Things To Do
Capitol Hill Books
One of our favorite local bookstores!
East City Bookshop
Leah’s other favorite local bookshop!
Eastern Market
We go here almost every weekend! Check out Market Lunch, the diner inside the market building, for breakfast — the blueberry buckwheat pancakes are to die for.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
All of the monuments are beautiful, but this is one of our favorites. Metered visitor parking is available along Ohio Drive SW between the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson memorials. Public transportation is the best option for reaching National Mall and Memorial Park sites easily and conveniently. There are many options to reach us via Washington, DC's subway system known as Metro, or bicycle via Capital Bikeshare. The National Mall Circulator Loop bus provides easy access around the National Mall and convenient connections to other Circulator buses for visits to uptown sites.
National Gallery of Art
This is our favorite museum in the city!
National Museum of Women in the Arts
This is one of the coolest museums in DC! (In Leah’s opinion). Tickets are $16 for adults or free for folks 21 and under.
National Portrait Gallery
Oprah has her own portrait here now!
Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
You’ll forget you’re in the city!
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Timed entry tickets are required, so make sure you book far in advance!
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Butterfly Pavillion is a fan favorite, but it requires timed entry passes that are $7 for children and $8 for adults, so plan ahead!
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Free entry passes are required for all guests (including children!). Make sure you book in advance! The easiest way to get here is the Red Line metro — paid parking is limited and street parking is difficult.
Supreme Court of the United States
Although the Supreme Court does not offer guided walking tours, visitors are encouraged to tour public portions of the building on a self-guided basis.
Union Market
A great spot to stop for a quick bite to eat! Parking is limited, but the NoMA metro stop (Red Line) is a short walk away!
United States Botanic Garden
Come for the cacti, stay for the corpse flower.
United States Capitol
The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tours begin every 10 minutes until 3:20 p.m. All tours are free and led by our professional tour guides and visit the Crypt, the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. The tour does not include the Senate and House Galleries. Reservations are recommended, but not required.
United States National Arboretum
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and is one of our favorite spots!
The White House
Public White House tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested tour date(s). Public tour requests are scheduled through your Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Constituents may reach your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator through the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at www.congress.gov/members.
The Market Lunch
