Washington, D.C. trail is both patriotic and peaceful

Mount Vernon Trail

Ride your Trikke to the home of the first U.S. President

For this edition of Trailsnet Trikke Trails, let’s head to the United States capitol for a look at the Mount Vernon Trail in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, where you’ll find more incredible sights per mile than any other trail in the world.

Your journey starts with sightings of famous spectacles, such as the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Monument, and the skyline of D.C., and the trail ends at the home of our first president. In between, Trikke riders will enjoy a host of architectural, historical and natural settings guaranteed to knock your socks off.

If you’re interested in carving the entire trail, one of the best starting spots is near the Key Bridge or nearby Sheraton Hotel. From there, you can see Georgetown, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia.

This is a good time to warn you that this trail is extremely popular. Translation: pretty darned busy. But don’t despair. If you time your ride to avoid rush hour, it’s not too crowded … relatively speaking.

As you roll on down the trail, you’ll see incredible monuments across the Potomac River. You’ll also be pleased to note that while it’s hectic and bureaucratic on the other side of the river, you’re enjoying the sights and sounds of parks, trees, trails and open spaces. And it just keeps getting better. As you continue along the Potomac, you’ll traverse wetland boardwalks and quaint, brick underpasses that help you avoid most major road crossings.

One of the greatest advantages of the Mount Vernon Trail is the perfect blend of rural and urban. One minute, you’re passing directly through Old Town Alexandria; the next, you’re following a peaceful, riparian path. Alexandria, Virginia, is one of the few places where you’ll have to ride your Trikke on a road — let’s all chant, “Roads suck, trails rule!” — but there’s an upside: ice cream stores, coffee shops, art galleries. You’ll want to spend hours in Old Town. But let’s move on.

In addition to viewing famous monuments, as a trail user, you’ll also get to see some obscure, hidden monuments, such as the Navy and Marine Memorial. It’s a beautiful sculpture that few D.C. tourists ever visit. You’ll also get to see Washington National Airport from a whole new perspective, as massive jets land and take-off directly over your head. The trail seems to merge with one of the busiest runways in the world, only to veer right as you begin your loop around the airport’s terminals.

After passing posh neighborhoods, scenic riverfront parks and historic landmarks, you’ll finally arrive at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, the first U.S. President. If you’ve never toured the grounds of Mount Vernon, it’s a must-see. It’s significant from both a historical and scenic perspective.

The restaurants at Mount Vernon have nourishment to suit everyone’s tastes, from fast food to authentic, colonial, sit-down dining.

So if you get a chance, plan a Trikke tour of Washington D.C. and the Mount Vernon Trail. Before you go, you may want to call Jimmy Carter, the President who rides a Trikke. I bet he could show you some other great Trikke trails in our nation’s capitol.