DC
Museum
National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian's natural history museum featuring the Hope Diamond, dinosaur fossils, ocean halls, and the Hall of Human Origins. Free admission daily.
FindFavs · DC · Maryland · Virginia
Things to do
FindFavs' guide to things to do across DC, Maryland, and Virginia: 69 spots, from Smithsonian museums and national landmarks to state parks, waterfront neighborhoods, markets, and music venues. 31 of them are free. Every listing links straight to the website and directions.
MD
Aquarium
National Aquarium
One of the top aquariums in the world with 700+ species across 2.5 million gallons of water. Features a 4D immersive theater, Shark Alley, and the Australian exhibit.
VA
Landmark
Arlington National Cemetery
America's most sacred burial ground with 400,000+ veterans including JFK and RBG. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier happens every 30 minutes. Free.
DC
Museum
National Air and Space Museum
Home to the Wright Brothers' Flyer, Apollo 11 command module, and hundreds of historic aircraft and spacecraft. One of the most visited museums in the world. Free admission.
MD
Museum
American Visionary Art Museum
A wildly creative museum dedicated to self-taught visionary art. Raw, brilliant creativity. One of Baltimore's most unique and beloved institutions.
VA
Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The massive Smithsonian Air and Space annex with Space Shuttle Discovery, Concorde, SR-71 Blackbird, and thousands of artifacts. Free admission, $15 parking.
DC
Museum
National Museum of African American History & Culture
The only national museum dedicated to African American history and culture. Timed passes required but free. One of the most powerful museum experiences in the country.
MD
Museum
Maryland Science Center
Three floors of hands-on science exhibits, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and an observatory at the Inner Harbor. Great for all ages.
VA
Landmark
George Washington's Mount Vernon
The perfectly preserved 500-acre estate of America's first president. Tour the mansion, gardens, working farm, and distillery. One of the most visited historic sites in America.
DC
Museum
National Museum of American History
Home to the original Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child's kitchen, and pop culture artifacts. Free admission. Great for families.
MD
Museum
B&O Railroad Museum
The birthplace of American railroading with the world's largest collection of historic locomotives. Explore the iconic roundhouse and ride working trains on weekends.
VA
Neighborhood
Old Town Alexandria
A beautifully preserved colonial seaport with cobblestone streets, independent boutiques, waterfront dining, and the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Easy Metro access from DC.
DC
Museum
International Spy Museum
Immersive spy museum with real artifacts from the Cold War, CIA, and KGB. Interactive missions, gadgets, and disguises. One of DC's top ticketed attractions.
MD
Museum
Walters Art Museum
37 centuries of art spanning ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and Asian art. Free admission always. One of the best art museums on the East Coast.
VA
Museum
Torpedo Factory Art Center
150+ working artists in studios inside a repurposed naval munitions factory on the Alexandria waterfront. Watch artists create, browse galleries, and explore the archaeology museum. Free.
DC
Museum
National Gallery of Art
Two buildings of world-class art spanning medieval to contemporary. Includes Vermeer, Monet, da Vinci, and Picasso. Free admission always.
MD
Museum
Baltimore Museum of Art
Home to the largest Matisse collection in the world plus American, African, and contemporary art. Free admission always.
VA
Outdoor
Gravelly Point Park
The most unique plane-spotting spot in the country — aircraft from Reagan National pass just feet overhead as you picnic on the Potomac riverbank. Free and unforgettable.
DC
Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
One of the most important museums in the world dedicated to Holocaust history and impact. Powerful, essential, and free to visit.
MD
Museum
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Maryland's African American history and culture museum spanning four centuries of art, artifacts, and powerful stories.
VA
Outdoor
Great Falls Park
One of the most dramatic natural landscapes near DC — massive waterfalls on the Potomac just 15 miles from the city. Hiking, climbing, and stunning viewpoints. $20/car.
DC
Museum
Planet Word Museum
The world's first voice-activated museum celebrating language, words, and storytelling through immersive interactive exhibits. Free admission.
MD
Museum
Port Discovery Children's Museum
Three floors of hands-on adventures designed for kids up to age 10. Features climbing structures, water play, a kid-sized city, and traveling exhibitions.
