Looking for something to do in DC that doesn't involve brunch or the club? Check out the Rubell…read moreMuseum in Southwest DC! The museum is filled with bold contemporary art--some pieces were beautiful, some were a little weird, and some had me standing there trying to figure out what exactly I was looking at But that's what made it fun! It's a cute spot for a solo date, girls' day, or something different to do with your boo. Plus, there are plenty of photo-worthy moments throughout the museum. Definitely add the Rubell Museum DC to your list of things to do in the DMV! #RubellMuseum #RubellMuseumDC #ThingsToDoInDC #DCMuseums #WashingtonDC #DCDateIdeas #DMVContentCreator #FlashesByAsh

The newish Rubell Musuem is tucked away in Southwest. Though it is a bit of a hike from any Metro…read morestation (I walked here from L'Enfant), it's well worth the visit. The museum's shiny exterior was built around a much older brick building. There is a coffee shop on the main level and the aroma of coffee filled the museum. The galleries have high-ceilings (except the brick-lined basement) and have a pleasant airy natural-light filled ambience. Contemporary art fills three floors. Almost all the art grabbed my attention and caused me to linger, ponder and enjoy what I was seeing. It's heartening that this is a private museum and the current president is unable to interfere with operations like he has done with the Smithsonian and Nat'l Gallery. I would suggest allotting about an hour and a half to view all the exhibits.

After being a "local" for so long, I'm surprised that I hadn't been to here before. Check the entry…read moreprices online as there are discounts for seniors, military, students and members. There is parking below ground however the closet metro stop is Le'Enfant Plaza. This area can become congested with traffic and there is very little street parking. Upon entry, I was pleased to see the James Bond "007" car. Depending on your age, you may remember the movies and how "advanced" his cars and gadgets were. There are five levels and an opportunity to explore as a "Spy" or soak in some of the educational parts of tools, people and significant events in spy history. There are elevators that take you up/down. I do not recall wheelchair access for those who require ADA compliance. There are exhibits that have corresponding films. This is a kid friendly and interactive. I do recommend coming here to explore and challenging yourself to learn something new. Wear comfy walking shoes and pay attention to the things hiding in plain sight.

This was my first time visiting this museum…read more It is just minutes away from the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station, walking distance. It is in a high traffic area given that it is D.C. There is an option to purchase tickets online and select a time, but not necessary We came on a Friday evening and were let in immediately. Expect to spend anywhere from 2-4 hours. Upon purchasing a ticket, they escorted us to a room where we each had our own Undercover Mission cards to scan on screens, which show us access to our spy name, mission and other information. There was a short video, then we were given access to the showcases. The experience varies from display cases to videos to interactive screens. I was more interested in hearing the different spy stories. The gift shop had some great items consistent with the spy-theme including (but not limited to): t-shirts with a variety of images, pens, books, games, hats, etc. Given that it is a museum gift shop in D.C., the prices were fairly high, but not surprising, but I bought a t-shirt for someone. The staff here weren't particularly friendly, some were standing around on their phones or chatting with each other. Would I return? Maybe, I don't feel the need to re-visit once i toured the full museum, unless I'm bringing someone new. I would highly recommend at least one visit to this museum!

Almost all the museums in DC are close around the Mall. In contrast, the African American Civil War…read moreMuseum is in another neighborhood. This is luckily close to a Metro station. Going to Ben's Chili Bowl gives you a reason to stop in. Since it only has one room, it won't take that long to visit. Being in a historic African American neighborhood is appropriate. It fits in. There's a memorial on Vermont Avenue that's across the street from the museum. Once you see that, head across the street and walk a few more feet until you get to an alley. The signs point the way. It has free admission, but they could use donations. The museum is basically a room filled with dividers covered in information. It doesn't take that long to get through, compared to the larger museums that are crowded. You can still spend lots of time reading all the information about the African American soldiers. It has lots of artifacts and information for such a specific focus. It's a nice compliment to the National African American History Center. The admission is free too.

This place is huge, it'll definitely take more than 1 visit to capture it all…read more So much information to take in, you even need a moment to process all the information. There is a restaurant in the basement of the museum, a must try. Very pricey, but the food is really good. The dining area is huge. You can start the tour from the basement and work your way up. The staff was real friendly from the time we were outside to the time made our exit. The museum itself was clean, floor to floor. The restrooms were clean and there was someone on point keeping it clean. The artifacts and the displays were amazing. Some areas bought me back to my time growing up. It was nice. Some areas are very emotional because it tells so many stories of what our people faced. It's so much information. There is a lot of walking to do so be prepared to walk, wear comfortable shoes. This is a must see if in Washington DC!

