Book Hill Park is a small park on a hill just behind the Georgetown Neighborhood Library. After…read moreclimbing up some steep steps to the top of the hill, you'll find some benches and a bit of a view looking down at Georgetown (maybe taller folks have a better view, but my view was mostly obstructed). It's a nice place to make a stop if you're in the neighborhood. I stopped by last weekend with my coffee and book and just relaxed for a few minutes. It's a nice little spot in Georgetown.

This park appears to be a little obscured and situated right behind the Georgetown Library and…read moreWisconsin Avenue. To get here you need to walk up some serious steps, however I found out too late that there is another entrance behind the library without steps. It's funny I e been to the library before but never noticed the small park behind it. Whe I say small, I mean small. There are probably 5 - 6 park benches, and there are an abundance of trees which is a good thing. I walked thru but didn't stay long. It's interesting to stumble upon these interesting places in Georgetown.

When visiting this privately-owned park open to the public, it's important to know its history. The…read moreyellow house off the park is an 18th century farmhouse whose owners enslaved people. From what I can tell, there isn't acknowledgement of this sobering fact, so use it as an opportunity to reflect and fight for a more equitable society. The park itself is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to dark and weekends at 8 a.m. to dark. It's a large green space with trees with lawn chairs to sit on. From time to time, there are events and dogwalkers are welcome if you register and pay a fee.

I love bringing my dog to Rosedale - I almost don't know what we'd do without it! I live in an…read moreapartment and my dog can be overwhelmed by traditional dog parks, so the big, open field of Rosedale is perfect for him. Only downsides: some people don't pick up after their dog - and maybe don't even pay close enough attention to their dog to see that they pooped. Also, one side is not fenced, so I try to keep my dog on the other side of the park.

The Ellipse Park - This park impressed me with its openness and tranquility, even though it is…read morelocated very close to the White House. It feels airy and spacious, making it ideal for a walk or a break on the grass. I like that it is not overcrowded and offers space to simply be and take in the surroundings in peace. Unfortunately, the park is currently not accessible due to security reasons.

When on your visit to DC, a trip to White House seems in order. I was on a business trip in the…read morearea and decided to take an excursion to check it out. Somehow I got lost in DC trying to find the White House. I ended up finding it, but this was not the view I was expecting. The Ellipse offers up the B-side view of this landmark rather than the one you see on TV screens. This is basically a circular park with a partial view of the White House. There is a fence that you can walk up to take pictures, but you have to walk on grass to get to it. Not ideal when the grass is wet and muddy. Rather than walking all the way to fence, I opted to walk about halfway and take some pictures and go. It is not like I am actually visiting The White House itself, so why waste much time on this attraction when there are better ones nearby like the Smithsonian.

In the north end of Georgetown is a large park that was once the estate of a ropemaker. He let…read moreneighbors picnic on his property and that legacy remains. The park became a public park in 1911. Today, it's a large park with grassy areas with picnic tables, a playground, tennis courts and trails. One trail connects to those found in nearby Dumbarton Oaks Park, a public park behind Dumbarton Oaks Gardens.

I read an article about other spots besides the Tidal Basin in DC that had beautiful cherry…read moreblossoms and Montrose Park was on top of the list. I excitedly rounded up my troop only to find .... one, lone cherry blossom tree.... It looked like there were a couple more in the ancient cemetery that bordered the park but I wasn't about to risk getting hexed to fulfill my passion for petals. As others have mentioned this is a Victorian style park, that's partly beautiful in an old-school kind of way .... and also partly terrifying in the Omen type way (can you tell I watched a lot of horror movies as a kid?). Unlike one disturbing scene in the omen the merry-go-round does NOT turn around. It just sits there looking pretty. But my daughter and her friends enjoyed playing on the swing sets and watching the older kids climb on the monkey bars. We met a lot of friendly dogs that afternoon which made our day! I wouldn't seek this park out but it's a great respite if you are the area.

