National Mall & Monuments

Join us on Saturday, May 23 at 1:30 PM for a walking tour of the iconic monuments on the National Mall. See the Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial, or take a walk around the Tidal Basin to see the Jefferson, FDR and MLK Jr. Memorials.

Library of Congress

A gorgeous building and one of the most underrated spots to visit. Entrance is free but does need a timed ticket.

Smithsonian Museums

There are 17 Smithsonian museums in the D.C. area, including 11 on the National Mall! They are all free to enter, but some require timed-entry tickets. If you have the time and are flying into Dulles, go to the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum near Dulles Airport.

Planet Word

An interactive word and linguistics museum in downtown DC. Advance tickets are recommended, and can be booked for free or a “choose your price” method.

Eastern Market

Stop by on Saturday or Sunday morning for DC’s oldest market. Grab some fresh produce or a bite to eat at Market Lunch or one of the food stalls (like burritos at El Piquin). Get some shopping in at the flea market or pop into local stores like Capitol Hill Books (used bookstore), East City Books, Labyrinth (board games), or Hill’s Kitchen.

Kayaking

If the weather permits, we like kayaking right in Navy Yard on the Anacostia River. We do not recommend kayaking in the Potomac at this time.

Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is one of DC’s paid museums, but it’s fun and interactive for all ages.

For Kids

The Smithsonian museums are a great option for kids of all ages, but are also multiple parks, playgrounds, pools and splash parks in the area near the hotel blocks. The Randall and Arthur Capp Recreation Centers both have playgrounds and pools. Garfield Park has two playgrounds and Canal Park has a dancing fountain kids love to play in. The Southwest Library has an indoor play and reading area for littles.