PARKS
U.S. National Arboretum
The U.S. National Arboretum has one of North America’s largest collections of bonsai trees. These small-scale trees are on display at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, just across from the National Herb Garden. With its former U.S. Capitol Columns and miles of trails, the National Arboretum is a great place for a scenic hike.
Rock Creek Park
Enjoy nature’s beauty in DC’s 1,700-acre parkland established in 1890 by an Act of Congress. As the third National Park established, Rock Creek Park is a thriving habitat for native species like the snapping turtle and home to plenty of things to do. This natural oasis encompasses Fort Stevens, part of the Civil War defense of Washington; Pierce Mill and the Francis Scott Key Memorial in Georgetown.
Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden is a zen treasure in the middle of the National Mall. Have a seat in the 1.5 acre recessed garden and contemplate the 60 sculpted masterpieces, including Auguste Rodin’s Les Bourgeois de Calais and Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Wish Tree. Other notable contemporary and modern art sculptures on display are by Matisse, De Kooning and Calder.
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park is a neoclassical style 12-acre landscaped urban park established in 1912. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the multi-tiered park has a cascading waterfall in its lower area, with notable statues of Joan of Arc, Dante and a memorial to President James Buchanan. The upper park is wooded, and for 50-plus years of summer Sundays, groups have gathered here to be part of a drum circle.
Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill
Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill was established 11 years after President Lincoln’s death. The park has two notable statues facing each other: President Lincoln with an African American man, representing the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Mary McLeod Bethune Statue, honoring the civil rights activist. Her sculpted cane represents a gift from Eleanor Roosevelt, whom she advised and befriended.
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a magical place during all four seasons, but it’s especially thrilling when the water lilies are in full bloom in the summer. There are several hiking trails and boardwalks for wandering through this national park on the east bank of the Anacostia River.
American History’s Victory Garden
The National Museum of American History has a Victory Garden on the grounds of the museum anchored by heirloom plants native to America. These herbs and vegetables have layered growing seasons. Little known fact: The garden is inspired by American history – people planted them during the two world wars when food was in short supply.
U.S. Botanic Garden
It’s balmy year-round inside the U.S. Botanic Garden on the National Mall. Considered a living museum of plants, the lavish garden rooms are housed inside a glass Conservatory. Exhibits range from plants native to Hawaii and tropical territories, deserts, medicinal plants, orchids and a Children’s Garden. The museum is free and open every day of the year from dawn until dusk.
Constitution Gardens
Constitution Gardens was dedicated during the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. Today, it’s an urban park with thriving habitat for native animals. Currently in the planning phase, the Gardens are scheduled to undergo improvements, but you can still stroll under the shady trees bordering the Reflecting Pool, on the concrete path from the World War II Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or find a park bench to watch the local ducks.
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
Discover Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in the heart of Georgetown. This National Historic Landmark showcases five unique garden styles: Box Knot, Round Garden, Holding Garden, Bowling Green and East Lawn. All are elegantly landscaped with ornamental plants.
Dumbarton Oaks
Built on the highest point in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks stands on nearly 40 acres of landscaped gardens. Dumbarton’s Garden is separated into “garden rooms” using ornamental plants and artifacts to define each room’s character. A portion of the gardens and museum are stewarded by Harvard University researchers. It’s a must-see in May when the peonies are in bloom.
MUSEUMS
Freer Gallery of Art
The Freer Gallery of Art opened in 1923 as the first Smithsonian museum of art. Its eclectic collection began with a donation by Charles Lang Freer: over 9,000 works of American and Asian art. Chinese jades and bronzes, Persian metalwork, Buddhist sculptures and Japanese screens share the gallery’s Italian Renaissance-style building with works by American artists, most of whom were influenced by Asian art, such as John Singer Sargent, Thomas Wilmer Dewing and James McNeill Whistler.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Washington, DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is housed in a four-story cylindrical building as controversial in its design as the contemporary works of art contained inside. The museum includes works by 19th and 20th century modern artists such as, Matisse, Rodin and Degas but the emphasis is on contemporary art created during the last 25 years.