Want to pretend you are in a foreign land for a few minutes? Seek out the Spanish Steps, in…read moreKalorama. A peaceful hidden gem with European vibes, providing a romantic spot and scenic view. A fountain sits amidst the steps. Pros: Accessibility: Nestled in Kalorama, but walk-able distance to the West End neighborhood, as well as Georgetown. Once you climb the stairs, you get a beautiful view of Dupont Circle. Views: A great place to watch the sunset, or sunrise over Dupont. The mix of the brick and cobblestone on the street, contrasted with the stone stairs, gives the area an old and beautiful European flair. I think this would be a great (and not cheesy or basic) spot for DC wedding, prom, brides-party, or engagement pictures. I have gotten the best picture lighting here in the "golden/sunset" evening hours between 5-8 depending on the season. Not busy: This spot is a bit hidden, and not super touristy, which adds to its charm. Never super busy, it truly is a great place to "get-away" from the busyness of the city. Dog friendly: My pups enjoy walking up and down the steps on their daily walks. They seem to enjoy sitting at the top and looking at the view as well (at least I tell myself they enjoy it as much as me!) A dog friendly spot! Decently maintained: The stairs and surrounding area seem well-maintained overall, and not in decay. Some small chips of stone, but overall, in good condition. I am glad that this spot is being preserved and cared for! Shady: The Spanish Steps make a great spot to read a book or to cool down after a run through DC. Also would be a nice place to have a relaxing lunch. The steps are surrounded by big trees, which provide shade, and the fountain has a cooling effect. Cons: Water sometimes a bit dirty: Not disgustingly so, but water is sometimes a bit dirty in appearance, though I think this would be hard to manage. My pups still try to drink it when I walk them by the fountain, so they seem A-OK with it! Other: Once you reach the top of the stairs, there are some markers indicating the history. Below the staircase, on the street, there are additional historical markers with text about the neighborhood, as well as with information on some of the noteworthy individuals represented in statues at nearby embassies.

The first time I saw the Spanish Steps I was underwhelmed. Over the years I have learned to…read moreappreciate them. In the winter time you can walk by and not notice them at all but come summer they get lots of visitors. Weddings, Quinceañeras, glamour shots - it's a great back drop. I see lots of couples, holding hands, having tender moments. However I must warn you the mosquitoes are bad in the summer. Maybe it's just me, they seem to fancy my blood. Other than that it's the tops! Just this morning (April) I saw a crew working on beautifying it. They do an amazing job. If you're in the area stop by you'll be glad you did.

After leaving Theodore Roosevelt Island, we walked the 3.4 mile stretch of the George Washington…read moreMemorial Parkway between the island and the LBJ Memorial Grove. Confused at first, we figured out the route under the parkway, through the marina parking lot to the memorial. The LBJ Memorial Grove is dedicated to president Johnson and is located in this peaceful spot because it's where he and Lady Bird Johnson used to go to get away from the pressures of the White House. The central monolith is positioned where they would sit and watch the river. This memorial lacks the grandeur of the big marble ones on the National Mall, but if you collect NPS service units, you need to cross the river to see this one. Paired with TR island and the GW Memorial Pkwy, that's 3 units in one side trip.

Very nice and peaceful inside. Great view of the Washington monument. Great place to sit and relax.read more

President's Park - Visiting President's Park is currently not possible due to security measures…read morerelated to the President. Nevertheless, it is a beautifully maintained park with plenty of greenery, monuments, and views of the White House that rank among the most iconic sights in the United States. I liked that, despite the large number of tourists, the area maintained a pleasant atmosphere and offered enough space for peaceful walks. The well-kept pathways, interesting historical sites, and photogenic corners make this park a place that no visitor to the nation's capital should miss.

Did you know that the President lives in a national park? I didn't until now! The President's Park…read morestretches between Constitution Ave and Pennsylvania Ave and encompasses the White House, Lafayette Square, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, The Ellipse, and The Treasury Building. You can try to book a tour at The White House but if you're not able to, the White House Visitor Center also has exhibits that you can check out. The Ellipse houses the national Christmas tree that is lit every year during the holidays. It's huge and a nice place to explore, go on a run, or check out some beautiful buildings.

Beautiful park. Lovely spot to spend a few hours taking a stroll and relaxing. Went in the winter,…read moreso not many plants were out and about, but the grounds were lovely still.

This is a nice park with a few trails to walk along. The trails lead to the Rock Creek park. This…read morepark is also connected to other parks like Montrose Park and this makes it a good place to spend more than a few hours. Good place for the kids to get in the water along the trails and pick some rocks or generally get dirty in the water and dirt! Parking along 32 and R St is the best option (close to Montrose Park). One of the best areas for a nice weekend picnic :)