eight wellness things to do in washington, dc
by Monica Frim
Washington, D.C. is an urban walker’s paradise with monuments, parks, riverside trails and lush, open spaces that coexist in harmony with business and government buildings. In an ongoing gentrification process that took root years ago, former seedy enclaves have given way to chic boutiques, trendy international restaurants and open-air cafes that cater to bureaucrats, ordinary citizens and tourists alike. I’ve lived here two years now and constantly marvel at how enriched I feel for having made this dynamic city my home.
Here are eight wellness things to do in Washington, D.C., that will make you feel like a local:
1. Jog, walk, run or bicycle along the National Mall. This is not a shopping center but a tree-lined, open-area national park with monuments and museums in the heart of Washington, D. C. The Mall stretches for three kilometres (1.9 miles) along Constitution and Independence Avenues, from the U.S. Capitol Building at its eastern end to the Lincoln Memorial at its western terminus. In the center of the Mall, the George Washington Monument, the tallest structure in the capital, provides stunning views of the city when open. (The monument was closed indefinitely for assessments and repairs after the earthquake of August 2011). The Mall also hosts many major festivals, sporting events, protests, rallies as well as thousands of small-group activities each year.
2. Take a fitness class. Washington is known for upscale services where even the gyms cater to a gentrified clientele. A favorite is Vida Fitness at the Verizon Center next to the Gallery Place Metro Station. This luxury facility offers an upscale hair salon and smoothie bar along with yoga classes, Pilates, kickboxing, group cycling, martial arts, physical therapy and aquatic exercise programs. But for a heavy-duty rush, nothing beats the Vida Boot Camp, a heart- challenging indoor/outdoor workout that incorporates calisthenics with sprints up and down the marble outdoor stairs of the city’s historical monuments. Afterwards you can melt off your aches, pains and stresses in the Zen spa with its myriad pools and Japanese soaking tubs.
3. Eat a cupcake. Really?
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