The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) is a quick worthwhile visit…read more A big appeal of MoCA is that there's abundant off-street parking and the museum is free. While there is an upstairs and downstairs, the exhibits are rather small and it will take you less than a half hour to go through the entire museum. While there were a couple people at the information window, I was the only visitor during my brief time here. I did find all the art at MoCA interesting.

This is a wonderful museum in the heart of Arlington. I've been here a few times now and even took…read morea class here recently. I love their galleries and they always have so many exciting activities and events planned. There are two locations; the museum and they have a smaller location over by AWS in Arlington.

*Flagged Content: 8/29/21…read moreEdited and reposted for Yelp* 5/26/23 Arlington House...I honestly do not remember it being called this back in 1994-1995. This is when I was a sophomore at The Gow School.  This was also around the time Martin Page came out with the song In House Of Stone And Light.  The song was stuck in my head the whole time I was visiting Robert E. Lee's house.  The song In The House Of Stone And Light had a catchy turn to it. It is why Robert E. Lee stays in my mind when I think of Arlington Cemetery.  Funny how music can mark events in your life that are hard to forget.  Speaking about forgetting stuff, it amazed me that I had forgotten General Robert E. Lee had slaves on his estate.  How could I have forgotten that?  Slavery was very popular back in those times.  Hell, it goes farther back then the 1800's.    Nevertheless,  the working conditions were not good.  The Summertime was hot and the Wintertimes were probably worse?   If one got the privilege to work in the Lee House, your  clothing atire looked 2 steps above what the other slaves had to wear. I just read a large segment about how George Washington Parke Custis  had slaves, and how they were to be set free after his wife's death.  However,  they...no...how did he put it?... oh, "While those enslaved to George Washington were emancipated by Martha in 1801, when she died in 1802, those enslaved to the Custis estate went to the Custis heirs, namely, Martha Washington's grandchildren, including Nelly Custis Lewis at Woodlawn plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia; Martha Parke Custis Peter at Tudor Place in Washington, DC; and George Washington Parke Custis at Arlington House." Yeah, I don't see Custis's  grandchildren freeing their slaves.   In short, George Washington Parke Custis wanted his slaves freed, but only after his grand children were taken care of and fees were paid off. Sounds like a F.U you to the people who have been enslaved all their life.    As a slave, knowing that your freedom is coming,  but then being told you will have to wait for the fees to be paid up first probably...NO, definitely didn't sit well with them.  It didn't take much to be punished if you were a "negro" back then.  (One of the words used back then) So running away from your owners (as the law saw it back then) meant harsh punishments would be coming.  Robert E. Lee had three slaves whipped for running away.   Other slave owners might have done much worse...  Freedom came to the house of Custis, because of the civil war.  Some slaves got away during this war, but others stayed on the plantation. When the Civil  War ended in 1862, Robert E. Lee freed the slaves to honor the wishes of his father-in-law. I took five years to do this, but it was finally done. Today, I saw Robert E. Lee in a different light.  The statue I saw near the gift shop has the former General Robert E. Lee looking like a former shadow of himself.  To me, the figure looked sad, ashamed of choices he made.   Judge him?, I don't like the way slaves were treated, but those were the times Lee was living in and not everyone felt the same like 2021...hell we still have issues that come up at least once a day, but I digress.  Lee/Custis house did not have that warm and inviting feel this time around.  Especially after visiting Lee's stone statue  house.   I will say the renovation of the estate looks good.  The park guard I spoke with said the house/estate has gone through a number of renovations.  I like how the house looks pink even from a distance.  I was told the painting was matched to how the house looked when it was built.   Nicely done.  When I was here last, the Lee house was going to be going under another renovation.   I saw there were two more floors and a basement that were blocked off to visitors.  I wondered how the upstairs actually looked? I also wondered if they will ever have visitors be able to see the other floors and basement?  Guess this might happen next to never. After seeing the slave quarters  and could not imagine the living conditions.   I know I would have the right temperament if I were to find myself back in those times. Nevertheless,  I found this experience to be more educational than the last time I was there.  I look forward to coming back some day.  The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking.   It is one thing I would have loved to see coming out of the house. Maybe even in the 1800's. ....To Be Concluded  in The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

Arlington House sits at the top of the hill overlooking the cemetery and from here you can see the…read moreLincoln Memorial. Even with some sections closed off for restoration, it's still a fascinating place to explore. The restored rooms give you a sense of the Custis-Lee family's life before the Civil War and how the estate eventually became a part of the national cemetery. The exhibits do a good job of explaining the complicated history of the house, the land, and the people who lived and worked there. Even partially limited, it's worth the trek to the top of the hill (or the tram that stops here) for the history and the view. [Review 1270 of 2026 - 1632 in Virginia - 26448 overall]

I was disappointed to find out that the Octagon Museum is not open to the public. This was…read morementioned nowhere on their website. You can schedule a tour for a group in advance, but unscheduled visitors are not allowed in. In fact, the building is locked. They have a gift shop in the building behind it, which is open to the public during business hours. I find this a little annoying since the museum itself isn't open to the public, but I'm giving the Octagon Museum two stars instead of one, because the gift shop was actually pretty good.

