Best places for rollerblading around DC/MD?

06/16/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I posted this on Friday and either no one was around or no one rollerblades that much....anybody out there that has any ideas for me?

06/16/2008 Ina K. says:

Ooh ooh! Check out Haines Point, aka East Potomac Park. The pavement is smooth, and the scenery is beautiful. This is where that sculpture used to be - what was it called? The one with the guy coming out of the ground. "Awakening," that's it.

I've also rollerbladed around the memorials, around the Tidal Basin, and around the FDR Memorial (a little irreverent, I know...I'm sorry!). The Tidal Basin pavement is extreeeemely rough, but the view is gorgeous. It's all about Haines Point. Check out the link: http://dc.about.com/od...

06/16/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

Ooh, thank you Ina!  I could definitely appreciate some smooth terrain....

06/16/2008 xx x. says:

If you live in Forest Glen, then you're not far from an entrance to Rock Creek. You can take that as far as you can stand, ten, twenty miles, all the way downtown. A couple of big hills here and there, but a decent path through lovely parkland. If you do it on a Sunday, then sections of the parkway are blocked off to cars. The surface is good most of the way, with occasional roughness.

06/16/2008 Ina K. says:

I've tried Rock Creek, too, and because I'm kind of a novice, it was too difficult for me. I fell a lot! :)

06/16/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I can deal with a little downhill gradient and sime jumping, but if it's too steep and I pick up too much speed, it can be a little scary.  That being said, I need to dig out my knee pads and such out of storage, asap!  Thanks Mr. Jingle ;)

06/16/2008 Laura C. says:

There's a trail starting near the Bethesda metro stop heading down to Georgetown that is pretty smooth but its a little downhil the whole way there and a little uphill the whole way back so that might get tiring.  The W&OD trail starting in both vienna and reston are very smooth and good for rollerblading but not really easily metro accessible.

06/16/2008 lester k. says:

This may be really outdated and perhaps someone can give an update if this still exists. About 10 years or so ago, my friends and I used to rollerblade around D.C. with a rollerblading group every Friday evening. They'd meet up in the closed off area right behind the White House and leave at 7 or 7:30ish in a large group. Anyone was welcomed to join for this ride that lasted about 1.5-2 hours I think. Skill levels varied from novice like me to super advanced crazies. Like I said, the starting point was the White House and then followed a route determined by whoever was leading that day. There was also a trailer who carried the back. My first time out was really brutal. The guy leading was vicious with us but it got progressively better depending on who led.

Friday nights were open to all skill levels. There was another Wednesday night group that was for more advanced rollerbladers. Never went with this group, but I heard they go all over the city, including the mean hills of Georgetown. If you think this group was crazy, there was another Sunday afternoon group that I heard was even crazier.

Anyways, if this group still exists, it may be something you wanna check out. Maybe someone can chime in as to whether this still exists or not. If it does, check it out. I used have a blast every time I went. Even got me to start rollerblading around the city by myself at nights. Now I'm too old and fat (not to be confused with phat) to be involved with any kind of physical activity.

I used to also like rollderblading around the University of Maryland at College Park campus. It's not too busy during in the evenings in the summer. Big parking lots, and you got that big ass hill on Campus Drive. If you're more adventurous, take a flight and rollerblade around the city of San Francisco. Those hills are great. Just remember to make a will to give me all of your belongs before you go out there.

06/16/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I don't know if I could rollerblade for 2 hours without my back cramping up and my ass falling off, but that sounds really cool.  I'll have to do my research and see if that group still meets.  Thanks, Lester.

06/16/2008 lester k. says:

They did take breaks every so often. Enough time to smoke a cigarette and down a few beers. If a fat out of shape bastard like me could do it, so can you. Damn. Makes me kinda wanna start rollerblading again.

06/16/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I appreciate the encouragement :)  I'm trying to do more various activites to increase the muscles that I'm working instead of just doing the same old boring elliptical machine and pilates.

07/11/2008 Megan M. says:

I was just planning to make a similar post to this. I can rollerSKATE my ass off, but rollerblading seems to be a different issue for me, even though I can usually work my way around ice skating. I've been wanting to break in my rollerblades, but I too am looking for a surface that is smooth, flat, and where I'm less likely to break anything - hahaha. It doesn't seem that there are really many places available. Are there even any indoor places around?

07/11/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

Megan~
I've looked up a lot of rinks to see what's in the area, and it's slim pickins for Silver Spring, well, basically Montgomery County, but there are some places in Laurel and Crofton MD that have adult skate nights.  Maybe we should all plan a trip just to make it worth it.  I can't think of too many people that rollerblade or skate, other than the people on this thread, of course.  I think I have one other friend that does and my husband avoids it because he's not good at it.

07/11/2008 Juan "Valdez" B. says:

GW Parkway is smooth and nice, but it can get BUSY

07/11/2008 Lee "Cluck U 911 Wings" T. says:

Couple of idea.

1. On weekends, DC park police closes Rock Creek Parkway to car traffic, so I see a lot people blading, running and cycling here. Two car lanes means less chance of bumping into people.

2. The capital crescent trail (Laura C recommended this trail in a previous response), extends from Bethesda Row to Thompson's boat house in Georgetown. This trail is pretty smooth, but way too crowded. I see skaters, runner and cyclist here. The road bikers go pretty fast (20+ MPH), come early before 8 am on weekends to avoid the big crowds.

3. Mt Vernon Trail, from Key Bridge to National Airport is another good choice. Short trail, maybe 7.5 miles round trip, VERY crowded.

I'd recommend locating some new neighborhoods near you, the roads are pretty smooth. These new developments usually have street lights and they are designed to restrict thru traffic. I usually skate in my neighborhood in Rockville.

Cold or rainy days if I get the itch, I look for parking garages and skate in them.

07/11/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I really like the parking garage idea...hadn't thought of that one.  Thanks, Lee!

07/11/2008 Angela "Pulchritudinous 'tude" M. says:

I really like the parking garage idea...hadn't thought of that one.  Thanks, Lee!

07/11/2008 Teresa J. says:

Rock Creek Park/ Carter Barron on Sundays they close off a section of the park and you can rollerblade there. Its cool b/c u don't have to worry about the sidewalk and you can watch other people ride by.