5 Reasons Why Arlington Is the Ultimate Destination for Fitness Lovers

Fitness fan? Arlington has you covered with gyms, workout studios, parks, and trails galore — making it the Fittest City in America for eight consecutive years.

You can satisfy your every desire to stay active in Arlington, even while on vacation. Opportunities to move are everywhere, from cycling and climbing to hiking and yoga.

Pictured | Stay active in Arlington, Virginia!

1) Award-Winning Parks and Nature Centers

Arlington boasts the Seventh Best Park System in the Nation, according to the Trust for Public Land, with a whopping 157 parks and nature centers to explore. Their sports facilities, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds and lovely green spaces make it easy to stay in shape. Plus, you can play every sport imaginable, including baseball, basketball, handball, pickleball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and even bocce, disc golf, futsal and horseshoes.

2) Ample Gyms and Fitness Studios

With a variety of gyms and fitness studios — from boxing to yoga — there's nothing quite like working out here. Whether you're looking for a new challenge with a CrossFit class or a more relaxing workout at a yoga studio, Arlington has something for you. Many of Arlington's BIDs and neighborhood partnerships even offer free community programming seasonally, perfect for out-of-towners looking to work up a sweat without a gym membership!

Just keep swimming at the world-class Long Bridge Park Aquatics & Fitness Center with Arlington’s only Olympic-sized pool (accessible to many hotel guests) and a waterfront esplanade with dramatic views of Washington, D.C. Scale the climbing walls at Movement that cover more than an acre. Rev your heart rate at Praxi Pilates or move to the music — hip-hop, soca and afrobeat, that is — with high-intensity routines at Fete Dance Fitness. Get into the fighting spirit at BASH Boxing or Pentagon MMA.

3) Plenty of Trails for Hiking and Biking

Getting around on foot or on two wheels is second nature for many Arlingtonians, and easy for visitors, too.

Ride, run, hike or stroll through forests, over streams and past scenic vistas on Arlington's 17 trails. Create your own sightseeing tour along miles of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, mixed-use paths and quiet residential streets using ideas from two advocacy groups, BikeArlington and WalkArlington. The latter’s “Walkabouts” offer 20 different paths in different urban neighborhoods, each with different terrain, distance and sites of interest.

Bike along Washington & Old Dominion Trail’s 45-miles through the urban heartland and countryside of Northern Virginia. Or set out on two wheels on the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail from Rosslyn all the way to George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. It provides access to the region’s extensive network of bike paths and offers opportunities for two-wheeled tours of local monuments.

Hoof it on the wooded Trail at Lubber Run Park, where an amphitheater rewards you with summer performances. Pack a picnic for the paved Four Mile Run Trail. Or take on the Arlington Loop, a 16-mile route with scenic views of the Washington, D.C., skyline, Reagan National Airport and much more.

4) Opportunities for Runners

Visiting Arlington for work or pleasure? There’s no need to give up your daily running routine. Especially because Arlington has so many attractive trails, paths, and streets with interesting sights around every corner.

Track runners head to the Washington-Lee High School, whose track is open to the public before and after school hours and is lit late into the evening. The high school is right by the Custis Trail, which offers great rolling hills. For a smoother run, try the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD), which was created on top of an old railroad line, so it has no dramatic inclines.

If you’re feeling really ambitious, go for the paved Arlington Loop, a mashup of four trails - the Custis Trail, Four Mile Run, Mount Vernon Trail and W&OD - all linking together for a 16-miler.

Forgot your shoes? Not to worry. The pros at Pacers Running Store, Arlington’s largest and most respected running specialty store in Clarendon, can hook you up with the gear you need and provide trail advice.

Who says running has to be a solo sport? Participate in the Army Ten-Miler or the Marine Corps Marathon, annual Arlington-based races that are sure to inspire you. In November, participate in the Arlington Turkey Trot for some seasonal fun and post-feast movement in Lyon Park.

All of the trails in Arlington are designed for bikers, hikers and runners, so be considerate of others along the path.

5) Easy Access to the Potomac River

Get your workout on the water as you canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Just a short walk across Key Bridge from Rosslyn, the Key Bridge Boathouse provides rentals and classes and guided tours.