Right across the Potomac River from the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial in the Virginia side of the District of Columbia, you will find Arlington. These 4 fascinating tourist areas of Arlington, Virginia are just a few of a county that offers many attractions just minutes from the capital city, making it well worth a visit.

Arlington real estate is also popular among those who work in D.C., especially for those who are raising a family, as it has larger homes and excellent schools, with the Arlington school district ranked among the best.

Whether you plan to buy, you are visiting the area, or for any other reason, you’ll want to check out these fascinating tourist areas.

4 Fascinating Tourist Areas of Arlington, Virginia

Arlington is home to treasured national monuments and memorials, making it the perfect jumping-off point for your Washington, D.C. areas to explore. Countless special spots and experiences: intriguing, off-the-beaten path. Set out by foot, Metro, or bike for car-free fun in Arlington and the nation’s capital!

Arlington National Cemetery area Overlooking the Potomac

Just on the other side of the Potomac, Arlington National Cemetery and its surrounds are some of the most popular tourist areas.

Established during the Civil War on land that Confederate General Robert E. Lee once owned, visitors can pay respects to the soldiers who died during the nation’s wars and were laid to rest here along with a number of famous Americans like First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who lies next to President Kennedy.

Joe Louis Barrow, better known to the boxing world as Joe Louis, was buried here in 1981 at the request of Mrs. Louis, with President Ronald Reagan waiving the burial requirements.

The cemetery is also home to the Tomb of the Unknowns, along with multiple memorials and monuments. Arlington House has grounds near the entrance featuring gardens and outbuildings that include former slave quarters. The military guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is changed every hour on the hour from October 1 through March 31, and every half hour from April 1 through September 30.

It is an elaborate ceremony worth watching, when the Tomb Guard marches exactly 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. Make sure to add it to your tour of the cemetery.

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island can only be accessed by driving through the Virginia side, so it’s typically considered part of Arlington even though it’s technically part of Washington, D.C. A nature preserve, it floats in the middle of the Potomac River with Arlington on one bank and D.C. on the other.

It features a massive memorial to Theodore Roosevelt that includes a statue of the president along with three miles of nature trails that wind through a variety of environments, including swamplands, uplands, and forests.

The island has been known by several names, such as Barbados Island and My Lord’s Island. Still, when it was given to the American people in memory of Roosevelt, it became Theodore Roosevelt Island.  If you enjoy wildlife viewing, walking or running, canoeing or kayaking, you are in for a treat!

Gravelly Point Park

Gravelly Point Park is an area within the National Park Service’s George Washington Memorial Parkway, with its proximity to Reagan National Airport making it an ideal spot for aviation enthusiasts.

Many come to enjoy watching the planes take off and land, coming so close it’s exhilarating and perhaps a bit unnerving too. It sits right along the Potomac River, providing a picturesque place for a picnic too.

During the weekend you will be amazed at all the boaters, cyclists, and airplane spotters visiting the park. Its unique location makes it one of the best spots in the United States for airplane spotting.

Fort C.F. Smith Park

Home to the restored 20th-century Hendry House preserved earthworks from the Civil War fort, a powder magazine, and gun emplacements along with nature trails, a lush canopy of trees, and open meadows, this beautiful 19-acre park is ideal for nature and history buffs alike.

It was named in honor of General Charles Ferguson Smith, who died in 1862 following a leg infection, with dysentery aggravating the condition. It linked the Potomac River to the row of fortifications known as Arlington Line just south of D.C., which were intended to protect the U.S. capital from an invasion by the Confederate Army.

Many wildlife observation opportunities too so! So, be on the lookout for deer, foxes, rabbits, and squirrels.

The park also has an ornamental Peace Garden and hosts a man-made Bird Creek, which attracts both migratory and native birds like Screech and Barred Owls.

It also offers a wide variety of tree species, unique varieties originally planted by Dr. Hendry including the Japanese Raisin Tree, Ginko, Bottle-Brush Buckeye, English Walnut, and Royal Paulownia. There are native hardwood forest trees and an abundant assortment of plants and flowers.

Pentagon City

Pentagon City: Situated adjacent to the Pentagon, Pentagon City is a bustling urban neighborhood that is home to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, a large shopping mall with a wide range of retail stores and dining options. It’s a great place for shopping enthusiasts and offers convenient access to the nearby Pentagon Row, which features additional shops and restaurants.

So if you are thinking of taking a road trip now during the summer is a great time to visit these 4 fascinating tourist areas of Arlington, Virginia. Many are not flying right now due to the pandemic, but if you do, here are some fun things to do during your flight!

Have you visited any or all of these 4 tourist areas of Arlington? Let’s talk about it in the comments!