This building houses the American Architectural Foundation. The Octagon Museum is the oldest museum…read morein the country. Kind of neat-- a building that was constructed in the late 1700's still standing and functional right here in DC. This museum often flies the fifteen stars and stripes flag. The building itself was where President Madison lived when the British burned down the White House. Right now, there is a really cool exhibit celebrating the Willard InterContinental's 20th anniversary. The show features 30 or so color and black and white pics of the hotel at various stages of development and age. SPOOKY TIP: This place is one of DC's famous "haunted houses." It is said that Madison's wife hangs out here as well as one of the original owner's daughters.

I am an Air Force retiree but never visited the Pentagon. My daughter is badged for the Pentagon…read moreand signed us up to get a tour. First impression of the building was how ugly it was, but I knew that before hand. Inside the building was amazing and I can see how people could get lost there. The tour exhibits are spread throughout multiple corridors and we walked a lot to see everything we wanted. I saw exhibits with details on three organizations that I knew of, and pictures of three general officers I've met over the years. We were amazed at all the food and services options available within the building. But with the traffic situation in DC, it is not a place where you can easily run at lunch time and get things done so having the various options available in the building makes complete sense.

Reservations required Background check mandatory…read moreUtilize the metro Amazing tour No cameras allowed No beverages allowed

National Harbor + Art + Free…read more This gallery is great for someone to go by theirselves, on a date or with a small group. Its small but the interior offers plenty of open space and good lighting, making it a fun ambiance to enjoy non traditional art (mixed media, pop, street, surrealist, urban...). I must note, some pieces are hard to see but granted, I am 5'1. There is also small art pieces (like figures/toys and prints) for sale. Don't be surprised if you walk past and notice its doors open with music blasting, which makes it a lively place during a day they are hosting a event. I love going here and can't help but to stop by even when I visit the harbor for something else.

My co-worker and I were looking for a fun place to go and stumbled on this gem. If I'm staying in…read morethis part again I'll definitely be back. The local artist have art displayed in a tasteful way throughout the restaurant. There are big picture windows that provide natural light. We got food off of the restaurant week price fixed menu. The mini charcuterie boards, fried polenta, tuna tartare, and flank steak all worth getting again. If you want a tasty drink but have to drive try the hungry hippo. Super refreshing and doesn't have booze. If you want a boozy drink try I know the owner. I'm not a huge vodka person and I thought it was very good.

During my recent trip to Washington DC and Virginia for a sister's weekend, we spent the day with…read moreCarlos from Hipstoricdc. From start to finish everything about our day was perfection. From the moment Carlos picked us up in his amazing vehicle, until he dropped us off later on in the day, we made the most fabulous memories together! His attention to detail was amazing. He opened and closed our doors. He escorted us into each winery. He communicated with the winery staff to make certain we were situated. He took pictures of the day, which he shared with us later. He provided a lovely charcuterie snack for us. He was a wealth of knowledge about wines and wine making and the history of the area and the beautiful vistas. As you can see, I could go on and on!! I have already recommended Carlos and Hipstoricdc to others!! Thank you Carlos for such an amazing experience!

My group had an amazing time with Hipstoricdc. Carlos was a great tour guide. Thanks for a fun…read morefilled adventure Carlos!!!!

Awesome little free gallery if you're looking for something to do in the area!…read more Loved the exhibits. Well worth a visit!

This gallery is not to be missed! I was walking from place to place and needed a good AC break, and…read morethis was the PERFECT spot to stop. It is two stories and has a decent amount of art, but can be pretty easily done in 30-45 min. There is much more than traditionally framed art- there are light installations, interactive pieces, and all kinds of different textures and modes of art. I was impressed to see a Chihuly chandelier too! A great mix of small, impactful pieces and large grand ones. So many great photo moments. The staff here were wonderful. Passionate and helpful. The security was also so kind and I chit chatted with them throughout my visit. This is one of those places that makes you feel patriotic without feeling political. I was in awe of all the amazing things I learned here.

My daughter and I visited here at night, and I definitely wouldn't recommend going after dark! We…read morewere the only ones there, and with the limited lighting, it was hard to see the spider webs hanging around. I turned on my phone flashlight and suddenly noticed so many spiders above us--I'm pretty sure one even brushed my forehead, lol! I would definitely suggest visiting during the day instead. President Roosevelt was clearly a beloved figure, and after learning more about him, I can understand why. The display was meaningful, but it still felt like it couldn't fully capture his impact. The outdoor exhibit added an entirely different experience of its own. It was unique, peaceful, and offered a completely different way to appreciate the history and legacy being honored.

Overall, I thought Theodore Roosevelt was a so-so spot to go for a little walk to explore nature…read morethrough a 1.5 mile loop. Without having much information about the island prior to visiting, I was expecting (well, hoping) to see some city views of DC and Arlington from the island. However, not having these views was not a deal breaker. While the paths/trails were mostly clear, the island does not seem well-maintained. For instance, I was quite disappointed that the water fountains were not working. For obvious reasons, visitors definitely should bring their own water, but a lot of folks nowadays (including myself) are tethered to their Nalgene bottles or Stanley cups. I think this is a nice place to go for walk/run/very easy hike, if you live within walking distance or a couple of metro stops away from the island. Unfortunately, I live about 30-45 minutes away by car, so the odds of me visiting again (unless I'm in the immediate area) will be pretty slim. Also, I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning (at least during the fall, spring and summer) because parking is very limited.