Please note: This tour has a rescheduled date (originally November 4, 2025).

Enjoy a fall morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.

Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.

Know Before You Go

• Tour participants meet at the Theodore Roosevelt Island Bridge off the parking lot (George Washington Memorial Parkway northbound lanes between Roosevelt Bridge and Key Bridge).

• Bring water, a snack, and comfortable, sturdy shoes. This is an easy-to-moderate walk.

Additional Rescheduled Date Options for this Tour

• April 9
• April 10

General Information

• Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 7, 2026
• Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
• As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
• For additional tour information:
• Study Tour Policies
• Refund/Cancellation Policy