5 Things I Absolutely Love About Washington D.C. 

Check out the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and even an original copy of the Magna Carta

Art lovers and everyone else: Don’t miss the National Gallery. Housed in two buildings, a classic Greco-Roman revival museum and a stunning modern masterpiece by I.M. Pei, its vast collection of treasures includes the only painting by da Vinci to be seen on this side of the Atlantic.

I would definitely recommend the zoo, maybe going to see a baseball game at Nats Park, heading across the river to see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and taking a walk through Georgetown

The National Portrait Gallery is the best off-the-mall Smithsonian museum, located in Chinatown near the hockey arena. While you're there, you can get some of the best food in the city.

I would recommend the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery along with Robert E. Lees house. its a very powerful sober feeling you have walking though that place

Mt. Vernon , Arlington Cemetery (complete with watching the changing of the guard), and Ford’s Theatre are all super full of history and information 😊

It’s my favorite city to visit. The kennnedy center has a free concert every night. And the air & space annex at Dulles is even better

My dad and I went to Washington D.C. in March 2019 for spring break and walked absolutely everywhere! Never took a car, only the metro which was amazing! The most I walked in one day during the trip was about 13 miles and it is a bit hellish. All in all, we saw the Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, Arlington, a Denny’s in Maryland, air and space museum, etc. We drove from Michigan to dc and stopped by the air force museum in Dayton Ohio, spent absolutely ages there and it was wonderful! We saw similar things between the air force museum and air and space museum, which was fine Getting back to dc, the hotel was terrible and really expensive at I think $90 something a night, even on the outskirts of dc, but it didn’t really matter except when it started to warm up towards the end and wasn’t bloody cold. In summary, Washington D.C was awesome and if you can, go see it. Oh, another thing my dad and I saw the White House and talked to a secret service agent for a moment and the agent was really friendly. Took a panoramic of the capital building and had a lot of fun.

I used to work on the Hill. Before your visit to DC, ALWAYS write your Senator and your Rep, and let them know when you will be visiting. They have access to Free Stuff, including extended and guided tours (rather than mere walk-throughs) and maps, invitations to stop by their offices. . .we would send out lovely books describing the sculptures in various buildings. We used to be able to take people to the Congressional dining room for fantastic bean soup. It's great soup. Anyway, different offices offer different things. Send them a list of what you plan to do, and see what they can offer.

The Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum's annex near Dulles Airport is really worthwhile (and also free admission!). It's massive. You can see the actual Space Shuttle Columbia, the Enola Gay, a real Air France Concorde, the SR-71 spy plane, historical space capsules & rockets, etc. It's an immense hangar filled with aerospace history. Truly an amazing place. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center

If your looking for different locales in DC,I highly recommend visiting Rock Creek Park. It's a massive National Park in the middle of DC that is full of secluded nature trails, fauna, and babbling creeks, you'll forget your in the middle of a city! Georgetown area is also pretty interesting, It has a unique feel and style from the rest of DC, and has tons of shops and outdoor activities along the Potomac river. DC's Chinatown has some really great food too!

The national cathedral is gorgeous, but it is also a little bit out of the way. You should definitely check it out, regardless of your religion!

Trivia you may appreciate. There is no "J" street but there is a "Jay" street. Right after I street and before K street.

Roosevelt's island is my favorite place in all of DC. It's such a peaceful place for where it is in the city, full of beautiful nature trails as a living memorial to such a legendary outdoorsman and conservationist.

Georgetown is my favorite part of DC. It also has my favorite museum in the entire city, Dumbarton Oaks. It has collections that are much older than other art museums. Byzantine, medieval, ancient Egypt. Really fascinating stuff. Also the building and grounds are lovely.

The Inner Harbor at Annapolis MD is a must see, away from the hustle of DC. The site of the US Naval Academy. Mount Vernon on the VA side was Washington's home and his grave is there as well. We live west of DC, past Manassas VA on the freeway.

If you abhor a city street grid layout, visit Boston.

