With the mercury rising (this week, anyway), it seemed like a good time to highlight an outdoor locale. Hains Point is one I keep in my back pocket for days when we just want to hang outside and let the kids run around in a pretty, peaceful setting.
Hains Point is actually just the southern point of East Potomac Park, where the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers meet. The park itself is situated between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River just south of the Tidal Basin. (However, many people, including me, refer to the whole 300+acre peninsula as Hains Point.)
East Potomac Park contains a nice variety of recreation, and it all comes with great views of the water as well as the boats and airplanes that cruise and fly alongside it. Within the park there’s a golf course, a mini-golf course, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a playground, and plenty of space to run, play, and picnic.
When we go, we usually hang out at the playground, almost at the very southern end. There are several apparatuses where the kids romp, and they’re surrounded by a large grassy area, where we can all run around, play ball, throw a Frisbee. Picnic tables and bathrooms are conveniently nearby, and it’s all fenced in, easing safety concerns a bit, as Ohio Drive is just beyond.
The road runs the perimeter of the entire park and is a popular training course for competitive cyclers and runners. And while cars do drive on it, the speed limit is very slow, so the flat, scenic loop is also nice for family bike rides, too.
Hains Point can be accessed from Ohio Drive near the Lincoln Memorial or 14th Street. You can also take the Potomac Park/Park Police Exit from 395. Admission to East Potomac Park and Hains Point is free, but facilities like tennis and golf require a fee and reservations. The outdoor public pool is open during the summer.
