It can be difficult to imagine any sense of solace during finals season, especially as one spends yet another glassy-eyed late night in Gelman Library, perturbed by the sound of fellow students cracking open energy drinks and the rapid typing of essay rewrites.

But as the number of days left in the semester rapidly dwindles, the District is getting warmer, sunnier and livelier, despite final assignments rapidly racking up. While laying on the Kogan Plaza grass may be a revitalizing, temporary reset, the looming pressures of deadlines and exams makes it difficult to seem like a true break as campus buildings remain within eyesight. 

While it may seem like any minute spent away from your laptop is a waste of precious time, studies continuously show that, when feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to take a step back, breathe and get some vitamin D to increase your overall productivity. When organizing the upcoming week’s Google Calendar, if you can, carve out some time during an afternoon with a sunny forecast for some escapism.

Here are some ways to take a much-needed breather this finals season by embracing D.C.’s loveliest season outside the boundaries of campus.

Traverse the Capital Crescent Trail

It’s difficult to find much green space in the District outside of the tourist-infiltrated National Mall. The Capital Crescent Trail, stretching seven miles from Georgetown to Bethesda, Maryland, offers a scenic respite within the metropolis, with views of the Potomac River, lines of lush trees and 160 varieties of wildflowers. 

Accessible to both cyclists and walkers, the trail is an ideal spot to clear your mind, get some fresh air and exercise after days of motionless study sessions, due to its easy-to-follow pathway and vegetation-filled views. On your excursion, you’ll encounter a collection of passersby, including some furry friends sniffing the foliage. Bikes can be rented at the Georgetown Harbor Capital Bikeshare for just a $1 unlock fee and an additional $3 per hour.

You can start your journey at the southern trailhead, located off of Whitehurst Freeway NW in Georgetown, right across from M Street near the infamous Exorcist steps, about a mile from campus. Through the shady trees, the Arlington, Virginia, skyline peeks through, and the path contains a number of notable areas, including infamously spooky Foundry Branch Tunnel, a dark, graffitied passageway. 

If you’re feeling adventurous and have the time to do so, you can take the seven-mile trip all the way up to Bethesda, Maryland — the northern trailhead is located right by the intersection of Bethesda and Woodmont avenues, just a 10 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro station. However, the waterfront portion of the trail ends on the border of D.C. and Maryland, four miles from the Georgetown trailhead. For a shorter trip, end your journey at Fletcher’s Boathouse by the Palisades and take an 18-minute stroll to the Mount Vernon Campus, where you can hop on the Mount Vernon Express for a lift back to Foggy Bottom.

Borrow a book and read outdoors on Roosevelt Island

Support a local library and save some cash by opening a library card with the DC Public Library. Visit one of its local branches, like the nearby West End Neighborhood Library, which is a less-than-10-minute walk from campus. 

Unwind from a semester of heavy textbook reading and political science theory with a book you can breeze through in one sitting, whether that be a dependable classic or a new novella found hidden within the shelves. The end of the academic year is not the time to finally tackle Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” unless that’s your idea of a carefree afternoon. Instead, peruse through a poetry anthology, or try a more concise Sally Rooney novel. 

After grabbing your borrowed prose, take a Metro ride over to Rosslyn and walk over to Theodore Roosevelt Island, a natural escape located within the Potomac River. Pack a blanket and some snacks and lay among the greenery, basking in the quiet and solitude while escaping to your literary world of choice. Immersing yourself into a captivating story can help cast aside your real-world anxieties about Blackboard notifications and the final exam schedule, at least for a little while. 

Listen to some tunes at the Capitol Riverfront May Music Series

Every Friday evening in May, Southeast D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood offers free, outdoor concerts. The May Music Series will take place each week on the central block of Canal Park from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring currently undisclosed local musicians. 

After a long, tiring week of studying, take the trip south with a friend and listen to some Washington-based artists, all while enjoying the warm weather and views of the Anacostia River. The neighborhood’s website describes the three-acre park as a “sustainable” green space featuring Earth-conscious features, like rain gardens that prevent runoff into the river and geothermal green energy pavilions, a welcome change from the dead patches of grass in Square 80.

To make the most of your trip, you and your friend can take a 10-minute walk after the concert over to Ice Cream Jubilee to grab a couple cones. Try out a seasonal flavor — currently Cherry Blossom Cheesecake — or a classic, like Coffee Toffee or Salted Caramel, to ring in the summer.