The National Mall plays host to a variety of events throughout the summer, and one of the most popular upcoming events is the Ranger Run on June 25. This unique event combines a bit of exercise with plenty of education for a one-of-a-kind experience you won't forget.
Here's how it works: put on your running shoes and grab a bottle of water, then show up at the run's starting point, the Washington Monument Lodge, at 9 a.m. You'll meet a park ranger (also decked out in running gear), and then you'll embark on a group jog around the National Mall at a pace of about 10 minutes per mile. There are many stops along the way, both to allow you to catch your breath and to give the ranger an opportunity to tell you about the history of the sites you're seeing along the way. You'll learn about the city's most famous monuments, as well as a number of lesser-known spots.