The Natural History Museum is one of many free attractions in Washington, DC. There are two floors…read moreof interesting exhibits to view. For instance, one room is dedicated to crystals and gems. See the lovely Hope diamond and exquisite jewelry from royalty. Another room shows taxidermy animals from the African Savannah. You can spend all day here if you can last. Parking is limited. Use Metro or ride share if possible.

The Smithsonian museums are some of the best parts of visiting D.C., and it's free!…read more Whether you're into history, science, art, or space, there's something for everyone! It's was a wonderful way to spend our day trip to DC and learn more about our history!

One of D.C.'s more obscure museums is in a 1904 rowhouse in Dupont Circle. The home of L. Ron…read moreHubbard starting in 1955, the building is now a museum about Hubbard, the founder of Scientology and the world's most prolific fiction writer. (It's an actual Guinness World Record.) Tours are given daily from 10am to 6pm, but it's best to call in advance to secure a spot. One day, I walked in and they didn't have availability for that day so I made a verbal reservation for the next week. The tour is guided by their tour guide and lasts around 90 minutes. The guide shows you four floors of rooms with artifacts. You'll learn about Rob Hubbard's impressive life, see his office with original artifacts inside including a Mongolian drum from Genghis Khan's army that's over 800 years old. You'll also see a library with his books, see where he recorded his lessons, and learn about Scientistology. As someone who is not part of their church, I didn't feel evangelized to during the tour. The guide was very nice.

The restoration and history on display is exquisite. Bill was charming and really have a personal…read moretouch to L. Ron Hubbard and the humble beginnings of Scientology. We intended to spend an hour going through the house museum and ended up being there for 3 1/2 hours. There is just so much of Mr. Hubbard's life chronicled here. I am told you can move through the whole museum in 20 minutes if you are short on time, but I highly recommend taking a longer tour.

PLEASE, if you are ever in the surrounding DMV area, visit this museum. Walking through the…read morecountry's most active slave and sex trafficked houses for Black Americans was MOVING! To say the least. It only took about an hour and a half in time, including speaking to the staff of additional information and it should 100% be visited.

Visiting the Freedom House Museum is important if you call the D.C. area home or live anywhere in…read morethe U.S. Once the country's most active trading post that trafficked thousands of Black Americans, the museum tells the story of America's most evil element while honoring the people who fell victim to it. Open Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the museum cost $5 for non-Alexandria residents and non-veterans. A staff member will give you a brief overview of the museum and let you experience the three floors of exhibits. The main exhibit talks about the history of the building, but in a way that focuses on the people trafficked and their impact on the community. The second floor showcases impactful Black Alexandrians throughout the decades. The top floor has an art exhibit and a reflection room for those who want to process the museum's history. It's a powerful museum and one worth taking seriously. Park for free on the street outside and get ready to learn and have your heart broken for the evil humans put on fellow humans.

Had a great tour this afternoon! Very informative guide and interesting history to the House/Tavern.read more

This place is special. It has an amazing story and historical significance. The food is good and…read morethe atmosphere is great. This place will engage all 5 senses.

It is a fantastic little space museum full of history and facts. The first floor is very…read moreinteractive and amazingly presented. The second floor has a rotating exhibit. In this case, it was the Czech Republic. Great as well, but the star of show was first floor. It is small, so in 90 minutes, you are done if you read every single piece; otherwise, you can see it in 45 minutes. A small donation of $10 dollars well worth it!

We'd recently been talking about the high profile treatment of holocaust victims (rightly so) with…read moremuseums in many major cities but, in comparison, so little recognition of all the victims and suffering at the hands of communist regimes - which is ongoing today. This museum is small, but free (do donate!) and uncrowded. Take your time exploring the exhibits. They have a rotating exhibit that was under construction when we visited, so we only saw the main space and the art exhibit by the stairs. That exhibit was very evocative and moving. The art, done by a survivor of soviet gulags, juxtaposed the natural beauty alongside the human suffering. Highly recommend. Even as a former history teacher there were many aspects I'd never studied and was horrified and fascinated by. We spent about an hour or 90 mins.