The FDR MLK and Jefferson memorials are all away from the Mall but right next to each other if I remember. The WW2 memorial is one of the most beautiful memorials I've ever seen (ironic for such a bleak war). Also Arlington is amazing as far as cemeteries go. Those would be my suggestions.

Mr. Smithson did this country a great favor, underwriting what would become a great research institution.

The Frederick Douglass House, the National Arboretum, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Aquatic Gardens, Ford's Theater and any of Rick Snyder's tour sites are all worth a visit.

DC holds a special place in my heart as it's the place of my birth. On another visit, you may want to visit the tidal basin in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's quite beautiful!

I at the opening day of the Air & Space museum. I watched President Ford give the opening speech with a huge crowd waiting to get inside. The A&S museum in 1976 was spectacular. I can't image what it is like now...

The air and space annex out by Dulles Is the most amazing thing I saw on my trip there this summer

I was spending £15-18 per museum visit during my 2016 stay in London.

Next time go to the south part of DC! Depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to see a Nationals (baseball), DC United (Soccer), or Defenders (American football) game! There’s tons of great restaurants around there too. Spring would be a great time because of the cherry blossoms!

Not sure London is as “free” as you remember. I had to pay around $20 US to go through the Churchill war museum in June of 2016.

You should visit the great falls of the Potomac. I especially like the remnants of the lock system that George Washington was trying to build back in the 1700's.

Hiya there, Lawrence! I’m a DC native! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this city that I love so much. I always recommend going for a walk on the foot trails in Rock Creek Park. It’s one of my favorite places to go when you need a little nature in the city. It would be a pleasure to show you around if you’re ever back in town! Just say the word.

Really cool seeing people of different backgrounds enjoying American history so much!

My home town, and I still live in the 'burbs. Thank you for the tribute.

The National Cathedral, The National Zoo in NW DC. Georgetown. The Arboretum. The Botanical Gardens. and of course so many more museums.....

I went to DC twice as a child. Definitely the best part of the city is the monuments. And the cherry blossoms are beautiful in the summer. BTW, another fantastic video mon ami

You gotta check out Theodore Roosevelt’s Island, it’s his memorial and a nice walk through nature.

Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall), Museum of Natural History to name a few.

If you liked the DC air and space museum you should check out the one next to Dulles airport (Udvar Hazy), it's got an amazing collection with an SR71 and a Space Shuttle as it's main displays with like 50+ other aircraft spanning the history of aviation including some rare examples of late war German jets.

Living near there my favorite part was the Metro. Clean, reliable, frequent, and reasonably priced. Riding that to work or to the museums or monuments made it easy to not miss cars. Got so much reading done on my commute.

Glad you made it to DC, and that you got the Height of Buildings Act factoid right. We have SO MANY ALPHABETS. Not just the plain letters one, but after that the two-syllable words alphabet, the three-syllable words alphabet, and the trees-and-flowers names alphabet. You'll encounter them when you come back and get out (and up hill) from the Mall and explore the neighborhoods. You can take the bus due north on 16th Street from the White House until you hit the Maryland line and you will cross ALL THE ALPHABETS. Oh, and if you groove on grids, you should also visit Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, across the river from DC.

I'm embarrassed to say that as an American, I've never been to DC😔. On my list of must-see-places before life gets away from me.

I like you love Washington DC. So much so that recently I drove down twice from New Hampshire in the course of four weeks for two 3 day stays. I would definitely recommend the Natural History Museum, although I like the one in London a bit more, the National gallery if you like art and the Federal Bureau of printing and engraving where you can see them making money. Outside of DC in Virginia near Dulles airport is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center National Air and Space museum. This is the large hanger where a space shuttle, Enola Gay, a SR71 blackbird and many other planes are shown. I would highly recommend talking a night walk around the Lincoln memorial area. The Vietnam memorial and the Korean war memorial have an especially haunting and poignant feel after dark. A hint, to save some money stay in Virginia or Maryland near one of the Metro lines.

The first actual vacation I ever took (by myself) was to DC. In addition to other things, it is a tourist town--the locals are very accommodating and good natured. I have fond memories of one of the local specialties: crab cakes.

