Exercise by the Monuments for Fun DC Sightseeing!

Perhaps my kids' favorite running loop, this route takes you by six national monuments and memorials. With ample bathrooms, water stops, and sights to see along the way, it's a special run. The loop, not counting steps up into any of the memorials, is just about 2.5 miles.

Park along Ohio Drive SW, just behind the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (there is generally metered parking here, especially earlier in the day). Walk toward the Tidal Basin, you'll start your run just north of the Ohio Drive SW bridge. Pick up the paved path next to the Tidal Basin and run north. If you like, pop into the FDR Memorial—there are bathrooms and water fountains. Continue until you reach the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. We like to walk through here and take in all the amazing quotes. There are bathrooms, including a family restroom with changing table, and water fountains at the MLK Visitor Center behind the memorial.

Head towards the National Mall and cross over Independence. Keep an eye on the Lincoln Memorial and run along Independence towards it. You'll see The Korean War Veterans Memorial on your right. Stop to walk through it or keep heading to the Lincoln. Stop at the bottom of the memorial to fill up water and use the bathrooms. My kids love to race each other up the steps to see Abe. 

Both the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials are wheelchair accessible and have elevators, (check the website to be sure they're working). We've also left our stroller at the bottom and kept an eye on it while we climbed up. Turn to look down the Reflecting Pool and you'll see the World War II Memorial at the end. That's where you're headed.

Run alongside the Reflecting Pool until you reach the beautiful fountain at the World War II Memorial. W've just started moving again so we generally don't stay here long, but you can if your kids need another break. Otherwise, continue through the memorial, cross 17th Street and back over Independence towards the Tidal Basin. Pick up the path along the Tidal Basin again and follow it south towards the Jefferson Memorial. You'll run right by the Tidal Basin paddle boat rentals as well as a snack kiosk (the hours and seasons of operation vary).

Continue your run along the Tidal Basin until you reach the Jefferson. The entrance to the bathrooms and water fountains are under the stairs and we visit those first before heading up to see the memorial. When you're done, pick back up with the Tidal Basin path and run across the Ohio Drive SW bridge to return to the start of your run!