5 Outdoor Activities for Meeting Attendees and Groups in Arlington

The sun is out, and your group should be too! Check out these memorable outdoor activities that'll make your attendees remember your Arlington-based event for years to come.

Break free from your hotel or event venue and experience these Arlington sights that are truly a "breath of fresh air."

Pictured | Soar with your team at Climb UPton
Credit | Jonathan Kozowyk

1) Push Boundaries at Climb UPton

Groups can flex their adventure course skills at Arlington’s 90-element, adrenaline-pumping climbing course, Climb UPton, located in Upton Hill Regional Park. With varying levels of difficulty, climbers can choose their challenge with easy, medium, and hard features including zip lines, free fall, and more!



2) Take to the Trails

Take a group ride, run, hike or stroll through forests, over streams and past scenic vistas on Arlington's 17 trails. 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. Hoof it on the wooded trail at Lubber Run Park or trek the paved Four Mile Run Trail.

Pro tip: Didn't bring your bike with you on your trip? Try out the Capital Bikeshare! Rent a bike from over 300 stations, including 92 in Arlington, and return it to any station near your destination.

3) Take Arlington's Public Art Walking Tour

Who says you need a tour guide to adventure around Arlington with your team? Arlington's Public Art Walking Tour map is a completely FREE resource that will provide your group with hours of sightseeing around our various neighborhoods. Take a break from event programming, soak up some rays, and enjoy our destination's dynamic public art installations.

4) Visit an Arlington Park

Ranked as having the #7 Best Park System in America in 2025, Arlington has no shortage of outdoor oases to explore with your group. Some of our most frequented spots include:

Theodore Roosevelt Island - This wooded island and nature sanctuary on the Potomac River is connected to Arlington by a pedestrian bridge with an accompanying parking lot. Make sure to check out Teddy's prominent monument and take in the gorgeous natural landscape while your group is there.

Metropolitan Park - Nestled in the center of towering urban buildings, Metropolitan Park is the perfect natural escape from the hustle and bustle. While you're here, make sure to check out the numerous pieces of public art, including the iconic Queen City by Nekisha Durrett.

Gravelly Point Park - Pack a picnic and watch the planes fly by at Gravelly Point Park, located near Reagan National Airport. Visitors always manage to take the coolest photos of planes overhead while they're here!

Bon Air Rose Garden - Arlington's own Bon Air Park features a beautiful Memorial Rose Garden, blooming azaleas, shade, sun and ornamental tree gardens, in addition to playgrounds, sports courts and picnic areas.

See our full list of parks here.

5) Experience Must-See Monuments and Memorials

Arlington brims with historic sites and memorials that pay homage to our nation’s past, and the sacrifices made for our country, including the Air Force Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Military Women's Memorial, and the iconic Arlington National Cemetery. We highly recommend carving out some time during your meeting or event downtime to witness the landmarks Arlington is known oh so well for.

Let's Get Started

Our Arlington Convention and Visitors Service (ACVS) team is happy to help you find activities, speakers, and more to make your next meeting, conference, or reunion a smash hit! Contact Director of Sales and Visitor Services, Portia Conerly, at (703) 228-0873 or Destination Sales Manager, Roxana Rivera, at (703) 228-5108 to start planning your group's trip to Arlington today.

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Jackie Evans

Featured:

Queen City

Standing tall and vigilant, Queen City confronts the 1941 seizure of Black-owned land by the federal government for the construction of the Pentagon. With this work, 903 displaced residents of the Queen City neighborhood are represented by handmade ceramic vessels made in the shape and color of a drop of water.

In the spirit of collaboration, Durrett commissioned 17 Black ceramists from Washington D.C., California, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Georgia, Connecticut, Missouri, Florida, Minnesota, and Michigan to make 903 ceramic teardrop vessels that signify the displaced individuals of Queen City. In building this community, Durrett encourages the legacy of Queen City to live on in spite of its erasure. Community partners of this project include Arlington Arts, Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Arlington Historical Society, and Center for Local History at Arlington Public Library.

Arlington Public Art welcomes three new public art projects associated with Amazon's HQ2 Met Park development: Queen City by Nekisha Durrett; Shhh by Aurora Robson and Untitled Perched Objects by Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle. As part of the Metropolitan Park Redevelopment Project, public art in Metropolitan Park is intended to inspire interaction and dialogue, and bring a sense of community, human connection, and intimacy to the park.

The Metropolitan Park Public Space project is a joint effort between JBG Smith and Arlington County as part of the Arlington County Board approved Met Park Redevelopment Project.

Learn more about Nekisha Durrett. Learn more about Metropolitan Park Public Space Project.

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