Beat the Summer Heat in Arlington
Spraygrounds, pools and more summer fun! Summers in Northern Virginia can get hot.
Arlington has plenty of places to stay cool when the temperature rises.
Here is a list of the best places in Arlington County to beat the summer heat.
Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center
Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center is an Arlington County facility dedicated to all things wellness. The best part about Long Bridge? The pools! There’s something for everyone. The 50-meter pool is perfect for cool workouts, the spas are there to relax, and the leisure pool is perfect for family fun. It’s got a lazy river, indoor sprayground and best of all – a slide! Check ahead to see what’s open and set up. There are also options for water basketball and volleyball. Learn more about Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center here.
![](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/LongBridgeAquatics20210829-0645-2_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7a5e2baae06ef2810d63ecf5dc65e314 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/LongBridgeAquatics20210829-0645-2_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=72882edb10f29e61653204807c768f04 450w)
Spraygrounds
No matter where you're staying, there probably is a park nearby to cool off with water fun. Arlington has spraygrounds – think playgrounds with squirting water – at Drew Park, Hayes Park, Lyon Village Park and Virginia Highlands Park. Kids 8 to 80 love the interactive water features at Mosaic Park and Penrose Square. (Note to self: Check out Echo, the public art piece created by Richard Deutsch in the square to see how your voice is magically projected. Wear water shoes and come prepared to get wet. Learn more about spraygrounds and find the one nearest you here. Another wet option in Arlington is Ocean Dunes Waterpark, part of NOVA Park's Upton Hills Regional Park.
![](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/VirginiaHighlandsSpray20170529-045-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3fac3641164b0d8842fd4b200c51d5bc 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/VirginiaHighlandsSpray20170529-045-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c89ad0b06bb626b121f6b221c442eb42 450w)
Keep Cool in Nature
Commune with nature and history in Arlington’s three nature centers: Long Branch, Gulf Branch, and Potomac Overlook nature centers, which include indoor (think air conditioning) and outdoor exhibits and trails. Fort C.F. Smith Visitor Center is nestled within a beautiful park near the Potomac River and has interesting exhibits about Arlington’s rich Civil War past.
![](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/ArlCntyParksSpring2020-LongBranch-0054-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1f4be6bc571e721cd9596c635fe1e68e 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/ArlCntyParksSpring2020-LongBranch-0054-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=db860020bfa29b9505d74475b201908f 450w)
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![People walk by a spinning carousel and other rides at the Arlington County Fair](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Arlington-County-Fair_609ccc0e5477b265684c7b706e93c704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=5c4af9bf8796f7074ab610b35a5d2ccf 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Arlington-County-Fair_609ccc0e5477b265684c7b706e93c704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=928c9537981b96ba0eb7f8e835cdb363 400w)
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Featured:
625 S Carlin Springs Rd Arlington, VA 22204 (703) 228-6535
3608 N Military Rd Arlington, VA 22207 (703) 228-3403
2845 N Marcey Rd Arlington, VA 22207 (703) 528-5406
2411 N 24th St Arlington, VA 22207 (703) 243-7329