Weekend Adventures

Free to play board gaming all day until we close

I will gladly admit stealing this idea from [Capital Hiking Club](https://www.meetup.com/capital-hiking-club/) and [DC Urban Walkers](https://www.meetup.com/dc-urban-walkers/). This trek will have us starting at the US Botanical Gardens and go see the five best Christmas Trees around downtown DC. We'll gather at a restaurant afterwards to warm up, though it should be unseasonable warm on Saturday anyway. **[Follow the Alltrails Route Here](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-d05f566?u=i&sh=5s9wgt)** We will get started at 5pm in front of the [US Botanical Garden](https://maps.app.goo.gl/TZiAYQk6FbXeupvA6), at the fountain with the giant silver Christmas balls. I STRONGLY encourage you to get there at least a half hour early to see the dinosaur-themed model train display outside, and the architectural models of all the monuments made out of plants in the atrium, just inside the gardens building. Both close at 5:00. From there we will head to the following: 1\. A quarter\-mile northeast to the Capitol Tree 2\. Half a mile northwest on Pennsylvania Ave\. to the Canadian Embassy's tree \(my personal favorite\) 3\. Up Pennsylvania\, then right on 8th NW to the Christmas Market\. We will stop here for 20 minutes in case anybody wants to shop or get some grub\. The Poblano Chicken Chili at the taco truck was a hit and had no line to wait in\. 4\. From there we will head north on 9th St\. and make a left down Palmer Alley to see the various bougie displays at City Center\. 5\. We'll head back south on 11th to Pershing Park\, then the final tree in the Ellipse\. 6\. I was thinking of heading to [Astro Beer Hall](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZmqceDeQk1ibCKss5) afterwards, but I'm open to suggestions if someone has a better plan. Metro Center station is just another block east and can get you back to where you started from. Distance from Botanical Gardens to this point is 3.1 miles. **Getting there:** I know most of you are suburbanites, but the Metro IS your friend. The closest Orange/Blue/Silver/Green/Yellow station is L'Enfant Plaza, which connects to Metro Center (our end point) without transfer. Exit at Maryland Ave. - that is a ten minute walk. Closest Red Line station is Union or Judiciary, a 17-minute walk, though it also connects to our end point. Union Station also has an impressive tree, but a panhandler will likely demand payment if you stare at it for too long. If you are coming by car, C and D St SW are likely your best bets for parking. We will be starting just as all the museums close.

😀 Last Saturday Spades in Silver Spring! 👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏿 All skill levels are welcome. Get matched with a partner onsite. ♠️ Check out The DMV Spades Meetup Group https://meetu.ps/c/8qv5/1SV52/d on Meetup 🅿️ Parking is available in Wayne Ave Garage. Silver Spring Metro Station nearby. 😃 Come celebrate with us and have a great time! 📆 **Posted in multiple groups. So, expect a nice crowd.** 🌟 The fun starts at 6pm! RSVP today. 🍷 Alcoholic beverages are available! 🍗 Please support the business by ordering food/drinks.

Let’s go for a long walk and check out the Cabin John trail and Glen Echo park Start: Grosvenor - Strathmore Metro End: Friendship Heights Metro Length: 15 miles Pt. 1 (3 miles): https://maps.app.goo.gl/xbwJEqH2RkPU1zvN9 Pt. 2 (6 miles): https://montgomeryparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cabin-John-Stream-Valley-Trails-map-2023-0522-letter.pdf Pt. 3 (5.5 miles): https://maps.app.goo.gl/k2CLupw9nvL3UbjFA We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early. 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.

*Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.* As the creator of the Great Cookie Hike I am back and this year we will have bigger and better cookies :-) One of Adventuring's cherished Holiday traditions is what we call The Great Cookie Hike, held between Christmas and New Year's, as we stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) from Bethesda to the Georgetown waterfront. Everyone is asked to bring a batch of cookies (store-bought or home-made) that can be passed around to share at lunchtime. (In case you miss us at the metro station here is the link to walk from the metro to where the trail begins. Do the sign in sheet and collect the $5 fee at the metro cash or venmo. https://maps.app.goo.gl/HrzL1fXPApFzJ6st9) The total length of this easy one-way hike is about 8 miles, all of it level or downhill. We'll meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 27th, at the top of the stairs for the Bethesda Metro Station at Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. We'll lunch about an hour later at a convenient spot on the CCT that has plenty of seating. Soon after lunch we'll leave Maryland and enter the District of Columbia via a long downhill stretch towards the C&O Canal. Once we've leveled out on the Canal Towpath, we'll stop at Fletcher's Cove for a restroom break. Our final leg takes us down to the CCT terminus on the Georgetown Waterfront near Key Bridge. Optional refreshments follow at an eatery/watering hole TBD. Bring water, snacks, comfortable walking shoes, $5 for the Adventuring trip fee, and whatever you need if you want to get back to our Bethesda starting point by Metrobus or Metrorail. Optional meeting for drinks and food and Dupont Italian Kitchen at 1637 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 [https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202 ](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202)

**Want to help bring your city’s community together?** We’re looking for local hosts to organize small group lunches, evening drinks, mixers, movie get-togethers and curated experiences. **No experience necessary,** just a friendly attitude, some local knowledge, and a willingness to meet a few new people. After each event, we’ll send a short feedback form so we can improve and support you. The host will also be able to provide feedback so we can learn what worked and what didn't. **[Click here](https://form.questionscout.com/6926c9ab87a828a5c11a79fc)** to apply and get started: if you’re selected, we’ll reach out for a quick screening call.