National Air and Space Museum
Chronicling man’s fascination with flight from his earliest attempts to become airborne to Apollo 11’s voyage to the moon, the National Air and Space Museum is one of Washington, DC’s most popular attractions. Fortunately, its hangar-like building can accommodate considerable numbers of visitors along with its hundreds of historic aircraft.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art outgrew its first building, known as the West Building in the 1970s and was joined by an underground concourse to the East Building, which is as daring in its architectural design as the original building is conservative. The West Building features European paintings and sculptures from the 13th to 19th centuries, including one of the best Impressionist collections outside of Paris with works by Manet, Renoir, Monet, and Cezanne.
National Museum of African Art
About half the Museum’s space is devoted to exhibits focusing on specific regions, but the 7,000-strong permanent collection includes objects from all over the continent. Objects often combine religious and cultural expression with a functional purpose and the collection includes everything from Nigerian carved-ivory cult figures to Zairean mother-and-child fertility fetishes.
National Museum of American History
The mission of the National Museum of American History is to display objects that reflect the experiences of the American people. The result is a chaotic collection of Americana set among exhibits with the worthy aim of recounting America’s colorful past through the eyes of its diverse citizens. Objects range from the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, to Mohammad Ali’s boxing gloves, to George Washington’s wooden teeth.
National Museum of Crime & Punishment
Learn both the past and modern methods of law enforcement agencies, and delve into the evolution of crime and the criminal mastermind from the times of medieval knights, piracy, gunslingers and even modern day hackers. In addition to three floors of fascinating and educational displays, intense, highly interactive exhibits allow visitors of all ages to enjoy truly unique simulations. This Washington DC museum includes a crime scene lab and the filming studios for America’s Most Wanted.
National Museum of Natural History
The first stop for Washington, DC museum-goers with children in tow is usually the “Dinosaurs” exhibit on the ground floor of the National Museum of Natural History. Barring flights of family-phobia brought on by squealing children and their frazzled parents, the looming, reassembled skeletons and reproductions of dinosaurs are as fascinating to adults as they are to kids.
The Mall and Washington DC Museums
Bordered on either side by nine of Washington DC’s 14 Smithsonian museums, The Mall, a green, tree-lined expanse that stretches from the Capitol’s eastern end to the Washington Monument’s western end, could very well be the hub of the nation’s cultural life.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Not for the faint of heart, a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is just as emotional as it is educational. The exhibit features historic film footage, audio-taped testimonials from concentration camp survivors and many original artifacts including piles of belongings and clothing confiscated from prisoners as they arrived at the camps. The exhibit ends at the Hall of Remembrance, where an eternal flame burns as a memorial to Holocaust victims.
MARKETS
Georgetown Flea Market
Since 1972, Georgetown Flea Market has been the place to find some incredibly unique things that are truly vintage and antique. There is always an array of vendors and you can find everything from furniture to clothes to toys or art. Georgetown Flea Market is open year-round every Sunday.
The Flea Market at Eastern Market
The Flea Market at Eastern Market is a Washington DC favorite. It has everything you could ever need from jewelry to hand painted bowls, to delicious foods and beautiful plants. The Flea Market is one of the most diverse in the country. It’s open every Sunday on Capitol Hill.
The Flea Market
The Big Flea Market is technically located outside of DC in the Dulles Expo Center but it’s worth noting. Held a few times a year, with over 700 booths, this is the largest indoor antique flea market in the Mid-Atlantic. You can find a little bit of everything in these booths.
Bethesda Farm Women’s Market
Bethesda Farm Women’s Market is a very cool shopping experience in downtown Bethesda not far from Washington DC. The Market offers food and drink, music, artisans, boutique businesses, flowers, local businesses and much more!
Arlington Civitan Flea Market
Just a few minutes outside of Washington DC, the Arlington Civitan Garage Sale/Flea Market is a unique place to shop for cool stuff. It’s a fundraiser for the Arlington Civitan Club. This market combines ordinary people who might not want to have a garage sale outside of their homes and professional vendors. You can find all types of fascinating treasures.