I absolutely love DC, so much free or nearly free amazing things to go see, food is awesome too. I got really bad tendinitis in my foot from so much walking one of the last times we visited.

Lesser known DC attractions (I know, DC natives, I've left a ton of stuff out): - Politics and Prose Bookstore - Tons of breweries - DC neighborhoods: Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, "Chinatown", Southwest & The Wharf - Music venues: Blues Alley, the Lincoln Theater, the 9:30 Club, Union Stage, The Black Cat, The Howard Theatre, DAR Constitution Hall - Theaters: Shakespeare Theater Company, Woolly Mammoth Theater, National Theater, Arena Stage, Warner Theater, Studio Theater Major attractions that haven't been mentioned yet (I don't think). Some are private, and thus may not be free: - The Renwick Gallery - The Kennedy Center - The National Portrait Gallery - Freer/Sackler Gallery - The Phillips Collection - National Building Museum - National Zoo - National Museum of African American History (the last time I checked tickets were free but had to be reserved months in advance -- perhaps it's improved since when it first opened)

Ford’s Theater, Natural History Museum, Arlington, and Georgetown.

See the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum, The National Art Gallery, the Freer Art Gallery, Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial --- I was born in DC and lived there for 25 years.

Well you still have all the other museums and monuments to go back and see. Also consider visiting the Arlington National Cemetary and The Zoo. BTW take a ferry ride from DC to Alexandria, VA and learn about its historical Old Town and how once upon a time it was meant to be a part of D.C. which would explain why D.C. looks like half a diamond.

1) The Freer and Sackler Galleries are hidden favorites and great if you like Asian art. 2) The Udvar Hazy is worth a trip but you have to pay for parking. You can get up close and personal (but not touch) the space shuttle Discovery. 3) The National Building Museum has some of the more unusual exhibitions at times. Plus, it’s adjacent to Penn Quarter/Chinatown, and a slew of restaurants. 4) You probably already know the National Museum of African American History is currently one of the hot tickets. 5) The National Arboretum is sprawling, serene, and close to the up and coming neighborhoods of H Street NE and Ivy City. Ivy City has the excellent city winery for food and they often have musical shows upstairs. H street has a lot of new restaurants. 6) The Kennedy Center has an excellent rooftop terrance and free concerts daily. 7) The I. M. Pei designed east building of the National Gallery of Art is exceptional and worth it for the giant Alexander Calder alone, but has its great exhibitions. There are a lot of interesting neighborhoods in DC but Dupont and Logan Circles tend to be the trendiest. Georgetown and Capital Hill have their bright spots but not as much and the aforementioned circles. There are some great restaurants and vintage shops along 14th and U streets NW, but the area is dynamic and ever changing.(My friends from France thought DC looked very “English” to them, for what that’s worth) There’s tons more but I don’t know enough about what you want to see.The Phillips Collection has an entry fee. The Aquarium or Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore are worth a look if you feel like hoping a train up or taking a car or bus. Or the little know but highly praised Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD, but that has no parking so you need a cab or something to drop you there. And when you get back to your hotel in DC, you can watch a local broadcast channel devoted entirely to programming from the UK, WETA-UK.

You should check out the air and space museum near Dulles airport, it has the space shuttle there.

As a Texan I appreciate the note about the Lone Star capitol building

You didn't see The District, you saw the Federal Enclave. Get up to the U street corridor, or out to NE. Hear some Go-Go, or some Jazz, try some mumbo sauce. The people you saw there were all either tourists or commuters. Meet some of the locals, it really is a nice city.

Well, since the Air&Space Museum got such a warm review, there is an Annex to it called the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA at Dulles International Airport. It has an IMAX theater, and it houses some restoration facilities with an actual visitors viewing area. This has the original prototype of the Boeing 367-80 aircraft that became the 707 and the C-135 that Tex Johnston did two full barrel rolls in. Here also is _Enola Gay_ , the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Gemini 7 capsule which carried Lovell and Borman, 2/3s of the crew of the Apollo 8 mission which first flew around the Moon and took the _Earthrise_ photograph, a french Concorde, and an SR-71. Bringing you back to your homeland is the _Gossamer Albatross_ , the first human powered aircraft to fly across the English Channel. And, as they say, *♫Many Moooore♫*