Spend your Sunday morning with us on a scenic hike along the C&O Canal Towpath. This is the perfect opportunity to **meet new friends**, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy the beauty of Great Falls from the Maryland side. We'll walk along the towpath, chat along the way, and take a well-deserved break at the **Great Falls Overlook** to soak in the stunning waterfall views. Whether you're here for the hike, the conversation, or both, this adventure is all about enjoying the journey together! This is an **easy and beginner-friendly hike** which is generally flat with a few gentle inclines and a manageable 180 feet of elevation gain. The towpath is well-maintained and ideal for all fitness levels, making it a great choice for those looking to ease into hiking or simply enjoy a relaxed outdoor experience. To learn more about the trail, click the link in the **Trail Map section below**. **Meeting Time & Location:** Join us at **9:30 AM at the Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**. We'll meet at the trailhead, located midway down the parking lot on the right side (as you enter). **Distance:** 7 miles **Elevation Gain:** 131 feet **Difficulty:** Easy This hike is accessible for all skill levels, taking place on the towpath and Berma road, which both feature mostly flat ground and wide paths. **Estimated Duration** This hike is expected to take approximately 3 hours. **Pace:** Moderate Pace We’ll maintain a steady, comfortable pace with regular but brief breaks for a balanced mix of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Free parking is available at the **Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**, which is also our meeting point. **Trail Maps (AllTrails)** [Take a Hike! @ Great Falls Overlook (Maryland, towpath)](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-23-2025-7e6b20d?u=i&sh=ylk43q) **Restrooms** Restrooms are not available on this hike. **Dog Attendance** For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding! **Lunch After the Hike** Following the hike, we’ll head over to TBD for a casual lunch. It’s the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, spark new ones, and unwind with your fellow hikers. Whether you’re new to the group or a regular, we’d love for you to join us - and for many, this might just be the best part of the hike!

Socialize, mingle and dance the night away, your memorable one, rubbing your shoulder with DC's party snobs. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. We will rotate attendees. So that everyone meets everyone. You would get to meet your future friends/acquaintances/buddies/pals /partner-in-crimes or may be more:) To hang out/go out or do things together. Also, this is an ideal event if you are new in town or not! ***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** **This is also a wicked 'MeRtUp'!** **What is MERTUP?:) Mer + Meetup = Mertup.** **Mer is known as the Meetup guy. He likes to connect people and his fans coined that name for him. So, at his events, everyone will become a Wing Person to everyone:) When you get get there, we will introduce you to someone and you will be responsible to introduce that person to another person. That is MERTUP!** We will have specials, including our usual suspect MERtini:) Dress code : Weekend Casual Event is free and 21+ * Come one, come all; YOU COULD FLY SOLO TOO:) This is the most friendliest event you have ever attended! * Feel free to invite your friends. They don't necessarily have to be a member * Ideal for either you are new in town or not, to make friends and acquaintances * RSVP on Meetup is required. That is how we check you in. * We will have a registration station and check you in. Cover is $20. **But it is FREE with RSVP.** **Fellas, it is hard to pass on this!**

Socialize, mingle and dance the night away, your memorable one, rubbing your shoulder with DC's party snobs. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. We will rotate attendees. So that everyone meets everyone. You would get to meet your future friends/acquaintances/buddies/pals /partner-in-crimes or may be more:) To hang out/go out or do things together. Also, this is an ideal event if you are new in town or not! ***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** **This is also a wicked 'MeRtUp'!** **What is MERTUP?:) Mer + Meetup = Mertup.** **Mer is known as the Meetup guy. He likes to connect people and his fans coined that name for him. So, at his events, everyone will become a Wing Person to everyone:) When you get get there, we will introduce you to someone and you will be responsible to introduce that person to another person. That is MERTUP!** We will have specials, including our usual suspect MERtini:) Dress code : Weekend Casual Event is free and 21+ * Come one, come all; YOU COULD FLY SOLO TOO:) This is the most friendliest event you have ever attended! * Feel free to invite your friends. They don't necessarily have to be a member * Ideal for either you are new in town or not, to make friends and acquaintances * RSVP on Meetup is required. That is how we check you in. * We will have a registration station and check you in. Cover is $20. **But it is FREE with RSVP.** **Fellas, it is hard to pass on this!** http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/7/5/6/600_434918742.jpeg http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/1/3/6/600_418768982.jpeg http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/7/9/c/600_434918812.jpeg

We meet on Sundays at 8 a.m. for training runs on some of DC's best trails, including Rock Creek Park and the surrounding area. We typically meet at either Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, or Roosevelt Island, depending on the route. Details of the weekly schedule can be found here: https://new.vhtrc.org/runs/sip We hope you can join us for a run! All paces and levels of trail experience are welcome for these runs, which range in distance from 6 to 9 miles.

\*\* We'll be starting a little earlier this Sunday in light of the long weekend. We'll still host Nemesis@ 6pm, but we'll use the extra time to play some longer games - perhaps Rising Sun or Guardians of Atlantis. \*\*