both new to kayaking. Mr. Carlos took us out and he was so nice and engaging. My daughter said he was the best!! We'll be back!!

The whole process was very easy and enjoyable. I filled out the waiver online. Parking was easy,…read morelittle difficult to find penguin paddles from the road, but just walk towards the water behind the restaurant on the main strip. Easy rental, chill experience. Everyone, even the Boston Terrier, had a blast!

Craving an indoor pool during the December break, my eight-year-old daughter suggested this newer…read moreaquatic center in Arlington close to the D.C. border. After swimming during their "family time," we will definitely be back. Here's why. 1) Admission: Run by Arlington Parks and Rec, admission is required for everyone. It's slightly cheaper for Arlington residents. Our friends who went right when family time started paid $25 as D.C. residents. We got their with only two hours left and weren't charged anything. 2) Pools: One side has lap pools for adults and lessons. The other side has a large pool, lazy river, little kid space, and water slide for families. The water was clean and the lazy river was fun. (The current is stronger than expected making it fun.) 3) Space: They have family changing areas with showers with hot water, lockers (bring your own locks), and more. Upstairs is a gym and an outdoor terrace bleeding into Long Bridge Park with views of National Airport and Washington, D.C. 4) Parking: With such a large parking lot, you can usually find a space. Of course, parking is free. 5) Area: Afterwards, grab lunch or dinner at nearby Crystal City where you can find fats casual like Rasa and sit-down restaurants.

Been coming here for toddler swim lessons and just did my kiddo's birthday party. Booked a huge…read morecommunity room which was more than enough space for about 10 kids and 20 adults. Family swim passes are a great deal at $30 per family pass (covers 7 people). Everyone had a great time and were impressed with how new and shiny this facility is, and the kids loved the family pool area.

Turtle Park and Recreation Center is a family mecca! In addition to three tennis courts, a full…read morebasketball court, baseball field, and picnic table patio, there are two playgrounds: a gated one for toddlers / younger children, complete with sand pit, and an open one for older children with impressive climbing features. A ping pong table and splash zone flank the rec center building. The playground is liberally stocked with "communal" toys - sand toys, ride-on cars, and toy construction vehicles that have seen better days. We used to come with our own sand toys and cars but other kids will frequently help themselves, assuming it's part of the communal goods. They aren't hard to track down, but if you're worried about it you may want to leave your toys at home. It can get crowded on weekends, which raises COVID concerns, but adults are good about maintaining social distance. The kids are obviously less conscious about it but most are wearing masks.

Love it here. So safe and peaceful. Everyone is very nice and it's super clean. But not so clean…read morethat your kid won't get a little dirty from running around. Nice basketball courts and tennis courts. Big soccer field.

Mini golf, batting cages, a high wire obstacle course, and a mini water park...what's not to like…read more We came for a round of mini golf. For four people, 18 holes, we paid $28. The course is beautiful and nicely preserved. The holes are mainly par 2s and most are a little tricky. The entire course is fairly shaded, so you're not totally in the sun the whole time. They have limited refreshments and cool treats like ice cream. Overall, a great place to enjoy an outing with friends or family.

Stopped by here while traveling in DC since the crowds there can be overwhelming. It was a warm…read moreSaturday toward the end of March, but it was not crowded at all. We did a round of mini golf, which was nice. The course is mostly well maintained, though one of the holes near the end could use some work since it is a giant pit, with some cobblestone rocks acting as steps that lead down to the hole. It was a little difficult to maneuver, and I just ended up having to get one of my younger brothers to get my ball for me. Most of the holes were well down and the place had a nice grass and water feature aesthetic. Definitely something we wanted in the city. We then admired the obstacle course because it looked awesome. Climbing across surfboards dangling in the sky, bright colors. It looked awesome. We opted not to try it out this time though. We then went for a little walk on a trail. They aren't very well marked, the signs look like someone keeps knocking them down, and all of the trails sort of overlap and are visible from the others since it is literally just a little acre-ish area in the middle of the city. There was also an overflowing trash can that smelled awful, next to someone's abandoned lawn chair on the trail, but nothing a quick cleanup of the area can't fix. It is rather warm being down in a sort of gully, so I would love to see it again when all the trees are green, hopefully that would provide some nice shade. We then went to the playground and it was really nice and well-maintained, and I had to use the restroom which was IMMACULATE. This was by far the nicest playground bathroom I have ever been in, and nicer than most store and restaurant restrooms I have been in. There is also a waterpark that wasn't open yet for the season, and a large blue building that serves as the entrance to the water park, and I do wish that it had a large sign that said something to the effect of "Restrooms are in here, even when the waterpark isn't open" since we were trying to find a restroom for my 5 year old nephew after we had left the playground bathroom, and assumed that the swim building was closed, so we ran him across the parking lot to the obstacle course building assuming it would be in there, and were a little worried when we had to run him across the street when we learned it was in the blue swim building. Overall, this was a really lovely and completely unexpected outing in the middle of a crowded city. This will very likely be on our itinerary next time we have to kill time in DC.