Ok Lawrence, here’s a couple of suggestions for your next D.C. visit: 1. Ford’s Theater... absolutely fascinating, though eerie at different points. 2. The Vietnam Memorial. Hard to explain this piece of Americana, sobering. 3. The Lincoln Memorial. Any American can be proud of our martyred President; Old Abe!! It is happy there (that’s tricky to justify, It just is). Great spot to pose for a picture. Ok amigo, cheerio😎

If you enjoyed the Air & Space museum on the Mall, you should try to get out to the Udvar-Hazy annex out near Dulles airport. It has everything from the last Concorde to fly to Federal Express' first plane. A huge open space quite unlike the one in DC.

Mount Vernon ($20 per adult), Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, Great Falls National Park, FDR, Jefferson, and MLK memorials are all off the mall, Udvar-Hazy Center (Air and Space Museum annex), The National Building Museum ($10 per adult), Natural History Museum, Old Town Alexandria in general, Gadsby's Tavern Museum

1) Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was shot and the house across the street where he died. It is in downtown DC. Renovated a few years ago, the downstairs serves as a museum of Lincoln's life. 2) National Cathedral. High up on a hill in NW DC, it is as grand as its name implies. And President Wilson is in a crypt there, the only President buried in DC.

The Lincoln Memorial is my favorite. You need to see it at night too!

Finding food in the Mall is a challenge. When I went to DC for a 5th grade field trip, we ate lunch at the Hotel L’Enfant Plaza. We all ordered cheeseburgers. The waiter confused me when he asked me how I would like it done. I replied "grilled, please." The staff quickly figured out that we all wanted well done burgers.

There are some really nice parks along the mall between the Lincoln Memorial, the World War 2 Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. The park dedicated to the Signers or the Declaration of Independence is one of my favorites. The best times to come to Washington DC are in the spring when the trees, including cherries are in bloom and in the fall when the leaves are turning. It can get really hot and humid in the summer and can get quite cold in the winter but also nice if the weather is good. Please remember that DC is a working city, not Disney Land, and stand on the right of the Metro escalators without blocking the way and let the commuters pass on the left.

As a teenager, I spent many, many hours on weekends exploring and enjoying the Natural History Museum and the National Art Gallery.

You could head into Maryland and visit the NSA museum at Ft. Meade. It's halfway between DC and Baltimore. And it has a gift shop. Or sign up for a tour of the Pentagon.

RE DC’s street grid: Numbered streets actually run north to south, while lettered streets run east to west. As for other things to check out there, I often recommend Eastern Market, one of the last surviving public markets in the city. It was refurbished a few years back after a fire gutted it.

I live in suburban DC. I love going into DC, especially taking visitors from out of town. One comment: the numbered streets run north-south, and the alphabetical streets run east-west.

DC has the nicest subway system in the world, and it has had the time till next train boards since the 1980s, something Chicago finally had only 5-10 years ago. The precast concrete coffers that play off the neoclassical dome ceilings is striking and one of the few brutalist architectures people seem to appreciate. And they go everywhere in the city. As for places, the National Zoo is renowned. The National Cathedral is great architecture and with it's high gothic style you'll feel a bit like you're in Salisbury. And for good nightlife and dinner hit the Georgetown area. Other must see things across the Potomac are Arlington Cemetery, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon.

I was in DC when I was six because my uncle got married there. I remember the monument and the Lincoln Memorial

You are the 1st visitor (American or not) to appreciate our grid system. A slice of unicorn cake to you sir. Most people don't understand how easy it is if you can count to 100 or spell a-z lol

I visited DC in 2006 and wow it was amazing

I recommend the portrait gallery... A good combination of art and history.

Natural history isn't just the history of America though. It's largely about earth science too. I love that museum. That and the aerospace museums are probably my favorites. The art museum is fantastic too, and the monuments and cherry blossom trees are cool. I really love DC.

Try going down at night when it is less crowded and make sure to check out the monuments, especially Lincoln's. The lighting, Lincoln seated, it's really impressive !!!

