I meant Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

Patapsco valley state park. Many sections.
Blochouse-off River rd. few people

Of course, I meant Hiking Upward not Upworthy (election brain).

OP here ... thanks for all the options and advice (even suggestions we won't use Friday like good Rock Creek options for kids and fun city strolls, will be filed away for another time).

I forgot about Upworthy! I used to live on that site. Thanks for the reminder!

I think we'll try Billy Goat. Hopefully Friday will be less crowded and while I am indeed short (^^PP), we have lots of experience scrambling and to date not all that many achy parts

Billy Goat A is really tough for novice hikers. Lots of tricky bouldering. If you have bad knees, a bad back, or are just generally short (like my DW), you will NOT enjoy Billy Goat A.

Also, it was insanely crowded this last week. Lots of annoying, rude, impatient kids trying to pass older folks who were having issues on the rocks. Please follow trail courtesy rules.

Not exactly what you are looking for, but in the same situation recently, we did a city loop. Upper NW to Mt Pleasant, down 14th, through Shaw, over to Cap Hill, then back along the water and north at the WH up Connecticut.