If you’re an avid rower, you know just how challenging and how rewarding the sport can be. Few sports build teamwork as much as rowing does, and communities of rowers are some of the most tightly-knit of all athletes. Now you can even find rowing communities online! Here's where to start:

USRowing.org
The website for the U.S. Rowing organization offers a number of truly impressive benefits for rowers of all ages and skill levels. The organization is open for both individual and team memberships, and members receive things like entry into high profile races, medical coverage, and more. If you’re not a member, you can still access the website’s event calendar, race recaps, and safety tips for free on the site.

World Rowing
If you’re interested in keeping up with competitive rowing worldwide, World Rowing is the place to look. This attractive website features athlete bios and the latest news from rowing competitions, from university level to continental teams. Training tips can help you improve your own personal times.

Rowing Magazine
Whether you already read the magazine or not, the Rowing magazine website is a great resource to keep up with the latest news from the sport’s main publication. Check out a free digital issue to read this month’s fascinating stories, or even subscribe to the print version right on the site.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Lars Plougmann

Conveniently located near Dulles International Airport and with a Marriott Suites hotel on-site, Worldgate Centre is an excellent option for out-of-town visitors, as well as a convenient all-in-one entertainment destintaion for locals. Perfect for a night out or a much-needed stop just off the bustling Dulles Toll Road, guests may wish to take in a film at Worldgate’s AMC cinema and follow it up with a meal at one of the many on-site restaurants offering a wide range of cuisine options from around the world, as well as classic all-American fare.

If you’ve had your fill of on-site eats, consider breaking a sweat at the Worldgate Sport and Health Club, where members can take advantage of a sprawling array of fitness equipment, join a team sport, register for personal or small group training or drop in on one of their many fitness classes, including aerobics, yoga and pilates. To reach a more relaxed state of mind, unwind with a visit to the Serenity Day Spa. Other convenient services at Worldgate include a cleaners, barber, florist and FedEx office.

Worldgate Centre
13025 Worldgate Drive
Herndon, VA 20170
(571) 382-1200
http://www.worldgatecentre.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/worldgate-centre-herndon

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/www.bluewaikiki.com

Don’t you hate it when you buy produce at the grocery store, only to come home and realize that it’s tough and flavorless? Or when you bring home fruits and they become mushy and overripe before you can eat them? If you want to learn how to choose fruits and vegetables right at their peak of ripeness, these simple tips can help.

Check the color.
It’s important to know what color each fruit or vegetable should be before you purchase it. Most fruits should be the most vibrant shade of their expected color, such as bright red apples or sunny yellow bananas. Green vegetables should be a deep, dark green, and other vegetables, like carrots, should not have white aging signs on them.

Feel the texture.
Bruising is one of the main issues when buying fruits and vegetables, so gently hold your produce to feel if it’s bruised or soft. Citrus fruits should feel particularly heavy for their size, as that means they’re full of juice. Vegetables like cucumbers and peppers should feel firm to the touch, while lettuce or spinach should be leafy and full.

Store them properly.
Once you get your produce home, storing it properly helps to conserve its freshness. Most perishable fruits and veggies should be stored in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees or lower.

Choosing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables [Family Circle]
Raw Produce [FDA]

Public Domain/Public Domain