Though not in DC, you should consider visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (I pronounce the c as a ch but some say it's as an s). Anyway, it's about 2 hours southwest in Virginia but it is a fascinating place. But get there early as the demand for tours is pretty intense.

When you return, go to Washington's home, Mount Vernon, which is in Mount Vernon, Virginia. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the city depending on traffic. You will want to use Uber, Lyft, because the bus service will take a long time.

Talking about my second favorite American city and living in my favorite city

I visited the air and space Museum and the planetarium was sooo cool. It was definitely my favorite part

In DC, the National Cathedral, Arlington, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and Washington's plantation.

“…a who’s who of educational kids’ puzzles.” 🤣 Love this channel.

As a Washingtonian for decades, it was great fun to see you and your wife visit my city. A couple of things: we have a smaller population than many people think (600,000) which makes it all the more remarkable that we have more than 100 museums - mostly free. On your next trip, I would recommend going to the following neighborhoods for the real D.C. (aka The District): Adams Morgan (18th Street NW where the gritty/global restaurants are); 14th Street NW (home of Le Diplomate bistro); Georgetown (posh people in 18th century houses + bohemian students); Cathedral Heights (next to - um - the soaring National Cathedral); up-and-coming “The Wharf”; and the Eastern Market section of Capitol Hill. You missed some brilliant museums: the National Gallery (our version of The Met, with two, huge buildings - one modern - connected by an illuminated tunnel); the Portrait Gallery (must see - not on the Mall - and recently merged with the American Art Museum, connected by a fabulous courtyard); the Phillips Collection (one of the best private collections anywhere, housing Renoir’s famous “Boating Party” - $25 admission fee); and the Spy Museum ($20 fee ?) Visitors may be surprised to know that we have several farmers’ markets in The District: Eastern Market (Saturday morning is best - try the celebrated “bluebuck” pancakes at Market Lunch, inside the main building); Dupont Circle Market (Sundays, 8:30 - 1:00pm) - bustling + the embassy crowd; Union Market (a mostly indoor market). And a few more ideas: going to Dumbarton Oaks Gardens (R Street - *not* Dumbarton House on Q St) in the spring - best 120-year old gardens in the region; going to U Street on a weekend night for “half-smoke” hot dogs at Ben’s Chili Bowl - and live music; and, last but not least, going to the Lincoln Memorial a half-hour before sunrise, when the skies are their most colorful. (See my IG @dcsunrises for photos - you’re welcome.)

For about last 40 years been going to DC. STILL haven't seen it all.

The Air and Space Museum has a huge annex out by Dulles Airport, which has among other things an actual space shuttle and an SR-71.

You can also see the Capitol building from the concourse of Nationals Park baseball stadium.

Outside of DC as the seat of government, I recommend seeing a Nats game, getting some ethiopian food (I'm partial to Ethiopic on H street), going to a show at one of the local theaters (Woolly Mammoth, Constellation, Arena Stage, Studio Theater, Atlas Theater), getting some street food at one of the food trucks (not the kind you see on the mall, the kind that are like mobile restaurants that cater to locals - like Swizzler's Hot Dogs).

My two favorite things from our last visit to DC were the Native American Museum and the Museum at the National Archives. Also, if you ever make it back to St. Louis, we have tons of free &/or inexpensive museums, and our zoo is free too.

I went to D.C. in an 8th grade trip. I did enjoy seeing everything but I had a problem with the people. At the Union station, four teens were blocking the stairs by laying on them. My friends and I had to step over their legs. When I went over one of them slapped my behind. One of my friends flipped them off for that. We heard them yelling at us but we went on. This is why I love the U.P. and small towns more. There are more people with manners there then urban cities.

My dad is retired DCFD. He's got that place memorized which isn't very hard to do although you'll have to remember which areas in DC to stay out of. Not all areas are safe ;)

Lincoln’s Summer Cottage in Northeast DC is nice and not as heavy a tourist trap. I recommend a visit when you’re in town next.

Visit the Marjorie M. Post home -- turned into a museum -- called Hillwood. It is run by a Foundation, and is not free. But the items she collected and displayed inside, and the grounds outside, are well worth it.

