I really enjoyed the overall concept and creative vision of this museum. It has a lot going in its…read morefavor. It has a prime location within easy walking distance of Metro center, in the beautiful old Franklin building. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is no charge for entry although donations are very welcome. One could almost go exclusively to visit the gift shop and the museum cafe as they are both so nice and full of fun things to feast the senses on. But for now I will stick to the museum. You start on the third floor and work your way down. There are displays for all ages and levels of interest, from very technical linguistics to basic "repeat after me". There's karaoke for the brave, joke telling for the dads, a Photo Booth for the tweens and an absolutely epic library in which fairy tales come to life. There's also a section on advertising and it's lures. The café is really fabulous and delicious and gives you a true taste of the global plate that America thankfully has adopted. I thoroughly enjoyed my West African chicken and shrimp curry. I was only sad that it was too early in the day on a weekday and with kids to enjoy one of their dozens of fantabulous looking cocktails! I'll have to go back for that!

We went here with some friend while visiting the DC. area. It was very fun and interesting I wish I…read moretook more pictures. They had a room with a digital globe in it where you learned about different languages. Another room talked about telling jokes and you would sit and tell jokes to one another. There was a karaoke room where you learned about how music is constructed. There was a library which is like a Harry Potter room with a hidden door to a poetry nook. I would definitely recommend this place for $15.

Went to DC for the weekend and my granddaughter wanted to see the dinosaurs so off we went to the…read moreSmithsonian. Considering that it was the weekend and the museum was packed, everything went smoothly and everyone had a good time. The museum was immaculate and you could find staff members everywhere you went. There is something for everyone to enjoy. When in DC, do yourself a favor and stop by for a visit.

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.

We recently visited the Museum of Illusions in DC, and overall, we had a fun time! First of all,…read morethis place is a little hidden. We literally walked right past it before realizing where it was, but once we found it, we were ready to explore. There are a lot of really cool optical illusions and interactive exhibits, and some of the effects make for really fun pictures. Since it was just me and my daughter, there were a few exhibits where having someone else around to take the picture would have been helpful. You can certainly ask other visitors, but sometimes everyone is so busy enjoying their own experience that it's not always easy. There was also some confusion with figuring out how certain exhibits were supposed to work. Even though there are instructions posted, sometimes they didn't immediately make sense. There were staff members walking around who were happy to help, but there were only one or two people on the floor at a time. One of the employees mentioned that they were short-staffed, which explained why there weren't more people available. That said, whenever we did need help, someone eventually came over and assisted us. My biggest issue is the size. The museum is on one floor and is pretty small, so I was expecting a little more for the price. I definitely think it's something worth doing once, especially if you've never been, but I'm not sure I'd pay full price to do it repeatedly. We did take advantage of their September special, where first graders were free, so that definitely helped! Overall, I'm glad we went. We had fun, got some cool pictures, and my daughter enjoyed herself. I'd recommend it as a fun DC activity, especially if you can catch a discount or special.

Had to come here since I've always seen the pictures online! Plenty of things to do inside and look…read moreat, but you can be in and out very quickly if you came for photo ops and that's it. Employee at the desk upon entering wasn't very friendly or welcoming. Didn't have much to say and no personality, too busy on their phone. Please do better when you are working with the public! Cool experience if you're needing something to do to waste time on a trip out of town, otherwise wouldn't spend my money on this.

I found this place by randomly zooming in on Google Maps! TikTok kept recommending all the popular…read morespots in D.C., but this turned out to be a true hidden gem. I loved exploring the different artifacts and seeing how they represent cultures from various time periods around the world. The exhibits are incredibly unique, diverse, and thoughtfully displayed. It may not look like much from the outside, but once you step in, you'll be surprised by how spacious it is. Definitely worth a visit! Your friendly neighborhood museum, with items you wouldn't expect to see. All the items are incredibly beautiful!