VA
Outdoor
Shenandoah National Park
A 200,000-acre Blue Ridge Mountain park just 75 miles from DC with the iconic Skyline Drive, 500+ miles of trails, and stunning Appalachian scenery. $35/car.
DC
Museum
Museum of the Bible
Eight floors exploring the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible. Features rare manuscripts, theatrical experiences, and a rooftop restaurant.
MD
Zoo
The Maryland Zoo
One of the oldest zoos in the country with 1,500+ animals. Home to African penguins, giraffes, polar bears, and the beloved Children's Zoo.
VA
Outdoor
Theodore Roosevelt Island
An 88-acre forested island in the Potomac accessible only by footbridge. A quiet escape with trails through woods and marsh plus a monument to TR. Free.
DC
Museum
National Portrait Gallery
Portraits of every US president plus American icons in art, science, and culture. Shares a stunning historic building with the American Art Museum. Free.
MD
Museum
Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
The tiny row house where Poe lived and wrote in 1833-35. Intimate, haunting, and essential for literature lovers. Near the Westminster Hall where Poe is buried.
VA
Outdoor
Huntley Meadows Park
The largest park in Fairfax County with a half-mile boardwalk over freshwater wetlands, exceptional birdwatching, and tranquil forest trails. Free.
DC
Museum
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
DC's premier modern and contemporary art museum with iconic circular architecture and an outdoor sculpture garden on the National Mall. Free admission.
MD
Museum
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
America's first wax museum dedicated to African American history with life-like figures of heroes, leaders, and icons. Powerful and educational for all ages.
VA
Outdoor
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
A beautiful 95-acre garden with a Korean Bell Garden, butterfly meadow, seasonal festivals, and a winter lights show. One of NoVA's most underrated gems.
DC
Museum
National Building Museum
Explores architecture, design, and urban planning in a stunning Victorian-era building. Features rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection.
MD
Museum
Baltimore Museum of Industry
Celebrates Baltimore's industrial heritage in a stunning waterfront cannery. Features working machines, a tugboat, a print shop, and hands-on exhibits.
VA
Entertainment
Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts
The only national park dedicated to the performing arts. Stunning outdoor amphitheater and indoor Barns venue. Top national acts all summer long.
DC
Museum
Phillips Collection
America's first modern art museum in a gorgeous Dupont Circle mansion. Home to Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party. Intimate and world-class.
MD
Neighborhood
Fells Point Historic District
Baltimore's most charming waterfront neighborhood with cobblestone streets, Federal-era row houses, seafood restaurants, and a legendary bar scene.
VA
Entertainment
Workhouse Arts Center
A former federal prison transformed into a thriving arts campus with galleries, working studios, the Lucy Burns Museum, and performance spaces. Free gallery admission.
DC
Landmark
Lincoln Memorial
The iconic memorial to Abraham Lincoln. Free and open 24 hours. Rangers on site until 10pm. Breathtaking at night and the site of MLK's I Have a Dream speech.
MD
Landmark
Fort McHenry
The star-shaped fort where the Battle of Baltimore was fought in 1814, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner.
VA
Neighborhood
Reston Town Center
A vibrant urban town center with restaurants, shops, an ice rink in winter, and frequent outdoor events. Metro accessible on the Silver Line.
DC
Landmark
Washington Monument
At 555 feet the world's tallest stone structure. Free timed passes for the observation deck with panoramic views of DC from the top.
MD
Landmark
Top of the World Observation Deck
360-degree views of the Inner Harbor, Baltimore skyline, and beyond from the 27th floor of the World Trade Center. One of the best views in Maryland.
VA
Landmark
US Marine Corps War Memorial
The iconic Iwo Jima Memorial depicting the famous flag-raising. Free to visit any time. Tuesdays in summer feature a Sunset Parade with the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
DC
Landmark
The Wharf DC
DC's premier waterfront destination with restaurants, concert venues, a historic fish market, and weekend water taxis to Georgetown.
MD
Outdoor
Sandy Point State Park
Beautiful beach on the Chesapeake Bay with swimming, crabbing, windsurfing, and the best view of the Bay Bridge. Popular summertime destination.
