14 Top Water Activities in the Capital Region

With the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay and numerous lakes and rivers, Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia are great places to have fun on the water.

1. Frolic in a Fountain

Cool off with a sprint through Georgetown Waterfront Park’s spray fountain in Washington, DC or at various splash pads around Baltimore.

2. Paddle the Potomac

Calm and convenient, the Potomac River beckons kayakers, canoers and stand-up paddlers. Any number of shops will get you kitted out and on the water in no time.

3. Whitewater Raft Through Richmond

No need to stray out of the city for this wild ride. Richmond’s James River offers a wide variety of rafting opportunities.

4. Partake in a Dragon Boat Race

The DC Dragon Boat Club welcomes all ages and abilities to try the ancient Chinese sport of dragon-boat racing at The Wharf.

5. Take a Surfing Lesson

Learn to catch the perfect wave under the tutelage of numerous shops in Ocean City, Maryland, including K-Coast Surf Shop’s Wave Riding School.

6. Play at a Water Park

Indulge in splash-worthy fun like water slides and wave pools at Williamsburg’s Water Country USA or McGaheysville’s Massanutten Resort.

7. Experience a Mule-Drawn Boat Ride

Board a canal boat pulled by a mule at Great Falls Visitor Center for a ride back to the 1870s along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.

8. Rent a Tidal Basin Paddleboat

Views of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from the waters of Washington, DC’s Tidal Basin are stunning, particularly in the spring when the famous cherry trees are in bloom.

9. Tube the Gunpowder River

Flanked by lush woodlands, Maryland’s Gunpowder River near Monkton is a terrific spot for a leisurely summer float.

10. Tour by Water Taxi

The Baltimore Water Taxi stops at the city’s most iconic destinations, including the Inner Harbor and National Aquarium, while the Wharf Water Taxi offers direct routes between The Wharf and Georgetown in Washington, DC; Alexandria, Virginia; and National Harbor, Maryland.

11. Kayak with Dolphins

May through October, take a guided kayak tour in Virginia Beach to soak up breathtaking scenery and spot dolphins in their natural habitat.

12. Learn How to Sail

Gain all the knowledge you need to safely skipper your own vessel at a sailing school in Annapolis or with DC Sail at The Wharf.

13. Go on an Oyster Harvest Excursion

Based out of the Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia, the Virginia Oyster Academy offers the chance to accompany a waterman on a boat trip, followed by a chef-led oyster roast.