With temperatures pushing past 90 and heat indexes well over 100 for days on end, many of us are seeking relief in water-based activities. Sure, we all know about pools, waterparks and spraygrounds, and nearby state parks with beaches, but there are other ways to stay active and cool at the same time within a stone’s throw from Arlington. We have some ideas.
Boating
Escape the city with a kayak, canoe or paddleboard on the Potomac River. Thompson Boat Center (2900 Virginia Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.) offers single and double kayaks, two-person canoes and stand-up paddleboards seven days a week from 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Float—or fly, depending on how fast you want to go—past D.C. sights such as the Kennedy Center and Georgetown’s waterfront. Prefer a rowboat? Head to Fletchers Cove Boathouse (4940 Canal Road, NW, Washington, D.C.), which also offers 90-minute kayak nature tours. The next one is Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. You’ll find many boating options on the Anacostia River, too, including pontoon boat rides and “learn to scull” classes. For a party on a boat, book a 90-minute booze cruise with Potomac Paddle Club (founded by two Yorktown High School alumni) and pedal the cycleboat while you imbibe.
Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding
For 11 years, Penguin Paddling owner Danny Barker has provided “old-school hospitality and family fun” on the Occoquan River. Rent single or tandem kayaks or paddleboards by the hour or for the day. Kids who weigh at least 30 pounds are welcome to ride under the supervision of a responsible adult, and leashed dogs can also take to the water. Don’t worry about reserving a vessel. “We have enough equipment—just show up and rent!” according to the website. On weekdays, Penguin Paddling is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. On weekends and holidays, swing by as early as 9 a.m. // Behind 201 Mill St., Occoquan
Swimming Holes
You don’t need a pool membership to take a dip in these natural wonders. Take a drive to see the 17-foot-tall Kilgore Falls in Maryland’s Rocks State Park. The state’s second largest waterfall dumps into pools that you can wade or swim in to cool off after a half-mile hike. Note that reservations are required to access the falls on weekends and holidays through Labor Day. Another option is the swimming holes of Passage Creek in Front Royal. Find a rope swing at Blue Hole and a sloping rock for sliding down at Buzzard Rock Hole. For directions, click here and search Elizabeth Furnace. Or check out Overall Run Falls via Thompson Hollow. It’s a 2-mile roundtrip trek with multiple pools to cool off in midway.
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Tubing
Zen out in a floating doughnut on Watermelon Park’s slice of the Shenandoah River (3322 Lockes Mille Road, Berryville, VA). The Lazy Float Tubing trip takes three hours with an option to go right back on the water again. Tube options include traditional single rings, or a version for kids with a seat built into the doughnut hole, plus accessory tubes for toting coolers full of drinks and snacks. If something a little frothier is more your speed, River Riders (408 Alstadts Hill Road) in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, offers a whitewater option with Class I-III rapids. White-water tubers must be at least 10 years old and 5 feet tall, and at least two people must go together (in their own tubes). Whitewater rafting tours with guides are also available. If you still need more adventure, there’s the Aerial Adventure Park and Harpers Ferry Zipline Canopy Tour.
Surfing
Who needs Hawaii when Assateague Island is a three-hour drive away? Grab a surfboard, boogie board or body board and hang 10. Check for conditions and opening hours here. If you need lessons, no sweat. Sommers Surf Lessons or Wave Riding School can show you the ropes. Schedule your trip around the 99th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim, happening this year on July 24 from 12-1 p.m. on neighboring Chincoteague Island.