VA
Neighborhood
Occoquan Historic District
A charming mill town on the Occoquan River with historic buildings, artisan shops, kayak rentals, great restaurants, and a small-town feel just 25 miles from DC.
DC
Landmark
Georgetown Waterfront Park
Beautiful Potomac riverfront park in Georgetown perfect for walks, picnics, and watching crew teams. Adjacent to the scenic C&O Canal towpath.
MD
Neighborhood
Historic Downtown Annapolis
Maryland's charming colonial capital with cobblestone streets, the Maryland State House, the Naval Academy, waterfront restaurants, and more sailboats per capita than anywhere in the US.
VA
Museum
National Museum of the Marine Corps
A world-class museum honoring the history and culture of the US Marine Corps with immersive galleries, flight simulators, and powerful exhibits. Free admission.
DC
Landmark
Tidal Basin
The iconic basin surrounded by cherry blossom trees, the Jefferson Memorial, and the MLK Memorial. Beautiful year-round — extraordinary during spring bloom.
MD
Landmark
US Naval Academy
Tour one of the country's most prestigious military academies right on the Chesapeake Bay. The museum, chapel, and historic yard are open to the public.
VA
Outdoor
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
A 45-mile paved trail from Shirlington in Arlington to Purcellville in Loudoun County. Flat and scenic through NoVA's most charming towns. Perfect for biking and running.
DC
Landmark
Library of Congress
The world's largest library with stunning Beaux-Arts architecture, a breathtaking main reading room, and rotating exhibitions. Free and one of DC's most underrated attractions.
MD
Entertainment
Merriweather Post Pavilion
One of the top outdoor amphitheaters in the country. Major national acts all summer long. Lawn and seated options available. Check the calendar before visiting.
VA
Outdoor
Mason Neck State Park
A peaceful 1,800-acre park on a Potomac River peninsula with hiking, kayaking, bald eagle sightings, and stunning bay views. One of NoVA's most scenic parks. $7/car.
DC
Outdoor
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
DC's only national park dedicated to aquatic plants. Thousands of lotus and water lilies bloom July through August. A beautiful hidden gem most tourists never find.
MD
Outdoor
Sugarloaf Mountain
A privately owned natural area with hiking trails to a 1,282-foot summit with stunning views of the Potomac Valley. Free to visit and one of Maryland's best day hikes.
VA
Neighborhood
Clarendon
Arlington's most vibrant neighborhood with a walkable strip of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and boutiques. Young, energetic, and a local favorite for nights out.
DC
Outdoor
Rock Creek Park
Over 1,700 acres of forested park in the heart of DC with hiking trails, a horse center, tennis courts, and the historic Pierce Mill. Free and open daily.
MD
Outdoor
Patapsco Valley State Park
Over 32 miles of trails through river valleys, waterfalls, and historic ruins. Popular for hiking, mountain biking, and fishing along the Patapsco River.
DC
Outdoor
National Arboretum
A 446-acre living museum of trees, plants, and gardens. The National Capitol Columns and the bonsai collection are must-sees. Free and open daily.
MD
Market
Lexington Market
One of America's oldest continuously operating public markets, recently renovated. Known for Faidley's crab cakes — considered some of the best in Maryland.
DC
Market
Eastern Market
DC's oldest continuously operating market on Capitol Hill. Weekends come alive with local farmers, artists, and food vendors alongside the permanent indoor market.
MD
Landmark
Graffiti Alley Baltimore
Baltimore's most colorful street — an open-air gallery of ever-changing murals, tags, and street art in the Station North Arts District. Free, always changing.
DC
Market
Union Market
DC's coolest food hall with 40+ local vendors, a rooftop bar, and rotating pop-up shops in a revitalized industrial neighborhood.
DC
Entertainment
9:30 Club
One of the top live music venues in the country. Intimate 1,200-person capacity with incredible sound. The starting point for countless legendary bands.
DC
Entertainment
Kennedy Center
DC's premier performing arts center with opera, ballet, theater, and concerts year-round. Free Millennium Stage performances every evening at 6pm.
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