Washington Attractions
Things to do in Washington
Washington Attractions. Looking for something fun to do with your family? Want something kid friendly? Need to find a good park to play with your dog? Then look no further because HelloWashingtonDC.com has you covered. We've sought out the best attractions in Washington and have detailed information about parks, museums, festivals, zoos and more.
The National Zoo, Washington DC's 163-acre zoological park set within the Rock Creek National Park, is one of the most comprehensive zoological parks in the nation, featuring more than 2,000 animals representing 400 diverse species.
America’s Most Wanted comes in a museum form, and the TV show’s set is actually located within the National Museum of Crime & Punishment. It’s not a museum for the faint of heart, but even those who might shut their eyes at the grotesqueness of the subject can’t help peek through their fingers in wonderment. Here, the privately owned museum walks visitors through the history of crime, and punishment, and features some of history’s most prominent criminals.
There is a ghostly quality to the Antique Toy Museum toys preserved in a fashion of yesterday that makes them almost come to life.
There are a few Washington shopping districts where you can shop to your heart's content or hit up over the holidays. Here are some of the best shopping areas for different styles and budgets around the Washington area.
Welcome to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington's proud museum of art by women throughout history.
The Tasting Room is more than just a wine bar and shop: it’s a place where you can let your palette explore any number of wines without committing to an entire glass of each. From nearby Virginia to Europe, the selection provides a wide variety to while away an afternoon in a relaxed, unpretentious setting.
The National Museum of American Jewish Military History is a fascinating niche account of the role American Jews played in American history. The museum serves as a detailed archive for American Jews, a special tribute to those who served in the American military, breaking down the idea that American Jews are less patriotic than any other Americans.
Even from the outside, one can tell that Walgreens Cleveland Park is not an ordinary Walgreens.
Baltimore has its own park system, consisting of lovely escapes from the city. Patterson Park, Baltimore is one of the region's great splendors, offering public green space for residents since 1827.
Anyone who's traveled the I-95 in northern Maryland has seen and at least been intrigued by the sign marked “Decoy Museum.” The smarty-pants might remark, “is it a building pretending to be a museum and the actual museum is located somewhere else?” But in fact, the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is an actual museum, located in the Susequehanna Flats, dedicated to the history and art of decoy ducks.
The American University Museum is a bright round spot off a busy traffic circle in the northern corner of Washington, along Massachusetts Avenue. It's hard to miss the funky building with even funkier sculptures outside. Inside, the art is just as provocative and probes the mind, focusing on the contemporary, making the AU Museum one of the most interesting and eclectic collections in Washington and among universities.
The Tidal Basin, situated directly off the Mall, is a beautiful little oasis of water among the monuments and roadways, lined with the pink confetti of cherry blossoms in spring and autumn colors in fall.
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, some of the greatest works of American art are displayed, across three centuries and several art periods.
More than just a “how things work” or a hands-on version of your old biology textbook, the Marian Koshland Science Museum is fun, new, modern, hip and most of all, relevant to its everyday visitors. Founded in 2004 by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the museum is dedicated to educating people about science issues related to current public policy and public health in the country and world.
If you've read Dan Brown's latest book, you'll be quite familiar with the existence of the Washington Masonic memorial in Alexandria, Va. You'll probably even be able to pinpoint its location (by the Metro) and wonder if there's some cryptic messaging lurking around it (not as mysterious and religious as Brown made it). It is a grand point in Alexandria, and its historic background are a good introduction to Old Town.
Both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, the Washington Monument for 125 years has served as the primary memorial to America’s Founding Father and first president.
The Hillwood museum is a large estate with its own name, acres of gardens and a sumptuous collection of domestic and foreign art.
Located unassumingly on the corner of M and 17th streets in Northwest D.C., the brick, three-story Charles Sumner School is unquestionably a historic building among the modern offices surrounding it.
From the original Wright Brothers flying machine to Captain Kirk’s legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, there’s a reason why the National Air & Space Museum is the most popular museum on the planet.
Gadsby's Tavern is a prime example of how bars literally served a prominent role in shaping American history. This tavern existed before the United States did, starting as a different business in 1749 and changing names, owners and purposes (including a law office, auction house and hospital). Today, it is a functioning restaurant and museum showcasing life in Alexandria around the time of the Revolutionary War.
If you wonder how Georgetown residents decorate their expensive little townhouses with shabby chic décor and unique antique finds, then travel no farther than the Georgetown Flea Market.
4 Mile Run in Arlington is in fact more than nine miles long, yet it remains the “4 mile run” from a mistake on an old map. Whether it is four or nine miles does not matter, as it remains incredibly popular for northern Virginia residents.
If there ever was a more perfect museum for self-proclaimed geeks, spy enthusiasts, gadget-types and conspiracy theorists, the National Electronics Museum will fulfill all those wonderments. With 12 galleries dedicated to radars, sensors and other defense products, the National Electronics Museum provides an interesting look into the technical and functional work of electrical engineers and their products not found anywhere else in Washington, D.C.
The National Museum of the United States Navy is the main flagship of the 15 naval museums around the country, providing a detailed account of the Navy through the course of the American history. Located in Washington Navy Yard in the former Naval Gun factory, the museum gives a thorough overview of maritime operations during wartime and peace, and its importance in the U.S. military. It’s an excellent place for any military or history buff, former Navy and for children.
One of Washington's slightly newer museums is the Kreeger Museum, an eclectic collection housed inside an eclectic house in Foxhall. Opened in 1994 as a gift by David and Carmen Kreeger, the Kreeger Museum exhibits the art and music collections of the couple, as well as their architectural tastes encompassed in the walls of the building.
All urban centers need a grassy relief, and Baltimore is no different. Patterson Park is a popular space for eastern Baltimore residents, whether as a place to cheer on Little League or to take your dog running alongside you. If your own yard doesn't let you or your kids run as freely as you'd hope, head out to the park for a morning or afternoon of leisurely play.
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is a large contemporary complex steps from the National Mall and an interesting contrast to the rest of Washington. On the outside, it resembles many of Washington's other grand buildings, with its commanding columns and round architecture. However, once inside, visitors see that it's actually quite a departure from the typical: it's adorned with contemporary works of art, modern design and high-tech facilities.
Baltimore has its fair share of the wild side – wildlife, that is. The Maryland Zoo, once known as the Baltimore Zoo, brings some of the most exotic and interesting animals around the world to Marylanders as part of a conservation and educational effort. Opened in 1876, the Maryland Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the country and a great place to bring families and children on a weekend.
As the country's biggest port, once upon a time, it only made sense that Baltimore would then develop the first major commercial railtrack in 1829. All this history is carefully preserved at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in West Baltimore. Once the campus for surveyors, engineers, and businessmen to build America's railways is now a museum of history for many of the country's railroad artifacts. It is an extremely popular place for visitors to browse around old locomotives and rolling sto
Maryland would be lost without its waterways, and even those who live away from the Chesapeake still yearn for a taste of the waterfront. Enter Sligo Creek, a tributary from the Anacostia River which flows through Silver Spring and serves as a popular place for suburbanites of the Northeast section of Washington to escape to on weekends.
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