An Urban Excursion in Ballston

This ~4.5mile easy walk is paved & flat albeit one hill. Pace: 3mph. The trek traverses the Ballston suburb of Arlington, VA, starting & finishing at the Ballston Metro Station (OR/ SV line). Highlights include some street statues, a mosaic tiling meander, and a snobby lobby.

The circuit starts with a saunter to the Ball Family Cemetery which secretly hides in the city sprawl. The trek then bops between buildings, including one of the former Bob Peck Chevy Dealership. From here the walk ambles about the neighborhood, gandering atop a parking garage to the bicycle- heavy- but- friendly Custis Trail before pit stopping in Hayes Park, home to a playground and "sprayground" that features a stone model of the Solar System; can you spot all the celestial bodies?

Latter of the trek passes the David M. Brown Planetarium, continuing along Quincy Street, then frolics by a few fountains: one box- shaped, one memorializing those involved in the Korean War, & one elongated-- oh my! The circuit soon enters an ELEVATOR, ascending to the top of the Ballston Quarter Mall, en route to an Ice Hockey Rink. After descending from a second ELEVATOR, the walk concludes through the mall, crossing over two bridges that curtail cleverly.

NOTES=
1. Trail Forecast: MAP | Street shoes/ sneakers best. NO dogs. Restroom & water refills located at Hayes Park.
2. Metro commuting advised but car parking is available on-street, which should be free on weekends.
3. Post- social @Ballston Quarter Mall Food Hall
4. Footnote: This walk is a pseudo spin-off/ sequel to a Meetup I previously hosted here.

We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early. Note, we often limit the RSVPs to keep group sizes manageable. If you are on the waitlist but would really like to join, reach out to the organizer.

Our events prioritize metro accessibility by meeting and ending at metro stations. Sometimes we start/stop at the same station, sometimes we do not. Please double check the event description to see if you can manage transportation.

If you would like to support these 'Meetup meanders', you can do so here: PayPal or CashApp.
Your RSVP to this Meetup is your digital attestation & signature that you agree to: RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS, the host and all participants of the event, from any and all claims, demands, losses, and liability arising out of or related to any LOSS/ INJURY, DISABILITY, OR DEATH I may suffer, to person or property, to the fullest extent permitted by law.