Get Busy With Summer Lovin': August Activities

INTERNS HAVE FLED town, three-ring binders are on store shelves and an evening on a roof deck might require — egad! — a sweater. But don't just let summer slip away. Washington still has a few weeks of flip-flopping, shoulder-baring weather ahead, and we have five ideas about how to enjoy them.

Om Outdoors

Who needs a special room for Bikram yoga when D.C. in August means you can enjoy a super-sweaty practice in the open air? Grab your mat and head to Dupont Circle (that's right, the actual circle) tomorrow at 6 p.m. for Lululemon's free weekly yoga series — it's running every Wednesday through the end of September.

And Even Keel, a local yoga clothing line, is offering a free class in Rock Creek Park (with the help of Flow Yoga, Studio Serenity and Quiet Mind Yoga) in the grassy area off of Calvert Street this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. There's another one slated for Sept. 28.

» For more info see Lululemon.com/washington/georgetownstore and Evenkeelyoga.com/classes.

Make a Splash

You are destined to end up at Fletcher's Boathouse — otherwise, why would both the C&O Canal and the Capital Crescent Trail lead to the cozy cove? (So does Canal Road, if you take the lazy option and decide to drive rather than hike or bike.) Rent a rowboat, kayak or canoe ($8-$11 per hour), drop in a fishing line (licenses are $10 for D.C. residents and $13 for everyone else), or just enjoy a leisurely picnic.

» For more info, see Fletcherscove.com and Riverriders.com.

Behold Beauty

You could go to the Phillips Collection and see a Monet, or you could head to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and feel like you're in one. The marshy section of Anacostia Park boasts 12 acres of ponds dotted with flowers. Meandering about the trails and taking a gander at birds is always a favorite activity, and if you come by this Saturday at 7:15 a.m., you can tour with the guidance of a park ranger. Even just arriving can be an adventure: Make your way to the wilderness from the Deanwood Metro, or even via canoe.

» For more info, see Nps.gov/keaq.

Go for a Spin

Glen Echo, the former amusement park in Montgomery County, still boasts one of the best rides in town: the Dentzel Carousel. It's just a buck, but you have to get there before its 88th season ends Sept. 28.

Don't get too dizzy, though. All that whirling is a dandy warm-up for the dancing you can do in the nearby Spanish ballroom. Depending on the night's schedule, you can kick up your heels for an evening of swing, square or zydeco dancing.

» For more info, see Glenechopark.org.

Swipe a Cycle

Those empty SmartBike racks have taunted us for months, but, finally, the red-and-white bikes are in place and ready to roll at various Metro stops around Northwest. So, sign up for your annual membership ($40), and figure out all the places you can explore on wheels.

But remember to bring along a helmet for safety. And a watch and a lock, too — an unreturned bike will cost you $550 and, while an unlimited number of three-hour rentals come with membership, an overly lengthy adventure means you could get kicked out of the program.

» For more info, see Smartbikedc.com.

Photos by Dominic Bracco II/The Washington Post