Just minutes from the bustle of downtown, a footbridge over the Potomac River leads to something magical: an 88-acre island of pure forest dedicated to the great conservationist president, Theodore Roosevelt. Cars cannot reach it — only walkers, runners and dreamers.
Boardwalk trails wind through towering trees, wetlands and quiet coves where herons fish and turtles sunbathe. At the island’s center, a memorial plaza honors Roosevelt with a 17-foot bronze statue and stone tablets carrying his words about nature — words that feel more alive here than anywhere.
It is a joy for families, nature lovers and anyone craving calm. Reach it on foot from the Virginia side near Rosslyn, and allow a couple of hours for the full trail loop. Tip: go in the morning when wildlife is most active, bring binoculars if you have them, and wear shoes that can handle a little mud.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / John Boykin
