Just a short hop over the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Arlington is famous for being the home of Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. However, there’s a lighter side to this charming county, presenting an array of wonderful things to see and do away from austere settings.
Come here to dine, admire art, play ice hockey, see a play in an award-winning venue, and even walk in nature with some of the most iconic views around. There’s so much more to Arlington than you might think – here are 15 amazing ways to experience it.
1. Be awed by the Iwo Jima Memorial
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment six Marines installed the US flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during one of the most hard-fought battles in World War II. His soul-stirring photo became the inspiration for the Iwo Jima Memorial – the nickname for the US Marine Corps Memorial – rising atop a knoll overlooking the National Mall.
This memorial is powerful and poignant, with the flag proudly flying 24/7 by executive decree. On Tuesday evenings during summer, the Marine Corps sunset parade, a musical extravaganza of marching, drums, and bugles, takes place nearby. The Netherlands Carillon, a gift from the Dutch, offers live summer concerts and automated concerts at other times. The grassy grounds also provide a stunning perspective over the National Mall, making it a popular fireworks-watching spot on the Fourth of July.
Planning tip: There is no guaranteed seating at the parade, so feel free to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
2. Spot planes at Gravelly Point Park
At Gravelly Point Park, located near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, airplanes come in for landing just over your head; you can feel the roar of the engines reverberate through your body as you study their underbellies. Locals flock to this small park for the informal aviation show, bringing picnics, kids, and dogs. It’s a lively scene with runners and bikers zipping past on the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, while the sweeping views to the east take in DC’s monuments rising across the Potomac River.
Planning tip: You can only reach the park from the northbound side of George Washington Memorial Parkway.
3. Enjoy a play and dinner in Shirlington
You don’t have to go to the Kennedy Center to enjoy star-filled shows in the DC area. The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington serves as an under-the-radar regional theater that seats only 300 people. This theater not only produces Broadway-caliber performances but has also hosted 59 world premiere works since its founding in 1989.
With classics and new productions featuring established stars as well as emerging talents, it stands as the cultural cornerstone of the urban village of Shirlington, a vibrant neighborhood filled with restaurants, a few shops, and a movie theater.
4. Visit hallowed ground at Arlington National Cemetery
Nearly 400,000 stark-white tombstones undulate along the rolling hills of the 639-acre Arlington National Cemetery. Only the most esteemed soldiers, representing every conflict since the Revolutionary War, are buried in this solemn destination, which has stringent qualifications for burial.
The welcome center includes exhibits, and it is here where you can pick up a shuttle that accesses specific sites or walk (though be warned, it can be hilly!). Don’t miss the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or John F. Kennedy’s gravesite, marked by an eternal flame. The land was originally owned by Robert E. Lee, and the plantation home, Arlington House, tells the fuller story of those who lived here before the cemetery’s establishment during the Civil War.
5. Go on a hike at Potomac Overlook Regional Park
The namesake view of the Potomac River at this urban, tree-shaded oasis in Arlington is seasonal and underwhelming. However, the primary reason to visit the 67-acre park is to hike on easy trails, taking in a typical Virginia woodland of oaks, maples, cedars, and magnolias. Nature’s sounds provide the perfect backdrop, with birds flitting about and squirrels rustling in the brush. The nature center features interactive exhibits educating visitors about local flora and fauna.
Planning tip: The park has a covered picnic area with tables and restrooms nearby. Bring your own food and enjoy a budget-friendly lunch in a lovely setting.
6. Celebrate women’s achievements at the Military Women’s Memorial
Just outside the Arlington National Cemetery entrance, you will notice a large neoclassical wall that serves as a memorial honoring service women from all wars and occupations. Inside, discover a modern education center, theater, and computerized registry of military women. Interesting exhibits reveal facts such as the presence of women spies during the Revolutionary War and others who fought while disguised as men.
The 360-degree rooftop view is another highlight, showcasing rows of Arlington’s bright-white tombstones behind you and the star-studded panorama of the Memorial Bridge and Lincoln Monument ahead. Inspiring quotes are etched into the glass panels.
7. Take a moment to remember 9/11 at the Pentagon Memorial
The Pentagon, a sprawling complex in Arlington, is home to the US Department of Defense and one of the world’s largest office buildings, with over 6.5 million square feet of working space for more than 23,000 military and civilian employees.
On September 11, 2001, a hijacked plane struck the Pentagon’s west side, resulting in the tragic loss of 184 lives. The outdoor 9/11 Pentagon Memorial honors these victims, featuring 184 illuminated benches, each inscribed with the name, age, and location of each individual during the attack. The memorial is open 24/7, and an audio tour is available.
