Summer can either be one of the most exciting or boring times of the year. A lack of responsibilities leads to plenty of time to enjoy ones-self. But if you don’t know what to do during this time, it can easily become dull. Below is a list of summer activities to keep your summer interesting.

Go on a hike

The DMV area has a plethora of great hiking spots. With close proximity to national parks like Shenandoah, there are great trails in the area. Other great parks that are even closer include Great Falls and the C&O Canal. If you are looking for trails that have waterfalls, try Cascade Falls and Catoctin Mountain Park. They have great hiking trails that lead directly to waterfalls you can swim in. Perfect for the summer heat.

Movies on the Potomac

The National Harbor is hosting “Movies on the Potomac” every Sunday and Thursday night. There is a new theme for the movies every month. June is travel movies like “The Parent Trap” and “Crazy Rich Asians”, July is food movies like “Lady and the Tramp” and “Julie & Julia”, and August is musicals like “Newsies” and “Singin’ in the Rain”. The movies on Sundays are family movies and Thursday movies are date night movies. The movies are right on the water and watchers can bring a blanket or lawn chairs to be comfortable while watching.

Visit the monuments in DC

Potomac residents are lucky to be in such close proximity to DC, so take advantage of it! DC has some of the most memorable monuments in the entire country. People travel from all over to visit the beautiful monuments that we often overlook because we live so close to them. All of them are free to visit and an interesting way to spend a day. From the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial there are many different places to visit in DC.

Visit museums in DC

Speaking of DC, it has a large assortment of museums to choose from, many of which are free to visit. The Smithsonian museums are always great to visit and they are all free! On a more expensive side, a very interesting museum to visit is the National Spy Museum. It is a unique experience that dives deep into the history of spies in US history. Each person is assigned a secret identity when they are there and the museum always has unique exhibits.

Go thrifting

There are many great thrift stores in the area that anyone can find affordable and fashionable clothes at. Stores like the Potomac French Market, Planet Aid Thrift Store, and Unique are great places to find hidden gems in outfits. These offer great deals (one of my friends found $200 pants for $20). A fun activity to do at these places is try on their prom dress sections.

Try new restaurants

Many new restaurants have opened in the area. From small bakeries like the Boulangerie Christophe and the Pretzel Bakery which just opened in Cabin John Village, to bigger restaurants in areas like Pike and Rose, there are great places to go out to eat. 

No matter what kind of mood you are in, there is always something interesting to do in the DMV area. Whether you want to stay local or are up for a road trip is your decision. But rest assured there is plenty to keep your summer interesting this year.