I purposely visited recently (winter season) because entrance to the gardens is free, otherwise…read moreit's $15. The gardens are interesting even in the cold months. The couple most closely associated with this Georgetown estate, Mildred and Robert Bliss, clearly loved and thought deeply about this parcel of land when they owned it (1920/30's). Their efforts to preserve and share the space with the public are to be commended. It must have been quite something in its heyday. There's a lot of research that's supported here, as well as other activities. The website explains all that. It's a low-key sightseeing spot; quiet, contemplative.

One of my favorite museums. It's easily accessible from the National Mall…read more There is an east and west building as well as the outdoor sculpture garden. There are so many pieces of art to see including a rare da Vinci. Absolutely breathtaking art from French Impressionism to Dutch Baroque. As with most DC museums, admission is free.

Gigantic gallery, and before you go, pick a few areas that are must see. It's a bit difficult to…read morecomplete the whole museum in one day. There is an east wing, west wing, and an outdoor sculpture ground as well. Map layout is very clear and the exhibits are very well marked. Highly recommend if you get lost to ask a docent or one of the guards in the rooms. Often they will do special exhibitions featuring artists, so look online for the specific dates you are planning your visit for. Cafes and bathroom spread throughout the museum. Multiple gift shops. The main cafeteria is between the east and west wing on the basement and so is the main gift shop. Parking is paid on the street.

As a self-professed plant geek, I enjoyed my trip to the US Botanical Garden. They have curated an…read moreimpressive number of specimens, sorted by biome. While it is smaller than you might imagine, there is a nice indoor area with tropical, desert, Mediterranean, and other climates. I am a collector of Tillandsia species, and they had some nice ones in the tropical areas. Probably worth a few trips at different times of year to see the different blooms, etc. Free, like most DC museums.

I don't know how I hadn't visited the United States Botanic Garden until last weekend with how much…read moretime I've spent in DC in the last five years, but I hadn't! It's wild - because it's just off the National Mall, and I must have walked by dozens of times. I finally visited last weekend with a friend, and I had a pretty good time. It's free to visit, like a lot of the attractions on the Mall. We spent maybe a half hour to an hour exploring. This botanic garden is contained within two separate sections. The section that is north of Independence Avenue has some outdoor gardens and the conservatory. The section south of Independence Avenue has Bartholdi Fountain and another garden. They are connected, and you do have to cross Independence Avenue to visit both sections. It's not a large botanic garden; I've definitely visited larger. But as it's free, it's a great place to wander if you're in the area. The highlight for was actually the Bartholdi Fountain section. The fountain is beautiful and peaceful, and the Capitol building peaks through in the prettiest way in photos. If you visit lots of botanic gardens, this one might not wow as much as others. But it's yet another place that's worth a visit on the National Mall.

This museum was interesting and inspirational with exhibits on financial literacy, using your…read moretraits to become successful, stories from people who worked hard for their version of the American Dream. Many of the exhibits are interactive and very engaging. The museum was nearly empty - apparently word hasn't gotten out about how great it is. Avoid the crowds while it's still a secret gem. It won't take long for word to get out about this new museum.

Heart this museum that use to be the Riggs National Bank built in 1899 and is also known as the…read morepresidents bank of which over half of the U.S. presidents use to bank. It's steps from the White House and U.S. Treasury. Heart the interactive museum that celebrates the successes of entrepreneurs and the opportunities, innovation and statements and videos of personal achievements. The museum has photos, original documents from the past history of the bank, and two original bank vaults. The tree of generations greets you as you enter the main floor and is interactive, so you and your family can post instantly your digital pic. I recommend this museum to everyone and you'll feel inspired & motivated after visiting this new museum.

This was my inaugural visit to any such museum. I thought it would be a boring museum full of 'spy…read more equipment.' I was definitely wrong. After purchasing an entrance ticket for a planned arrival time, patrons enter and assume a special identity for an undercover mission while learning about espionage, intelligence, and all that goes along with being a spy! The museum is digitally interactive via numerous computer stations throughout the different floors. The stations are where you receive your info and complete your challenges in order to move forward in your secret mission. The challenges begin with the first station that assigns your secret identity & code words. Your mission ends just before you complete your journey through the museum. I would definitely say that the museum is much too advanced for children below the ages of 13-14. There is so much to learn (all they way back to WWII) within the 2/3 floors (depending on whether an extra exhibit is available.) There is also an expansive store of lesser quality trinkets/toys/games/clothing that are likely available via amazon for less money than what the museum charges. I'd also recommend securing your entrance time/ticket the day before you want to go. I did not and had to wait an extra hour after my initial arrival until the 'next mission.' Good thing there were two food trucks out front to pass the extra time on my hands.

