Spray Parks (also called splash zones and splash pads) have become a popular way to escape the summer heat. Since there is no standing water, the parks don’t need lifeguards and only require limited supervision. Splash zones also serve as a healthy replacement to the removing of fire hydrant caps, a common tradition during summer months.

This splash pad has a large area for children to enjoy the water. It offers ground-level jets, dumping buckets, and continuous spray-down water sprayers, shaped as semicircles coming out of the ground for running under and through. There are benches set up around the spray pool and areas where parents can sit back and soak in the sun. There is not much shade, however, so bring sunscreen.

Petworth Spray Park also sits adjacent to a playground, giving kids a terrestrial opportunity for added fun. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.   

Sometimes, in the heat of the summer, it is necessary to take a dip. If you're looking to swim laps (harnessing your inner Michael Phelps), play Marco Polo, or do a cannonball off of a diving board, Banneker Pool is the place for you.

It is both spacious and family-friendly. It has a nice lounge area for sunbathing and clean locker rooms as well as other amenities, such as food and drinks. The pool is free for D.C. residents. One just has to show some form of identification.

If you are a non-D.C. resident, the rates range from $4 for children and seniors to $7 for adults. Banneker Pool is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays (closed on Thursdays) and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Fletcher’s Cove is an angler’s paradise and a welcomed refuge from the commotion of the city. It is located on the Potomac River, between the Chain and Key bridges and within the C&O Canal National Park. Here, you will see fishermen perched atop rocks and wading through the Potomac River gently as to not disturb potential catches.

In the springtime, Fletcher’s Cove is heavily frequented by fishing enthusiasts. They are eager to catch the seasonally abundant shad along with some white perch and striped bass that can be found milling about. The runs are very plentiful.

During the summer, the heat makes the fish pretty sluggish, but if you’re looking to do some fishing on the Potomac River, this is still an ideal place. One can also visit the nearby Fletcher’s Boathouse for aquatic vehicle rentals. Here, the customer can rent four-person paddleboats for $16 an hour, or the patron can pay $30 up front to have the boat the entire day. They also offer kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at Fletcher’s.

The hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Next to the Key Bridge overpass, one will find the Key Bridge boathouse. The boathouse sits on the peaceful shore of the Potomac River. It is just a short distance from the Georgetown Waterfront with its hustling and bustling eaters and drinkers in salmon-colored shorts. Here, the customer will be able to rent kayaks, canoes, and standup paddleboards.

These water mobiles provide fresh and original views of the waterfront, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the C&O Canal along with many of the city’s most eye-catching monuments. If one seeks more novelty on the Potomac River, the boathouse offers a cherry blossom tour, standup paddleboards, yoga/fitness classes, and tours in the morning, evening, and night. (The tours are done primarily by kayak).

The boathouse opens at 9 a.m. during the week and 8 a.m. on weekends. They close at 7 p.m. unless you are doing the moonlit kayak tour.

If you have a desire to see the incredible sights of D.C., but prefer to do it while pretending you're Jack Sparrow, Boomerang Boat Tour's Pirate Ships are a dream come true. The 54-foot pirate ships set out from Georgetown's Waterfront day and night five days a week.

They are equipped with 12 water cannons, pirate flags, a crow's nest that sits atop a mast, and a fully functioning, fully stocked bar. As welcomed guests, the traditionally garbed swashbuckling crew will allow you to travel from starboard to portside freely. Here, a landlubber can truly soak in the majestic views of D.C. And many say D.C.'s monuments are a treasure in and of themselves, especially under the moonlight.

The cruise lasts two hours, plenty of time to plunder beverages with salty sea dwellers, and the ships can fit 90 people so bring your friends. If pirate ships are not your bag, that's ok. Boomerang Boat Tours also offers party yachts and a party boat that delivers fun Potomac River cruises 10 months of the year.

Located within the Georgetown Waterfront is the Thompson Boat Center. It is often less crowded than the Key Bridge Boathouse and offers a wider variety of river transportation. They offer kayaking, canoeing, standup paddleboarding, fitness classes, and workshops.

Where they stand out is in their offering of sweep boats (like the ones used in the Olympics for competitive rowing) and hydro biking, which is the paddling of a bicycle flanked by two pontoons on either side.

They also offer classes in sweep boat rowing, which is mostly fitness- and technique-based with groups, and workshops on sculling, which is one-person paddling.

The Thompson Boat Center is open to rowers at 6 a.m. and to every other rental starting at 8 a.m.    

The Anacostia River may not be as large as the Potomac (8.5 miles versus 405 miles), but it still has a plethora of options for water adventures. This often breathtaking river showcases splendid views from the water that the Potomac does not.

If one heads down to the Ballpark Boathouse, he or she can rent a kayak/canoe then venture out onto the river. If you’re a D.C. baseball fan, you can take in the sights and sounds of the nearby Nationals Stadium. Enjoy some peanuts and crackerjacks while bobbing within the confines of your canoe. Maybe you’ll even catch a foul ball.

Paddle beside the U.S. Capitol, Navy Yard, USS Barry, and Fort McNair for sights of impressive ships and monuments. You can even bring a rod and reel because the Anacostia is another of D.C.’s prime fishing locations. Tired from all this paddling? Dock your vessel at the nearby Yards Park, which always seems to have its own activities going on.

Ballpark Boathouse opens at noon during the week and 9 a.m. on weekends. All rented vessels are to be returned at 7 p.m.

Oxon Hill, Maryland's National Harbor is a gem of an attraction. It's located just south of Washington, D.C. The waterfront development is eye-catching with its pristine restaurants, shops, and innumerable outdoor activities.

The looming, brightly colored Capital Wheel perches happily above the Potomac on the foot of an outstretched wooden boardwalk. The ferris wheel's gondolas propel passengers 180 feet into the sky. This gives them bird’s eye views of the Potomac, Capital Dome, and the ant-like cars traversing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

If you have a bit of vertigo and don't like heights, you can also choose to ride the water taxis. They offer comfortable cruises showcasing views of historic Mount Vernon and the National Mall. If one prefers a smaller vessel, don't hesitate to rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Make sure to make it back in time to catch a movie or preseason football game on the 18-by-32-foot Jumbotron. It sits by the National Harbor’s coastline overlooking the Potomac, which is a great place to find yourself as the sun sets.