This was such an amazing place to see beautiful Lotuses. We went during the Lotus Blossom festival…read moreduring mid-July and it was spectacular! It's a must see if you're in the area.

I absolutely love visiting the gardens when the lotus flowers are in bloom! So beautiful to see all…read morethe blooms, and the water lilies. The crowds get pretty big, so I try to visit early in the morning. There's a whole day of programs and activities, and plenty of parking.

This is a cute, well maintained little garden that is viewable from the road or as you walk by!…read more It boasts of many varieties of plants and flowers & appears to always have something blooming!

We walked into an endless variety of beautiful, colorful tulips. All different sizes shapes and…read morecolors. Lots of people are here taking in and enjoying the spectacular blooms. The tulips are near the cherry blossoms and are actually more spectacular today.

Hillwood is such a dreamy oasis to escape to. I love coming here to get away the from hectic and…read moreenjoy some peace and calm, either with a book or a blanket, or to take much needed quiet stroll through the grounds. It's a beautiful piece of land that is under immaculate care. I also can't forget to mention the museums which boast the most beautiful collections. This is a place you can get lost in for hours.

Beautiful estate. Absolutely loved walking through the gardens and appreciating all the work that…read moregoes in to maintaining it. Will definitely come back.

Bartholdi Park is kind of forgotten about. It's right next to the Botanical Garden. These are both…read morenext to the National Mall, so it has a convenient location. It has a very beautiful fountain. The park is usually pretty quiet. It gets hidden among the National Mall. Since there's so many popular sites, it often gets overlooked. This is next to the Botanic Gardens, which can often get overlooked too. Look for this if you're close to the Capitol Building. The most obvious thing about it is the fountain. It has an interesting history that predates the park and where the fountain is currently. The fountain was created as part of the 1876 Worlds Fair. It was sculpted by Auguste Bartholdi. The fountain was given to the U.S. and placed near the Capitol Building, then moved to its current location. With so many parks around you could forget about it. If you're here to see the memorials and monuments, take a moment to see it. The fountain is as beautiful as anything on the Mall, and the park is often peaceful.

I visited the United States Botanic Garden with a friend last weekend, and Bartholdi Fountain and…read moreGardens is one section of the Botanic Garden, and it ended up being my favorite. The Botanic Garden is free to visit (and the rest of it, including the conservatory) is across Independence Avenue from Bartholdi Fountain. You can just stop by Bartholdi Fountain and Garden, however, without visiting any of the rest of the Botanic Garden. It's a central fountain in a triangular shaped garden. On a July day, the gardens around the fountain were filled with colorful flowers and beautiful trees (including some beautiful pomegranate and fig trees). In photos, the Capitol building just peaks out from behind the statue, adding even more beauty to this park. There are rocking chairs and tables in different areas around the garden, making it a great place to eat your lunch or a snack or sit and read a book. It's a beautiful, peaceful space. I'd love to come back and enjoy it more.

This is a nice little rose garden tucked away in front of and to the side of the Smithsonian…read more"Castle". It looks like they have a range of varieties so that something is blooming at all points during the summer. It isn't huge, but is nice, and is a good place to grab a peaceful minute a step away from the crowds on the mall. There are a few benches that would be nice for a rest. There are signs labeling the varieties which is always great for identifying a favorite for those who might want to try to grow some at home.

This garden is located just east of the Smithsonian castle, and in front of and behind the Arts and…read moreIndustries building. When walking on the Mall in the summer, you've probably stopped to smell the beautiful roses that grace the front of the building, but if you haven't explored what's to the sides and behind you are really missing out on one of DC's most gorgeous and peaceful places. This is a perfect place to take some great pictures, read a book, or, ah, you know, make out. Not that I've done that before, I'm just saying . . . After what can be the chaos of battling school groups through museums, this is the perfect place to relax and regroup.

Across from a school and in a residential neighborhood, McCrillis Gardens feels like the "hidden…read moregem" the Washingtonian Magazine once claimed it to be. Visiting on a Monday morning, here's my experience. 1) Entrance: Good thing there's clear signage. Otherwise, it would be easy to miss. When you walk in, there's a roundabout in front of an old house. The garden is behind the house. In case you miss the signs or the staff furiously yelling at you, you can't park here. Some park across the street at the school or you can find street parking along nearby Renshaw Drive. 2) Gardens: Go in the spring when flowers are in bloom. There are trails, benches, and other areas to find stillness.

So as stated, no parking on the property but there is a school across the street so off hours there…read morewould work. There is also a gate in the back and theee might be parking on street? I would guess spring would be the best time to visit as there looked to be lots of rhododendrons and daffodils. According to Carl, who is taking over the care of the property, there are azaleas blooming from March thru May.... So it looks like this property has been a little neglected in past years. Vines are growing , bushes have not been cut back. The restrooms were not open on our visit. It looks like a friends of volunteer group would be great for locals who would like to lend a hand. As we all know, it take a lot of effort!!!!

