THE WASHINGTON POST.
FRIDAy, MARCH 27, 2020EZ
8BY FRITZ HAHN
AND ANGELA HAUPTA
t a time when terms
like “social distancing”
and “self quarantin-
ing” have entered com-
mon usage, the idea of
getting in the car and driving to a
public park might feel extrava-
gant and even selfish. And yet
now is exactly when some people
most need to experience the great
outdoors, reminding us all that
there’s life beyond the view from
your kitchen table turned work-
station and the well-trod path
around your block. That’s why
we’ve picked five of our favorite
parks, in a range of sizes up to
almost 1,900 glorious acres of
space, where it’s p ossible to feel in
awe of nature while keeping a safe
distance from other people.
Ta king an afternoon-long
break from your voluntary home
isolation is a privilege, not an
invitation to act like a spring
breaker, reveling in your non -
chalance about personal space.
Whenever you leave the house —
for a grocery store or a state park
— practicing social distancing re-
mains imperative. Don’t invite a
bunch of friends to come along.
Leave plenty of room when pass-
ing others on a path. Keep kids off
playground equipment. Bring
hand sanitizer. And always trust
your judgment: If you show up to
find a full parking lot that makes
you feel worried or uneasy, go
somewhere else. You can always
come back at another time.
Also, please check park web-
sites before getting in the car,
because circumstances can
change quickly. Some locations
we wanted to include in this story
closed their gates between our
visits and publication.Theodore Roosevelt Island
On warm days, joggers and
dog-walkers are drawn to Theo-
dore Roosevelt Island, an 88-acre
retreat in the Potomac River, just
downstream from Key Bridge. In
the 1930s, the island — then over-
grown a nd n eglected — w as trans-
formed into a living memorial to
Roosevelt, the nation’s 2 6th presi-
dent and a lifelong naturalist.
To day, multiple trails snake
through the densely wooded is-
land, which is accessible via a
footbridge from Arlington.
(There’s a small parking lot along
George Washington Memorial
Parkway, and the entryway is on
Mount Vernon Trail, so many visi-
tors arrive via bike.)
Swamp Trail, a 1.5-mile, mostly
flat loop through shallow-water
swamps and a tidal marsh, is
particularly picturesque: It’s not
unusual to spot herons, turtles
and beavers. The trail, which is
part boardwalk, juts into the
swampy forest at multiple spots,
and there are plenty of benches
along the way to pause and listen
to the singing redwings.
Halfway around the island,
you’ll reach a clearing directly
across from Washington Har-
bour. It’s a quiet, secluded spot to
take in the best views of George-
town — minus the crowds.
700 George Washington Pkwy.,
McLean, Va. Open daily from
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. nps.gov/this.
Free. — A.H.Tregaron Conservancy
The Tregaron Conservancy is
located between Woodley Park
and Cleveland Park, but it re-
mains something of a secret, over-
shadowed by the nearby Rock
Creek Park, and, as far as urbanSeeking
open spaces
outdoors
5 awe-inspiring nature escapes to get fresh air
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A runner uses a path on Theodore Roosevelt Island, an 88-acre retreat in the Potom
Sanctuary, which offers 17 miles of trails, i n Lothian, Md. Flowers blooming at Sky Meadows State Park, which