What to Do in DC and the Surrounding Area This Spring Beyond the Usual Spots?
Everyone knows about the cherry blossoms. Everyone knows about the Mall. Washington, DC, and the surrounding area in spring draw millions of visitors every year, and most follow the same well-worn path between the monuments and the Smithsonian entrances. That’s not a knock; those places earned their reputation.
But if you’re staying at The Hotel at The University of Maryland and want to experience spring in Washington, DC, and the surrounding area the way locals actually live it, there’s a whole other city waiting just beyond the tourist corridor.
Head to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Most people visiting Washington, DC, in the spring never make it to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and that’s exactly what makes it worth the trip. Tucked into the northeastern corner of the city along the Anacostia River, this National Park Service site is the only place in the National Park system dedicated to the cultivation of water plants. Spring kicks off the blooming season early, with hardy water lilies and lotus plants beginning to emerge as temperatures climb.
The gardens feel genuinely removed from the city; quiet, lush, and populated mostly by locals who discovered it years ago and kept it to themselves. A rideshare from The Hotel at The University of Maryland drops you there in roughly 25 minutes, and the experience feels nothing like the crowded waterfront spots that dominate spring break Washington, DC, itineraries.
Cross the Bay to Annapolis
Annapolis trades the monuments for the waterfront. Spring is one of the best times to visit; the sailing season picks back up on the Chesapeake, the Maryland State House and historic district are easy to walk, and the seafood is as good as it gets anywhere on the East Coast. City Dock comes alive with activity in April and May without the full crush of summer crowds. It’s a half-day trip that feels like a complete change of scenery.
Take a Day in Baltimore
Baltimore comes alive in spring, making it the perfect destination to explore during your stay at The Hotel at the University of Maryland. The Inner Harbor is the obvious starting point, but the real finds are in the neighborhoods. Federal Hill offers sweeping views of the harbor and a relaxed stretch of bars and restaurants. Fells Point brings cobblestone streets, independent shops, and weekend farmers’ markets.
The American Visionary Art Museum sits right on the waterfront and stands apart from anything else you’ll find in the region. Baltimore rewards visitors who wander past the waterfront, and spring is the right season to do it.
Stop in Laurel
Laurel sits almost exactly between Hotel UMD and Baltimore, and it tends to get overlooked entirely. That’s a mistake in spring. The Patuxent Research Refuge, one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country, sits just outside town and offers excellent birdwatching and trail walking as migratory species move through the region.
Main Street Laurel has developed a modest but genuine local dining and small business scene worth an easy afternoon stop, especially if you’re driving between College Park and Baltimore and want a reason to slow down.
Walk the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail stretches for miles along both banks of the Anacostia River, connecting parks, neighborhoods, and green spaces that most tourists never encounter. Spring turns the trail into one of the better outdoor experiences in the region; wildflowers push up along the edges, migratory birds work through the tree canopy, and the city skyline appears and disappears through the foliage in a way that never gets old.
The trail is popular with cyclists, joggers, and walkers who use it regularly for good reason. For visitors thinking about things to do in Washington, DC, in April, a morning on the Anacostia Riverwalk offers a completely different perspective on the city, which is unhurried, scenic, and free. The Hotel at The University of Maryland is well-positioned for easy access to this trail system, with rideshare options getting you to the trailhead quickly.
The City Rewards Those Who Look Closer
Washington, DC, and the surrounding area in spring have more to offer than any single visit can cover, especially when you’re willing to look past the obvious itinerary. The neighborhoods, trails, gardens, and markets that locals love most are often the easiest to reach and the hardest to forget.
Book your stay at The Hotel at The University of Maryland and use it as your home base for exploring every side of this city this spring.