You missed the Lincoln Memorial, which is actually where MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech was staged. That western end of the Mall also has some very moving memorials to the fallen during the Vietnam War and to those who fought in World War II. Also, you should come back to see the African-American history and culture museum. There are also a ton of art museums covering every era and region of the world. There really is a lot to see in DC.

Supreme Court museum, which was a great place to warm up and hang out.

DC is a beautiful place to be. I was once stationed at nearby Andrew's AFB and so I was able to go to those places which I very much enjoyed. I do miss the Smithsonian museums.

Georgetown neighborhood and riverfront. Wonderful culture n shopping

There's no J street! But other than that, it's pretty consistent :)

Laurence, I grew up in DC and thought all museums were free also. You can imagine my shock when they asked me for money when I went to a vienna museum.

Next time get your Congressman's office to give you a tour of the Capitol, you won't have to wait in tourist lines. It's beautiful inside. Also go to the second Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport. It amazing, so much history there, including the Enola Gay! The War Memorials are very moving especially the Korean and WWII and DO NOT forget Arlington at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown!

Arlington National Cemetery. Try to time your visit with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s very moving. I also found it interesting to step away from the tour and just walk around the cemetery. The parts of the cemetery where they hadn’t decided that all tombstones must be uniform were the most interesting.

Lots of people have recommended the usual stuff that tourists do. If you are here during the summer months -- especially late July into early August -- then I recommend getting up very early in the morning and going to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in far NE DC. When the lotuses are in bloom, it's the kind of stunning natural beauty that you remember for a long time. And as you walk the paths, surrounded by how fantastic things look, you won't believe you're still in DC. Seriously, it's the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen in any city, and I've been to a lot. Other people recommended the Folger. If you're interested in Shakespeare and Elizabethan England, it really is a must. It's worth noting that it's the world's foremost research library on Shakespeare -- the world's largest collection of First Folios, for instance -- yes, more than any library in England. I was surprised to learn that myself.

Go up Massachusetts Ave. from Dupont Circle to see Embassy Row. When you get to Wisconsin Ave., hang a left and if it’s summer go see a show at Ft. Reno, for a little slice of harDCore history.

The life of the city is in Georgetown. Im a student in DC and the Georgetown area is the area with all the shopping, restaurants, and just cultural life. Its also a great refresher from the DC architecture because while the mall is monumental and grand, that's the Federal Government DC, not the local DC. Georgetown is the classic townhouse homes of the residential DC. Georgetown University is also a nice place to visit while your there, since its Campus is also quite beautiful.

I liked Hillwood Estates. Beautiful gardens, Faberge eggs, and gorgeous houses. It used to be owned by Marjorie Merryweather Post, the heiress to the Post cereal company. There's a museum in Dupont where you are encouraged to find all the secret passages and rooms. Both have parts you pay for, though, as they are private museums. The African American History Museum is quite impressive. The botanical gardens are very nice too. You can check out some of the art museums too, like the Hirschhorn and Sackler museums. Dunwood in Georgetown is also really beautiful with it's Byzantine artifacts.

I grew up outside of DC and, like you, was surprised to find later when visiting other cities (Chicago) that museums cost money. The Smithsonian's Natural History Museum is also a great choice. Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo are great way to "escape" while in the city as is the C&O Canal (starts in Georgetown).

