It’s a glorious DC day out there today (and probably tomorrow), one of those rare ones where it’s sunny but not humid, crisp but not chilly. So we got ourselves out of bed early and headed out for a little urban exploration.

First stop: Teddy Roosevelt Island National Memorial, just off the George Washington Memorial Parkway. A tribute to Roosevelt - one of the major voices behind developing the national park system  -   the island was once a plantation, then later fell into ruin. Given to the park service by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association in the early 1930s, the island was planted with trees – thanks to the CCC – and allowed to evolve into a nature preserve. There’s also a statue of Teddy, along with some hiking trails and a boardwalk through the marshlands.

As might be expected on such a great day, we weren’t the only ones out there. Lots of parents with kids and dogs in tow, as well as kayakers on the river (bikes are not allowed on the island). Still, there were moments when we felt by ourselves in the woods. We even got up close to a small lizard with a blue tail, who was about to down a caterpillar. A nice respite, in the middle of the city.