Essential Arlington

Put on your walking shoes and gear up for a full day of some of Arlington’s well-known sights, mixed in with iconic eats.

Enjoy breakfast at Assembly

Start your day with breakfast and coffee from Assembly in Rosslyn. This modern food hall features seven unique dining outlets and four bars amid a grand, airy, comfortable venue. Grab a cup of coffee at Big Cup Coffee, a smoothie at Gigi's Greens & Grains or dig into a delicious Omelet at Great Lake Diner.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	BIKE	FOOT
7	5	9

Morning Walk to Theodore Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island via @saxtonti on Instagram

Take a scenic walk along the Mount Vernon Trail to Teddy Roosevelt Island, the only memorial to the 26th president of the United States in the nation’s capital is a small island in the Potomac River. Explore the 88-acre nature reserve's upland forests, swamps, and tidal marshes as well as the monuments dedicated to President Roosevelt.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	TRAIN	BIKE	FOOT
7	19	8	24

Stand in awe of the Marine Corps War Memorial

Marine Corps Memorial

Head back to the ground and take a 15-minute walk to the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima). Walk around the monument to experience the magnificent work of art and the views of Washington, D.C. Walk to the nearby Netherlands Carillon for an impromptu concert courtesy of the tower’s 50 bronze bells.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	BIKE	FOOT
3	5	11

Savor a seafood lunch at Quarterdeck

Quarterdeck restaurant @c_dufault

Take a break for lunch at the Quarterdeck, a 10-minute walk away. This longtime neighborhood hidden gem packs in the rustic charm along with delicious Maryland Blue Crabs (in season), seafood and down-home sides.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	TRAIN	BIKE	FOOT
9	21	9	23

Honor the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery

The Tomb of the Unknown Solider

Take a 20-minute stroll on the Custis Trail or a short ride down to the Arlington National Cemetery, the tranquil resting place for many of the USA’s fallen heroes. Purchase a ticket at the Welcome Center and take an interpretive trolley tour of the cemetery’s notable graves and sites. Take a moment of silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and see the Changing of the Guard, a ritual performed by The Old Guard — the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the U.S. Army.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	BIKE	FOOT
9	21	30

Celebrate U.S. airmen and women at the Air Force Memorial

Air Force Memorial

Walk through the cemetery or take a cab or carshare to the Air Force Memorial, honoring the service and heritage of the men and women in the Air Force. The design of this gleaming three-pronged structure was inspired by the contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	BIKE	FOOT
8	4	15

Take a moment of silence at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

Next make your way over to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, a moving tribute to the lives lost there during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Walk among the trees and take in a moment of silence.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	BIKE	FOOT
7	7	15

Shop 'til you drop at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City

Fashion Centre at Pentagon City

Walk from the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial through the pedestrian tunnel leading to Fashion Centre at Pentagon City to explore more than 170 restaurants and stores.

Travel Time in Minutes

CAR	TRAIN	BIKE	FOOT
10	25	25	64

Hit the town in the hip Clarendon neighborhood

Clarendon at night

Freshen up at your hotel and head out for a night on the town in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood. Sit down to dinner at Ambar for modern Balkan small plates and a craft cocktail, or dine on American fare with European influences at Green Pig Bistro.