I hated spring growing up. In Ohio, it felt like a terrible tease. One day it would be lovely and the next, it would snow. I distinctly remember crying on my way to school one May (yes, May) morning because it was icy and snowy. I was a bit of an emotional child.
Now that I live in DC, I absolutely love spring despite having terrible allergies for a solid two months. It’s generally warm, sunny and the flowering trees are absolutely gorgeous (even if they make me sneeze).
Today I thought I’d share a few of my favorite DC-area things to do that aren’t the stereotypical “walk around and see the cherry blossoms.” The trees are nice and all but a) it’s mobbed and b) it’s totally blocked off this year because of Covid. Boo.
An Outdoor Brewery or Winery
There’s nothing quite like a beautiful day out in the Virginia countryside with a beer in hand, enjoying the gorgeous mountains. I love getting out there around 2 PM, enjoying the day with some brews and ending the day with dinner at a local restaurant. My favorite breweries are: B Chord, Vanish, Caboose and Harper’s Ferry (the BEST view everrr). My favorite wineries are: Rappahannock, Stone Tower, and Cana (PSA- get the cheeseball, omg).
A Day Trip to Annapolis
It’s no secret that I adore Annapolis. My office is up there and I relish every chance I get to go. Everything there is lovely. When I’m not working, I love perusing the little shops by the dock, sharing a crab dip with a friend (that’s a lie; I’m allergic, but I’ve heard it’s good!), walking around “the Yard” (better known as The United States Naval Academy) when it’s not Covid, and sitting on the dock, staring at the gorgeous water. It is truly the most special place.. Sigh, I love Annapolis.
Horseback Riding in the Shenandoah
Jim and I discovered a trail riding place during Covid last year (when there were *very* few options of things to do) and absolutely loved it. I’ve always had a thing for horses and it felt so good to be back in the saddle, quite literally. THIS place is the best if you want to try a ride yourself!
“Hiking” the Civil War Battlefields
I put hiking in quotation marks because the battlefields tend to be fairly flat and I abhor actual hiking (too many bugs and the risk of bears is too high for my liking). Anyway, there is so, so much history in this area and I love taking full advantage of it. I wrote a full post about the battlefields HERE, but Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg are the best (and most historically significant) in my humble opinion.
DC is so pretty this time of year and I hope you can get out an enjoy it! What is your favorite thing to do in the spring in DC?