8. Enjoy the springtime beauty at Lady Bird Johnson Park
Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson was known for her love of flowers. While her husband, President Lyndon Johnson, was in office, she diligently worked to beautify Washington, DC, and the nation’s interstate highways.
Renamed in her honor in 1968, Lady Bird Johnson Park showcases an extraordinary floral display throughout the seasons. A million daffodils followed by 11,000 red tulips announce spring, while the weeping willows, dogwoods, and crab apples enhance the picturesque landscape. Visitors can also appreciate views of Washington’s marble monuments across the Potomac.
9. Hang out at Ballston Quarter
Arlington’s once-fading Ballston Mall has been revitalized into Ballston Quarter, a sparkling indoor-outdoor space offering entertainment venues, activities, and shopping. Featuring sit-down restaurants from beloved local chefs, the lively food hall serves everything from street tacos to gourmet doughnuts. This is also a great place for cooking classes, trivia games, and live-action adventures.
Planning tip: Don’t miss the MedStar Capitals Iceplex on the top floor, which not only has a public ice-skating rink but also serves as the practice facility for the Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals.
10. Bike the gorgeous Mount Vernon Trail
Edging the Potomac River for 18 miles from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon, the floral-bedecked Mount Vernon Trail is perfect for bikers, walkers, runners, and rollerbladers. While only around 4.5 miles are in Arlington, these sections provide iconic views of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Memorial Bridge, and more.
Each season offers its own beauty, from spring blooms to the vibrant autumn foliage. Notable stops include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Gravelly Point Park, and Lady Bird Johnson Park, and the trail runs parallel to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which offers the same scenic views by car.
11. Stretch your legs on Theodore Roosevelt Island
A pedestrian bridge connects this 88-acre island in the middle of the Potomac River, featuring 2.5 miles of hiking trails that wander through swampland, marsh, and upland forest. Once a neglected farm transformed into a natural sanctuary in the 1930s, it is now home to squirrels, raccoons, deer, and the occasional red fox. A striking 17ft bronze statue honoring President Theodore Roosevelt stands at the center, celebrating his love for the wilderness.
Access to the island is available by car only from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, or on foot or by bike along the Mount Vernon Trail.
12. Discover dining in Clarendon
The Clarendon neighborhood attracted Vietnamese refugees in the 1960s and ’70s, and while only a few of Little Saigon’s restaurants remain, there are still beloved spots such as Nam Viet. Post-gentrification, the area is now filled with terrace restaurants and bars, offering diverse cuisines from Italian to Irish and Baltic. Local favorites like Ambar, Green Pig Bistro, and Circa consistently attract patrons.
Shopping opportunities abound at the outdoor Crossing Clarendon shopping center, featuring popular retailers. Finally, Clarendon Day is a vibrant street festival celebrated annually, complete with bar crawls and an exhilarating professional bike race.
13. Admire public art in Rosslyn
Arlington might not initially appear to be an artistic destination, yet over 70 permanent public art installations now dot the county – and that number continues to grow. Many of these pieces are located in Rosslyn, including an early standout, Dark Star Park, featuring spherical concrete sculptures resembling “extinguished stars.”
Beyond this, Anna and David is a captivating three-story sculpture that depicts a dancing couple, while Luminous Bodies consists of illuminated sculptures that change colors at night. Visitors can take a self-guided walking or driving tour to locate these artistic gems.
14. Look to the skies at the US Air Force Memorial
High above Arlington, three curved, shimmering stainless-steel spires honor the men and women of the US Air Force. Specifically, these spires represent the contrails of Air Force Thunderbirds as they disperse in a bomb burst maneuver.
Opened in 2006, the US Air Force Memorial is the last military service monument installed in the DC area. Surrounded by granite walls inscribed with tributes to aviation pioneers, it features an 8ft-tall bronze Honor Guard statue and a glass contemplation wall honoring fallen airmen and women. You’ll find it near Arlington National Cemetery, overlooking the Pentagon.
15. Delve into the world of drugs at the DEA Museum
Tucked away in an office building in Arlington, you’ll find the unique DEA Museum dedicated to exploring the intriguing world of drug activity and enforcement over the past 150 years. Exhibits delve into the science and history of substances like opium, marijuana, and cocaine, while a rotating display highlights noteworthy events, such as taking down notorious figures.
The collection features over 5,000 objects and 40,000 photographs, including artifacts like green platform shoes worn by a DEA special agent during a 1970s cocaine investigation and intriguing icons from various drug cartels.
Planning tip: Visitors are required to present a government-issued photo ID to enter the museum.