Constitution Gardens is a vast green space at the center of many monuments and memorials on the…read moreNational Mall along Constitution Avenue. The gardens have access to the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Reflecting Pool, JFK Hockey Fields, U.S. Park Police Horse Stables, and Korean War Veterans Memorial. The area is approximately 50 acres. At its center is a pond where you will often find ducks and geese. At the center of the pond is a memorial stone honoring the 56 signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. You can find many willow trees along the pond. There are concession stands located around the pond and food/ice cream trucks to the south closer to the WWII Memorial and Constitution Avenue. During the summer the concession stands are open, however, during the colder months the concessions normally are closed. NOTE: Over the years, the end of the pond near WWII Memorial has been littered with debris, and because the water is stagnant the pond sometimes gives off a horrible smell when the water moves. I've driven by in spring 2026 to see that the pond has been cleared and cleared at this end of the pond (I'm assuming as a part of the 2026 DC Safety and Beautification Initiative). You can often experience swarms of gnats and mosquitoes during the summer. The best time to visit is early spring or fall when these pests are done for the season. Overall, a great grassy area in the heart of downtown with plenty of street parking along Constitution Avenue.

Constitution Gardens are a pleasant park area that feels like a peaceful oasis near the busy…read moreNational Mall. Water features, greenery, and pathways create a very harmonious environment for walks or a short rest. I especially appreciate the calmer atmosphere and the sense that it is not just a tourist spot, but also a park that locals enjoy using.

I was stoked when I saw a Facebook ad of this museum! It's absolutely lovely. The architectural…read moredesign is beautiful. Quite overstaffed we were greeted by so many ppl but they were all nice from security to exit. They run a clean system I just genuinely think they're wasting money on the entrance clips--so unnecessary as something we have to wear that no one checks. The animal exhibit is what I went for and it was so neat with some interactive fun. The kids exploration room was so cute I enjoyed it for myself! Great for parents who need to have a break for the kids. Definitely need a few hours to enjoy the full museum so I'll have to go back and with time to enjoy the food! Representing multiple countries the food sounded good and smelled great. I didn't expect food at the museum! The band was fun. It's a really nice overall concept you can enjoy. Go, enjoy!

The renovated museum opened in June 2026. The location is at 1600 M St NW, not to be confused with…read morethe stone entrance at 16th St, that has less fanfare. Nat Geo's website has a list of free shuttles that go to/from the museum (only a handful of locations). Farragut North metro is about two blocks away. Parking garages are nearby but metro is more economical. There is a designated Uber/Lyft location. Tickets start at $29.99 with optional add ons. A concert was an additional $20. A private tour (including a peek at Alexander Graham Bell's desk) was $15. The front entrance at 16 & M has windows that are interactive and light up at events. An annual membership is $99 (perks include 10% discount at gift shop & eatery, preview tours of new exhibits). The courtyard entrance (16 & M) is fun. There are cute animal figures & sounds outside. My spirit animal was the turtle. Instagram-o-holics will love the giant yellow frame, which is included in all of the branding. The best frame lighting is in the pricey gift shop. A $200 bracelet equals a few Vera bags (just sayin). If you show the gift shop cashier proof you took the survey or wrote a review, you'll receive a free postcard. Hardly anyone does that. I checked the website for prohibited items. I brought a stadium bag. Guests can bring a refillable water bottle (filling station by eatery). The website suggested weekends are more crowded. The place wasn't busy on a Friday morning. The building is pretty and nicely laid out. The renovation cost $300 million. For that price, there should be more bathrooms, hooks on the wall for purses or bags and plenty of paper towels. I suggest starting your tour on the right side, towards the Photographer Gallery. The theme when we visited was "Red, White & Blue." The pictures were beautiful. There are interactive exhibits (fav Learning Launchpad) in each area. The Animals & Earth Gallery had amazing animal pictures. This is a great experience for students. The seats in each theater area were comfy. There are lots of employees. They are nice and informative. There are interesting photo opps on the floors. My favorite was the penguin. The Learning Launchpad, Geoverse & The Archives is across the hall from the sales desk. There is seating throughout each exhibit. There were lots of touch screen activities but no hand sanitizer. I did not see anyone cleaning a display during our three hour visit. You can easily see everything in two hours (including the 18 min film in The Learning Launchpad). We lingered and saw some exhibits twice, since I don't think we will return. DC has sooooo many free museums with much more learning/entertainment crammed into each building. The upper floor was beautiful. There are stairs & elevators. I loved the personal touch on display throughout the museum (press credentials, notes, clothing) Malaika Vas wore bright pink tennis shoes in order to look like a tourist and not a filmmaker on assignment. Her donated shoes are easy to find. The films were incredible. The storytelling by the explorers was wonderful. You don't just snap a photo of a penguin or lion. A crew risks safety to haul heavy equipment for days/weeks/months under risky conditions. The bug bites and worse are worth the end result. Museum guests can enjoy all of the special photos and research that is on display. I just don't see how this place can compete with The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, SAAM and The Portrait Gallery (to start). I can see first time visitors enjoying a visit. I'm not sure about repeat visits. There is too much free competition with all of DC's museums. I wish the museum well.