Secrets of Arlington: The Ride Series

[Erin Potter]

Hi y’all,

BA is working on coming up with a series of rides called “Secrets of (neighborhood name)” that will be fun exploratory social rides. Something like, “Secrets of Crystal City” or “Secrets of Shirlington,” etc. The “Secret Bike Passageways” thread and some comments on the Comfort Map is what gave me the idea to post here.

So I’m looking to plumb all the awesome-ness of the forum for help. What’s your favorite weird little thing you pass all the time on a ride? Any haunted houses? Favorite piece of public art? Neat community group that should get a shout out? Secret murals? Secretly awesome sides streets? The tree mermaid of absurd proportions on Lee Highway would have been perfect–but we’ll just have to mourn her loss. Pretty much anything that would be fun to show someone on a bike ride, I’m interested in.

Looking forward to seeing what you all have to share!

Topic

[dasgeh]

This house (in our neighborhood, no less). And it’s no secret, as it’s been written up in ArlNow, but the various carved trees, including this one (which isn’t carved in the picture, but is now).

[Erin Potter]

FAVORITE HOUSE. I missed it being in ArlNow…

[dasgeh]

@Erin Potter 123403 wrote:

FAVORITE HOUSE. I missed it being in ArlNow…

The tree (second secret) was in ArlNow, not the house.

[Tim Kelley]

Tree house: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8546922,-77.0875433,3a,50.2y,291.32h,89.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sb5gjB0B_H0JRp8Ze1lUz3g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[KLizotte]

There’s the Long Branch Nature Center off the W&OD; it was good for a short visit, esp if the frogs are out (they are very noisy!). I haven’t been to the other two.

And there is the Arlington Historical Society along Arlington Ridge (I haven’t been there either). There is also some sort of historical plot/archaeological remains at DCA as well.

Then there is the DEA Museum in Pentagon City but that is only open on weekdays.

Perhaps you could get permission for a group to ride around Ft Myer? A lot of the buildings date back to the Civil War area and some of the residential areas are really pretty.

http://parks.arlingtonva.us/parksfacilities/nature-centers-programs/

[dasgeh]

I like Fort CF Smith Park. And Potomac Overlook is especially awesome via bike, because you can bike all the way to the nature center.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

I realize this isn’t quite in the right county but I’ve always hoped someone would shut it down for a few hours so I could figure out how to do some laps.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9510[/ATTACH]

Speaking of more no-bikes-allowed areas, the Army Navy Country Club hill is fun, and I’ve also always wanted to bike around the various loops inside Arlington Cemetery. Could that be made possible by a group/event?’

Oh and this is probably pretty obvious to a lot of people here but the little used section of the 4 mile run trail that starts on the south side of Columbia Pike and crosses the river several times on the way up to Glencarlyn is one of the most beautiful and most fun paved riding available in the area. I wish more trails were designed like this. It’s like a roller coaster for your bike. The goofy under-bridge crossings at S George Mason drive is a sight to see as well.

[Erin Potter]

Someone dropped a bunch of spaghetti and made highways!
And that part of Four File Run Trail IS a lot of fun, too.

[KLizotte]

There is the parking garage in Rosslyn where Deep Throat met with the journalists. There is a plaque outside the garage commemorating the site. I stumbled upon it by accident one day.

[Tim Kelley]

@KLizotte 123494 wrote:

There is the parking garage in Rosslyn where Deep Throat met with the journalists. There is a plaque outside the garage commemorating the site. I stumbled upon it by accident one day.

https://www.arlnow.com/2011/08/17/historical-marker-installed-outside-deep-throat-garage/

[Steve O]

@KLizotte 123494 wrote:

There is the parking garage in Rosslyn where Deep Throat met with the journalists. There is a plaque outside the garage commemorating the site. I stumbled upon it by accident one day.

Not only is it an Arlington “historical” site, but it played a role in the BAFS2014 Founding Fathers side bet.

[chris_s]

The Skinny House in Lyon Park
The Tunnel Under Route 50
Fort Bennett Park and the Palisades Hiking Trail

[Tim Kelley]

Here’s the best one we’ve come up with so far: The house that has thick groves of bamboo growing on either side of it, with a purple sign out front that says, “Welcome to Alligator Park. Alligator View Hours”

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

@Tim Kelley 123524 wrote:

Here’s the best one we’ve come up with so far: The house that has thick groves of bamboo growing on either side of it, with a purple sign out front that says, “Welcome to Alligator Park. Alligator View Hours”

This guy lives a block or two from my place, he’s really nice. You have to pay attention to notice it, but the alligator is there in the weeds. He’s made out of that corrugated black plastic lawn runoff tubing and some tennis balls.

If you’re in the neighborhood there’s a house with a weird sculpture in the front lawn that kind of looks like a 6′ Conch shell made out of steel and… mirrors? I don’t know why you would put that on your front lawn but to each his castle. It’s between south joyce and kent on 17th or 18th st s. I’ll just go outside and check this and will probably edit this post later after I do my run.

[KLizotte]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 123525 wrote:

This guy lives a block or two from my place, he’s really nice. You have to pay attention to notice it, but the alligator is there in the weeds. He’s made out of that corrugated black plastic lawn runoff tubing and some tennis balls.

If you’re in the neighborhood there’s a house with a weird sculpture in the front lawn that kind of looks like a 6′ Conch shell made out of steel and… mirrors? I don’t know why you would put that on your front lawn but to each his castle. It’s between south joyce and kent on 17th or 18th st s. I’ll just go outside and check this and will probably edit this post later after I do my run.

You mean this thing? https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8576558,-77.0648702,3a,75y,5.69h,80.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2KYASoVr29ipEuFK7IbE6A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en

[Author]

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