What we’re about
All are welcome! Even the young, old, Virginians, and Washingtonians. Although my goal with this group is to lure out folks in their late 30's to early 50's and help remind them how to have fun outside. So if you're one of those people who has been spending too many Saturdays watching children's soccer games, sneak out and join us sometime soon. We'll even post events further afield in VA, WV, and PA, but the majority of meetups will be in Central Maryland and usually 4-8 miles in length.
This group has only four rules:
- If you sign up, show up. I will ruthlessly boot anyone who is a no-show. It only takes 6 seconds on average to change your RSVP to NO. Don't you want to give your spot to someone in dire need of fun?
- Please read the entire description before signing up for an event. I work hard to post thorough descriptions so people can be informed of both the itinerary AND the expected challenges.
- You are responsible for your own safety. This is just a group of potential new friends walking around the woods, not a professional guide service. Please come prepared with the appropriate gear and provisions to safely make it through the posted itinerary.
- Have fun! No spoilsports allowed.
Many events will be cross-posted with the warmer-season group, Paddle Something. If you've got a kayak, canoe or paddle board - check it out at: https://www.meetup.com/paddle-something/
Upcoming events
1
DC Christmas Tree Jaunt with DINOSAURS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS (3+ City miles)
US Botanical Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC, USI will gladly admit stealing this idea from Capital Hiking Club and DC Urban Walkers. This trek will have us starting at the US Botanical Gardens and go see the five best Christmas Trees around downtown DC. We'll gather at a restaurant afterwards to warm up, though it should be unseasonable warm on Saturday anyway.
We will get started at 5pm in front of the US Botanical Garden, at the fountain with the giant silver Christmas balls. I STRONGLY encourage you to get there at least a half hour early to see the dinosaur-themed model train display outside, and the architectural models of all the monuments made out of plants in the atrium, just inside the gardens building. Both close at 5:00.
From there we will head to the following:
1. A quarter-mile northeast to the Capitol Tree
2. Half a mile northwest on Pennsylvania Ave. to the Canadian Embassy's tree (my personal favorite)
3. Up Pennsylvania, then right on 8th NW to the Christmas Market. We will stop here for 20 minutes in case anybody wants to shop or get some grub. The Poblano Chicken Chili at the taco truck was a hit and had no line to wait in.
4. From there we will head north on 9th St. and make a left down Palmer Alley to see the various bougie displays at City Center.
5. We'll head back south on 11th to Pershing Park, then the final tree in the Ellipse.
6. I was thinking of heading to Astro Beer Hall afterwards, but I'm open to suggestions if someone has a better plan. Metro Center station is just another block east and can get you back to where you started from. Distance from Botanical Gardens to this point is 3.1 miles.
Getting there: I know most of you are suburbanites, but the Metro IS your friend. The closest Orange/Blue/Silver/Green/Yellow station is L'Enfant Plaza, which connects to Metro Center (our end point) without transfer. Exit at Maryland Ave. - that is a ten minute walk. Closest Red Line station is Union or Judiciary, a 17-minute walk, though it also connects to our end point. Union Station also has an impressive tree, but a panhandler will likely demand payment if you stare at it for too long.
If you are coming by car, C and D St SW are likely your best bets for parking. We will be starting just as all the museums close.18 attendees
Past events
31
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