Southeast - Washington DC

Just returned from a four day series of father/son day trips in Virgina that unexpectedly spilled into DC. I was amazed by the quality and quantity of bike paths in and around DC. We apparently just scratched the surface riding around the monuments and Rock Creek, but are planning a return trip with the rest of the family in August for more DC riding as well as hitting the C&O. Any suggestions on routes and camping ? We originally planned a Washington-Pittsburgh tour, but I think spending more time in DC and car-hopping might be more interesting.

This is a pretty good area for biking, road and path.
August is a pretty hot/humid month here. I usually finish my rides by midday to keep from melting.
C&O is a nice ride, but it is a lot of the same if you do the whole length. DC to Great Falls on the C&O and MacArthur Blvd back gives you a nice variety. Make sure you stop at both Chain Bridge (look north up the Mather Gorge) and Widewater (IMO one of the prettiest spots on the C&O) as well as Great Falls, and on the way back stop at Great Falls Tavern, the abandon gold mines (at the entrance to Great Falls Park) and Glen Echo.
Other nice areas on the canal are around Harper's Ferry, Antietam Battlefield and along the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
Other good trails are the Mount Vernon (along the river to ..... Mount Vernon) and the W&OD (Alexandria to Purcelville)

Another popular trail is the Capital Crescent, Georgetown to Bethesda. Nice ride but can be crowded. Can be combined with Beach Drive and Rock Creek for a 20 mile loop. But I like to just ride up Beach Drive and Rock Creek Trail to Lake Needwood in Rockville. If you start in Georgetown it's about 50 miles r/t.

There is also good rural road riding near by: Loudon County, Faquier county, upper Montgomery County, Anne Arundel and lower Prince George County. Maybe a ride around, and up Sugar Loaf Mountain.

In today's Washington Post, there is an article on 5 campgrounds you can bus or bike to....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/26/AR2008062603227.html

Two good resources for biking in DC:

http://www.bikewashington.org/

http://www.waba.org/

The trail to Mount Vernon is great as is the W&OD trail.

The Mount Vernon trail runs through Old Town Alexandria which has some great waterfront place, like the old Torpedo Factory, which is now an artist's center. The trail South rolls along the Potomac River all the way to Mount Vernon (the last hill will get your heart rate up a little bit).