9 Fun Picnic Spots in Washington

Are you looking for a nice place for a picnic with friends and family near Washington D.C.? If so, there are many gorgeous parks that have beautiful locations for picnics. Whether you’re looking for a park with trails or a plaza with a waterfront, you can find the perfect location for your next family outing. Depending on where you go, you can play in the water, view historic monuments, or go on a hike. Let’s look at some fun picnic spots in Washington to help you decide where your next picnic should be.

Meridian Hill Park

Meridian Hill Park offers a quiet, scenic atmosphere with grassy areas, which makes for the perfect picnic. This area has stunning architecture with notable features, including a waterfall staircase and a luxurious garden. Meridian Hill Park also has a plaza with two floors. The lower plaza includes a beautiful fountain and a reflecting pool. It also has several statues that you can enjoy, plus the James Buchanan Memorial. The upper plaza features two additional statues to view while eating, i ncluding one of Joan of Arc.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is a beautiful area with a lot of stunning features. If you go to this park, you and your loved ones can enjoy many fun activities. After you enjoy your picnic, you can bird-watch, paint or take photos of the scenery, or relax in the shade. You can also take a walk around the park’s half-mile loop. While on this walk, you can appreciate what the park offers, including ancient ponds with frogs, turtles, and a 500-year-old lotus. There’s even a quarter-mile dirt trail for those who are feeling adventurous.

United States National Arboretum

The United States National Arboretum is a large park area with 446 acres of land and 9.5 miles of roadways. If you love exploring nature in a botanical garden, then this park may be the perfect place for your picnic. This expansive area is home to several gardens and types of plants. The United States National Arboretum even has the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, which features plants from Japan, China, and North America. If you’re interested, you can also bike along the paths or bring pets on leashes to enjoy the trails.

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park offers gorgeous scenery that’s surrounded by history. This location has two magnificent monuments that honor two United States leaders: President Abraham Lincoln and Civil Rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. You can picnic nearby one of these remarkable statues in a nice grassy area. Along with the statues, this park has two enclosed playgrounds for kids and plenty of space to bring pets on leashes. Lincoln Park also has several sidewalks, which are great for walking and enjoying the views after your picnic.

National Mall

The National Mall is probably one of the most iconic picnic spots on this list. It’s home to several historic monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. There are also many significant buildings surrounding this area, such as the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and the Smithsonian. The National Mall is rich with history and great places to enjoy a picnic and sight-see. Since it has so many historic elements, it’s often crowded, so it’s often helpful to arrive early to secure your picnic spot.

Georgetown Waterfront Park

Georgetown Waterfront Park is a wonderful place to spread out and have a picnic since it’s so large and expansive. This location stretches across the banks of the Potomac River with 225 miles of parkland going through Cumberland, Maryland, Mount Vernon, and Virginia. Georgetown Waterfront Park is stunning and has many notable features, including fountains, gardens, and mazes. This area has several long pathways, making this area a great place to walk after your picnic. You can find seating for your picnic underneath the steel and cable pergola or on the river steps.

Kogod Courtyard

If bad weather happens on your picnic day, or you simply prefer to be indoors, stop by the Kogod Courtyard.  The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery oversee this courtyard, and it features stunning glass ceilings. They allow you to enjoy the outdoors and natural lighting, all while being protected from any harsh weather. There are plenty of tables and seats in the courtyard, allowing you to have a nice picnic or snack while enjoying the views. Once you’ve finished your picnic, you can walk around the museum or participate in one of the courtyard’s events.

Yards Park

Yards Park is a vibrant, scenic waterfront where you can enjoy a picnic and then play in the water with your friends and family. While the water is a highlight of this area, there are plenty of spaces for you to have a picnic. When you enter this park, you’ll see the Dancing Fountains, which is a play area for kids to splash around in the water jets. This park is also close to Washington Navy Yard, which is where shops were built during World Wars I and II.

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is a beautiful park with several scenic locations that are perfect for picnics. Trees surround this area, providing you with shade while you enjoy your picnic. A benefit of going to this park is that it has designated picnic areas with benches, tables, and a barbeque area. After you’re done picnicking, you can walk around some of the park’s trails and take in the beautiful sights, including a creek. There are also many outdoor activities at this park, such as golfing, fishing, and horseback riding.

Well, there you have it. We’ve provided nine great spots for a picnic with beautiful views and fun activities to do afterward. Did we miss one of your favorite picnic locations near Washington D.C.? Is there another local favorite? If so, please let us know so we can add it to our list.

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Tags: Parks, Washington
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