I know this is an old video but, as a lifelong local, here are my recommendations: - Cherry Blossom season (usually in late March/early April. They’re just absolutely stunning) - Georgetown (if you want to know more about local DC history this is the place to go. You can take a boat tour of the C&O canal, walk along the Potomac waterfront, and walk through the pretty neighborhoods. (Avoid M street, it’s just high-end chain stores) - There are so many museums in DC but besides the ones you went to I recommend - the Natural History Museum (dinosaur bones, the Ocean hall which is so cool, and the Hope diamond) - the National Gallery of Art (if you love western art history don’t miss the West Building which has some great Italian, Dutch, and French art including the only da Vinci in America. But if you’re not super into art history I say stick mostly to the East building which houses modern art. It was recently renovated and is just a really interesting building) (Extra tip: the adjacent sculpture garden is cool too. In the winter it houses an ice skating rink and in the summer they host free evening jazz concerts) - The new Museum of African-American History and Culture - Holocaust Museum (very heavy but so powerful) - I also recommend the Air and Space Museum annex out in Virginia (near Dulles airport). It is so cool and houses all the big aircraft that can’t fit in the DC museum including the Space Shuttle!) - Quick pro-tip: there aren’t many great places to eat near the Mall but do not miss out on the cafe in the American Indian Museum. It is by far some of the best museum food you will ever have. They serve (semi-buffet style) various Native American cuisines. It’s so good. - Most people don’t know about DC’s patchwork of neighborhoods. If you want to get to know the real DC I recommend taking the metro and visiting some, especially for the food. - I personally recommend Adams Morgan which has a very multi-cultural vibe with cool shops and cafes and great food. Definitely try an Ethiopian restaurant there. The DC metro area has the largest population of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia. - For good food the best neighborhoods are Penn Quarter, Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, the U-street corridor/Shaw, and Navy Yard. - DC has some great parks too. Rock Creek Park, the Arboretum, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia Park, and the Rose Garden at the National Cathedral are my personal favorites. - Our zoo is very nice and definitely worth a visit if you’re into animals. Obviously there are the beloved Pandas but my favorite thing is if you go on a nice day you may see the Orangutans up on the cable track (the O-Line) which goes over the parts of the zoo. It’s so wild to see an Orangutan just casually swinging up above you. - DC also has lots of great festivals throughout the year, many of them on the Mall. My favorite is the Folk-life festival usually held the two weeks leading up to July 4. Each year a different region or culture is picked as the focus and the Smithsonian Folk-life center brings craftspeople, artists, musicians, dancers, etc. from there. It is just so cool. Stands sell regional cuisine that is delicious and it is always so jammed-pack with cool sights and performances. Some are housed indoors in nearby museums and the rest take up most of the mall. I don’t recommend going on July 4 though since the crowds and heat are pretty unbearable. In my opinion the only way to view the fireworks downtown is if you know someone who works in a nearby building and can get you onto a balcony or roof to watch them. DC is a really cool city that is so unique. It is a big city but it doesn’t really feel that big (probably because of the height restrictions). And it is so much more than just the capital of the US. PS. DC is not a city of politicians. The politicians roll into town in their fancy cars and motorcades and then leave as soon as they can. And never forget that DC residents have no senators or voting reps in Congress so do not complain about American politics to them. They will tell you to shut up and refer you to the DC license plate which says “No taxation without representation”. Vote DC statehood now! (And if anyone mentions retrocession, just don’t unless you want to anger every DC resident, Marylander, and Virginian in sight).

As someone who grew up in Baltimore and now lives in Virginia, I've spent quite a lot of time in DC over the years. It really is a great city. Here are some places I would suggest that you missed this time around. Definitely check out the National Gallery of Art. It actually has two buildings, one with more traditional art and the other with modern art. Both are great, but one of the coolest parts is the tunnel that connects them underground. The National Archives, the Museum of African American History, and the National Botanical Garden are also right off the mall but definitely worth going to. Away from the mall there is also lots to see and do. The Jefferson monument is probably the most beautiful in the city, and it's a pretty walk from the Mall to this monument. If it ever reopens again the Old Post Office tower is cool with great views of the city, and there is a British pub right across the street called the Elephant & Castle that's pretty good. Further afield in the city, if you like naval history at all the US Navy Museum at the Naval Yard on the waterfront is neat. And if you're not interested in that just walking along the riverfront is nice too, either between the Navy Yard and Nats Stadium or over on the other side at The Wharf. And when you're tired of walking there are great restaurants and bars at both places. Other cool places to check out include Georgetown, Rock Creek Park, the C&O Canal Trail (great for riding bikes), Union Market, the National Arboretum, and the National Zoo. If you don't mind going out of the city but want to stay close by, other recommendations include Arlington National Cemetary, Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Great Falls.

“Comprehensive public transportation!” 😂