No I’m not saying that you have to go to Washington, DC to visit a certain someone who just happens to currently reside in the White House; it definitely wouldn’t be on my must do list; but there are plenty of good, inexpensive reasons to go but visit our nation’s capital – and they don’t cost anything! Or at least if they do, it’s very nearly nothing.
Tooling around town
Here are few suggestions if you’re just planning on hanging around town for the day or several days:
• More than your average architecturally splendid train station, Union Station is 102 years old and still jumpin’ with special events.
• The Smithsonian Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery
• Visit KramerBooks and Afterwards Café with live music and Saturday, Friday, Thursday and Wednesday nights or sit back and sip a smoothie with a good book.
• Interesting concoctions and farm fresh produce can be found weekend mornings at the Eastern Market, as well as artwork by local talent.
• Speaking of food, how about eating at Washington DC’s oldest restaurant; Old Ebbitt Grill. They have Oyster Happy Hour twice a day Mondays through Thursdays and offer discounted raw bar items (not everyone’s cup of tea but I’m packing my bags already).
• Walk through ‘DC’s Most Haunted Houses’ or ‘Memorial’s By Moonlight’ on local walking tours.
• Spend some time in Van Ness’s coffee house and bookstore; Politics and Prose.
• Head over to Pennsylvania Avenue and take in the awe inspiring aerial view of DC from the Old Post Office Pavilion (it beats the wait you’ll have for the Washington Monument view).
• Tired? Take a seat in the world’s biggest chair- No, not the one President Lincoln sits in- It’s located in Anacostia.
Free stuff for fun and families
Here are some family oriented places that will cost you little to nothing to enjoy:
• Since it all can be fun and games, all a little history in their websites such as the Washington Monument, to Lincoln Memorial and the National Archives Building.
• The metro rail is a safe and clean way to give the kids the thrill of riding on the train.
• If you board the kids while in Van Ness at the book place, do them a favor and stop it the area’s most popular playground; Turtle Park, also known as Friendship Park.
• Discovery Theatre at the Smithsonian has workshops, puppet shows and dancing.
• The Natural Museums of American History and National History don’t have to be boring for the kids; there are plenty of family friendly things to see and do.
• The Smithsonian National Air Museum is a must see for airplane or outer space buffs.
• Speaking of outer space, see it up close and personal at the Rock Creek Park planetarium.
• Gargoyles everywhere you look (there’s even one that looks like Darth Vader – On purpose). That’s what you’ll find at the National Cathedral. Nightmares included free of charge.
• Wave at the pandas at the National Zoo.
The past is history
For history buffs, Washington, DC is one of the most magnificent places in which you can view our nation’s past. Many places of historical interest of already been listed here a just in case:
• Memorials include: Abraham Lincoln’s, Washington’s, World War ll, Vietnam Vet’s Wall, Arlington National Cemetery (this is where President Kennedy and his brother buried- See the eternal flame).
• Another historical point of interest is the Willard Intercontinental Hotel (home to significant events relating to Martin Luther King Jr., Ulysses S. Grant and author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Julia Ward Howe.
Eat, drink and be frugal
If the sushi bar listed earlier wasn’t exactly your deal, try these places for food and drink on for size:
• South American, European and Indian Food are served all day on traveling vendor carts called Sauca’.
• No plates, forks or spoons necessary when dining on Falafels at the Amsterdam Falafelshop.
• You can’t beat a huge bowl of your choice of noodles for $5.00 and ChinaTown Express.
• Stop in at Ben’s Chili Bowl and you may well run into one of their loyal fans, Bill Cosby.
So, see our nation’s capital first or see our nation’s capital last- just see our nation’s capital very nearly for free!
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