My wife and I really enjoyed the Spy Museum. It was an easy Uber ride from our hotel. They have a…read morereally cool gift shop for all your spy related needs. The staff was friendly and helpful. There are interactive exhibits and some hands on stuff. After watching all these true crime spy documentaries it was great to see what the government has to deal with. There is no doubt that spies are all over the place and you can see the high tech and low tech ways in which they gather and pass on information. I saw children doing some of the hands on stuff and they were having a great time. A must see museum.

Dear reader, Ford's…read moreTheatre is such a special place to see a show, and Come From Away was absolutely wonderful. We sat in Row B of the Left Balcony in seats marked as having an "obstructed view," but the obstruction was incredibly minor. For the price, the seats were an absolute bargain and gave us a fantastic view of the performance. The theatre itself is beautiful, historic, and clearly very well cared for. The staff were universally kind, helpful, and genuinely passionate about the space and its history, which adds enormously to the experience. One of the best bonuses is the museum included with your theatre ticket. Definitely arrive early enough to explore before the show rather than racing straight to your seat. The seats themselves are admittedly on the smaller side and can feel a bit cramped, but one rather accepts that as part of the historic theatre experience. Beautiful venue, excellent value, fascinating history, and a phenomenal production. Ford's Theatre remains one of DC's most memorable places for a night out.

I'm surprised not to see any other reviews for Come From Away yet! It was wonderful!…read more The theater itself is a place where the past and present mingle. The chairs are ornate and historical (albeit missing modern day plushness). The bunting in the balcony above indicates where Lincoln was sitting during the attack. Yet, the stage and quality of the audio and visual effects clearly root you in the 21st century. We swept into our seats a mere 5 minutes before the production began, so unfortunately didn't have time to explore the museum. I've heard great things, though! Ushers were friendly and efficient. The actors did an amazing job, but my favorites were the musicians. It was such a nice touch to bring them onstage during the pub scene. The themes of this show are heavy, and the mention of the Pentagon crash pulled a few shudders from the local audience. The play walks the line between tragedy and hopefulness really beautifully; more emphasis is placed on the unity that was found than the darkness that wrought it. Would recommend, especially given the historical significance of the place! Very meaningful to have an American disaster staged within the building that witnessed another dark day for the country over 150 years ago. Very walkable to metro stops, too!

Someone at the hotel we were staying at recommended we checked this place out and we were so glad…read moreshe did. What a unique place! The mansion was actually a combination of multiple houses put together and in doing so, over 80 secret rooms are hidden throughout the museum. Everything in the museum is for sale. If something is too big to carry, you can take a picture and show it to a staff member for assistance. The rooms were all themed too, everything from old school toys and cartoons to the Beatles to horror icons like chucky and Michael Meyers! It was pretty crazy walking through and going through these hidden doors to either a secret room or a secret pathway. We only found 15 of the 80 doors! Crazy! Overall it's a really cool way to spend a couple hours.

So much history here - so be sure to embrace that part of the mansion!…read more Otherwise, I've always just approached the mansion as a cool, quirky, fun house of stimulation. Every inch and every corner is pretty much covered with something interesting to look at. In terms of a fun house vibe, you can definitely get lost and explore the mansion for hours. But at some point, I usually adjust my lens a bit a realize that it's just a really extension collection of flea market and estate sale items that have been arranged in an way to make it interesting (it even smells like it, in a moth ball-like way!) Either way, I would recommend everyone to experience it at least once if you have a free afternoon and time to kill. It's definitely a one of a kind experience!