We spent our Fourth of July at Terrapin and it was absolutely wonderful! From being welcomed at the…read moredesk (I am so sorry I can't remember his name!), to our awesome guides Justin and Jasmine, to Scott who helped at the swing and doing the belay to get us down - we truly enjoyed the whole experience (despite the unbearable heat this weekend). Justin and Jasmine made sure we stayed hydrated, and regularly brought us into the air conditioning to avoid overheating. They ensured our safety every moment we were there. The rope course was insanely fun, the giant swing and zip line were a blast and our favorite part was honestly the rock climbing! Justin and Jasmine were fantastic - we will definitely come back (preferably not during a heat wave haha) and hope they will be our guides again - every single person today made it memorable for my family! Thank you so much!!!

We have enjoyed this camp for years, but 2026 brought parental concerns over hearing that children…read moregrouped up to 12 years old were sharing bathrooms if another identified as the opposite sex. This should be an opportunity to identify a solution comfortable for everyone affected by providing single use options, as opposed to telling my daughter "it's ok because he identifies as a she". It caused an uncomfortable situation for girls and concerns for parents. No young girl should feel uncomfortable or anxious using the restroom.

Another one of my favorite places to simply enjoy on a nice day. It's romantic enough for sunset…read moreviews on one of the many benches and scenic enough to stop and mentally relax. Highly recommended and if you're up to it, take the trail and see more of the beauty that this area has to offer. Great for cyclists, runners, walkers, and families!

Didn't know this actually had a name. Who knew! Skip the banter, the answer is YES! VISIT! Everyone…read moredoes! It's a staple landmark in DC! Story Time! I came to the Georgetown Waterfront in my Season of YES, which apparently includes saying yes to waterfront views, questionable boat dynamics, and accidental raccoon contour. My friend wanted to show me all things water for a memorable Holiday weekend, so Georgetown Waterfront was the obvious meet‑up, because this girl was NOT driving to Potomac, MD. Boats, docks... I was getting the full tour of our brown waters of the DMV. And honestly, this area is perfect: lively, scenic, and full of characters to watch. The park area has no tie‑ups, so if you want to have a picnic off your boat, the park grassy area is a short walk away. I grew up in DC and if you did too, you already know the rule: You do NOT get in the Potomac. We were raised on stories about what's in that water; dead bodies, secrets, evidence, probably a missing chapter of DC history. And no, it's not saltwater. It's Potomac, MD water: a very specific shade of brown that politely tells you to mind your business. Fast forward 25 years... Potomac still looks brown, still looks suspicious, still looks like it has a backstory it refuses to share. But here I am, floating on top of it like I'm not fully aware of its reputation. Now let's talk about the people‑watching, because THAT is the real attraction when you come to the Georgetown Waterfront. You've got the oldies but goodies, seasoned gentlemen with boats, confidence, and clearly the budget to sponsor a whole afternoon. And then you've got the young women they're "hosting," who look like they were born after the iPhone. The dynamic is... noticeable. The math is mathing. If I feel out of place with someone who is 16 years older, I can only imagine how these college girls felt. But let me give it to these girls, they laughed at the jokes and listened to stories from these men's "good ole college days"... 45 years ago. It made for GREAT entertainment. I found myself staring like, "Should I ask their ages or just assume this is a mentorship program?" I chose silence. Once a woman can be your daughter... I don't know. It's a little off‑putting. But here I am, on a boat, sharing space with someone's grandpa and someone's young college daughter. Seasoned men taking younger women out is a thing, and here I am watching the circle of life. Very interesting. I realize in this moment older men just want companionship and they will treat women to dinner and fun for the exchange. Eeeek. At one point I caught my reflection and realized the "charcoal contour" on my face. I looked like I'd done a charcoal face mask and forgot to rinse, nope, just hair dye from a hopeful silver fox. Not sure why men do this to stop the aging. Grey is in! Stop putting in dye on your beards gentlemen! It's not cool. Suddenly the college girls' side‑eyes made sense. They were trying to figure out if I was okay or if I'd just escaped from a fight. Nope ladies, it was beard paint all over my face calling me out, like, "Let's give you more attention and Racoon Eyes." Overall, the Georgetown Waterfront is beautiful, entertaining, and full of life. Great views, great energy, and always something to look at, even when you're trying not to. Best place to come, relax, picnic, tie up (if you have a boat), and enjoy the restaurants all along the water. Tip: Use the DC Wharf or National Harbor for gassing up! Georgetown lets you tie up without a fee, chaos in the best way.