National Harbor With Small Dogs: How We Like to Spend an Afternoon

Spending a relaxed afternoon exploring National Harbor with Archie and Saydie.

I'd often noticed National Harbor from across the Potomac while exploring Alexandria's waterfront. Even though it was only a couple of miles away, we'd never taken the time to visit. One weekday, looking for something a little different than one of our usual parks or nature walks, we finally headed over to see what it was like.

Archie taking in our first views of the National Harbor waterfront.

At a Glance

• Best for: A relaxed waterfront stroll and lunch outside
• Time we spent: About 2 hours
• Best time to visit: Weekdays if you prefer a quieter atmosphere
• Parking: Easy during our weekday visit

Parking was easy, and within a few minutes we were walking along the waterfront. National Harbor has a livelier feel than many of the places we usually visit, but since it was a weekday, it never felt especially crowded. People were out walking, boats filled the marina, and there were plenty of places to grab something to eat, but there was still more than enough room to stroll at our own pace.

It wasn't long before Archie found the ducks. He stood at the edge of the water watching them while Saydie kept an eye on everything happening around us.

We eventually wandered farther along the waterfront and found my favorite spot of the afternoon—a large wooden pavilion right along the water. From there we had an open view across the Potomac, and we spent a while sitting in the shade watching the boats come and go.

Exploring the waterfront with the Capital Wheel in the background.

When we were ready for lunch, we picked up takeout from one of the nearby restaurants and found a table on an outdoor patio. Since it was a weekday, it was quiet enough for Archie and Saydie to relax underneath the table while I enjoyed my lunch. Archie and Saydie are happiest when they can relax beside me while I eat outside, so finding a quiet patio like this is always a bonus. One of the fountains along the walk briefly caught Archie's attention before we continued exploring.

Archie pausing to investigate one of the fountains at National Harbor.

If your ideal afternoon is several miles of hiking through the woods, National Harbor probably isn't the outing you're looking for. But if you enjoy strolling along the waterfront, stopping to watch the boats, and ending the afternoon with lunch outside, it's an easy place to spend a few hours.

Many of the restaurants and shops are just a short walk from the waterfront.

What I Like About National Harbor

National Harbor turned out to be exactly the kind of afternoon we were looking for. Sometimes it's nice to have somewhere you can simply wander without feeling like you need to check attractions off a list. We enjoyed walking along the waterfront, watching the boats, finding a shady place to sit, and ending the afternoon with lunch outside while Archie and Saydie relaxed under the table.

I'm glad we finally made the short trip across the river. It was an easy outing, close to home, and a nice change from our usual parks and trails. A couple of hours turned out to be just the right amount of time before heading home.