Fun and free things to do in Washington D.C.?

[Flaxbee]

The Smithsonian and the other museums on the mall are a sure bet, but where or what else can a person do for free in DC over a weekend?

A friend from Bangladesh is going to be in DC and wonders what he can do over this coming weekend. Any suggestions you may have I can pass along to him are greatly appreciated.

Thanks! :hi:

[Chan790]

1. I used to enjoy prop falls down the Georgetown steps...

until I really did fall, goofing around, and shatter my clavicle. I was wearing a clerical collar at the time too because I have a sick sense of humor.

[nytemare]

30. LOL, the old Exorcist steps.

I need to go back to DC for a visit. I haven't been there for too many years.

[SoxFan]

37. 1993 Clinton Inaugural

I was staying with a friend who was attending Georgetown at the time. I followed the directions, but got about half way up that damn staircase before my sleep-deprived mind figured out where I was.

That friend is now a Republican tax lawyer, so maybe Captain Howdy was in the neighborhood after all!

[XemaSab]

2. You can spend a whole, happy weekend just on the mall

:)

[Flaxbee]

3. that's what I was thinking -- easy to get to, enough food nearby,

and lots to see and do in terms of museums and government. Though I'll probably mention the Georgetown neighborhood if they want to stroll around some stores. :)

[HopeHoops]

4. Squirrel fishing!

Take a bag of peanuts (unsalted), a fishing pole, and some yarn. Tie a peanut to the fishing line with the yarn and HAVE FUN!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Why don't you ask Man Stuck in Traffic Circle?

[TZ]

6. STFU...

You fucking dork! To the OP...don't forget about the National Zoo! Just a short subway ride from the Mall!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. Well, there is one pretty cool place I could recommend....

....it's 35-40 miles to the Northeast of DC, though. :P

[SoxFan]

11. Win!

I love Bawluhmuhr! Underrated town.

[Captain Hilts]

33. I agree. I like Bawlmer, Hon. nt

[TZ]

15. that will take up all of two hours.

Seriously outside of the National Aquarium and the inner harbor for lunch, Baltimore's downtown is WAAAAY less interesting than DC.
Oh and I've spent time in both (had jury duty in downtown Baltimore)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. So you had Jury Duty in Baltimore, eh?

Which means you are a legal resident of Maryland.

Which means logically you should root for Maryland's pro sports teams, naturally, right?

[madinmaryland]

21. I don't understand why she doesn't root for the Ravens or the Bengals

where she is from.

:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

35. Why don't you?

[Captain Hilts]

34. AMTRAK and MARC make Bawlmer easier to get to than Mt.Vernon!

[Captain Hilts]

32. Sitting outside across from the zoo at the ZooBar is nice. nt

[Captain Hilts]

25. Watch the sunset at the National Cathedral. See the Lincoln and Vietnam Mems at night.

The FDR Memorial is not what it used to be at night. Sadly.

[LynneSin]

7. It's not fun but it is free - Holocaust Museum

Must stop for any visit to Washington DC

[Common Sense Party]

41. Yes. Everyone MUST visit the Holocaust Museum.

And bring hankies.

[bif]

9. The National Zoo

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

I'm pretty sure it's free.

[TZ]

12. It its.

You have to pay for parking though.

[bif]

10. And the Botanic Garden

http://www.usbg.gov/

It's pretty overwhelming.

[SoxFan]

13. The Air& Space annex at Dulles Airport

They have the stuff that doesn't fit in the museum on the Mall, including an SR-71 and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. They also have the model of the alien mothership from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Hell, the probably have the alien mothership itself in there someplace.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/

[Tommy_Carcetti]

14. Really? I just saw Transformers 2 and I swear it was in the middle of the Arizona desert.

Yes, I know, Transformers 2. Not my pick. I swear. And yes, I am actually a stupider man for having watched Transformers 2.

[arcadian]

23. Good call.

The front door to Udvar-Hazy fronts Dulles airport, the backdoor let's out onto Davis-monthan Air force base, Arizona. I caught that too.

[Captain Hilts]

26. Doesn't it cost $12 just to park? I think so. NOT FREE nt

[seemunkee]

17. Walking tour of Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument

WWII memorial, The Wall, Korean War memorial.
Library of Congress.
Georgetown for the evening.

[bikebloke]

18. Great Falls

If you have transport up there.

[Flaxbee]

19. thanks, all. Are there any weekend passes for the Metro?

Anyone know offhand?

Will direct friend(s) to the Mall, the zoo, botanical gardens and Georgetown for dinner....

[madinmaryland]

20. You can buy daily passes for $6.50 per person. Parking at metro stations

on the weekends is free.

[nytemare]

22. Arlington Cemetary and Mount Vernon

Both are a short drive away. I think there might be a fee to get into Mount Vernon, but I can't imagine it's too high. I used to drive by there at night when I was in the Army. It is a wonderful place.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/index.htm

http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/

[Captain Hilts]

27. Mount Vernon is NOT National Park Service and admission is expensive. nt

[nytemare]

29. Admission is $15. Is that really that expensive?

I think for a short drive from DC, it is well worth seeing. It costs $17 for tickets to Mt Vernon and the Distillery, and I'm sure discounted tickets are to be found for around $10. Hell, Sea World tickets down here are $80 bucks.

Seriously, it is a great place to visit, but I guess the sunset over the Potomac at Mt Vernon is not as spectacular as at the Cathedral.


http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/27/

[Captain Hilts]

31. The poster asked for "free" things to do. And getting out there will cost something. nt

[SoxFan]

36. No, it isn't

Most major museums are going to run you $15 to $20.

Museum of Science, Boston: $20 (Exhibit Halls, no Omnimax or Planetarium show)

Museum of Modern Art, New York: $20

Field Museum, Chicago: $23 ($21 for Chicago residents)

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT: $23

High Museum of Art, Atlanta: $18

Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY: $16.50

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, NH: $9

Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester: $10

[JPZenger]

38. Mt. Vernon has great new museum on the grounds

Many people go to Mt. Vernon and don't allow enough time to see all of the new museum, which is at the end of the tour. The museum deserves 1.5 hours.

[JPZenger]

39. Observation Tower at the Old Post Office

There is a great view of DC from the tower on top of the Old Post Office Building on PA. Av. If I remember correctly, it is free or very cheap.

there is a big new visitors center on the east side of the Capitol, most of which is underground.

The old building of the Library of Congress is gorgeous.

[arcadian]

24. Tour the U.S. Capitol building and then go to the Library of Congress.

If you get a LOC library card you can actually go into the Main Reading Room. rather than just gawk at it like all the other tourists.

out of the Smithsonians, I'm really liking the Natural History museum lately, they have a great Oceans exhibit right now in the main lobby and the Gem and Rock exhibit is really fantastic.

[Common Sense Party]

43. Library of Congress is impressive, even if you're just a gawking tourist

The section of Jefferson's original library alone was amazing.

[kwassa]

28. DC mall has more free attractions than anywhere else in the US

considering private museum admission prices, your tax dollars give some great free museums. More than anyone could possibly do in a weekend.

things like food and drink cost money, of course.

[Capn Sunshine]

40. Spell "BOMB" over and over in the subway

That will take up several days

[Common Sense Party]

42. Tour the U.S. Mint...or whatever the place where they print the $$$$

It's just down the street from the Holocaust Museum. Very interesting free tour.