Things to Do in Potomac

Listen. You’re a creative person. You know it, we know it. So what if you spend your life hunched in a cubicle, writing reports summarizing and aggregating multiple reports in a daily report in preparation for the weekly and monthly reports. There’s something inside you, something bright and starlike that burns in your soul like a fire-breathing dragon (only smaller and maybe without wings or fire breath, but with some impressive firelike appendages coming out of its nose instead, like star-nosed moles).

Decorated in lights, a yellow kayak stands upright outside the entrance of Jack's Boathouse, welcoming customers into the nearly 70-year-old business. Countless visitors— including Travel Channel's Samantha Brown— have dog-paddled their way to the boat house over the decades and taken kayaks, canoes, and standup paddleboards on winding journey's through Washington, DC.

The Potomac River forms a tranquil waterway past some of the capital's most famous locations. Whether on tours or self-guided paddles, boats can capture views of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and where the founding fathers played Marco Polo at Georgetown Harbor. As the sun sets, wildlife such as eagles and beavers join in on Jack's aquatic excursions.

Run by three generations of DC locals, Bike and Roll sends pedalers into the nation's modern and historical capitol. Sightseers are outfitted with ETs with maps so they can undertake self-guided tours along the National Mall, which is lousy with landmarks. To break with the hustle—and should one be so inclined, the bustle—cyclists can explore one of the city’s many meandering bike paths including the Capital Crescent Trail and Rock Creek Trail. The company’s line of tandem bikes and Trek comfort hybrids make for smooth rides along the flat terrain of the capital.

For a more itineraried experience, guided tours spirit groups through the historic sights. Local story-tellers regale cyclists with tales about the Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and Mount Vernon, the home where George Washington lived after hatching from the egg incubated in the Statue of Liberty's torch.