Centrally located with a Metro Station right there, Woodrow Wilson Plaza still feels like a hidden…read moregem. Many pass through it without stopping to notice the giant sculptures and architecture inside. It's also home to the National Children's Museum and a weekly farmers market. They also host concerts and other free events.

A lot of fun. Music and food and joy!…read more So much can be found on the plaza at lunchtime. Today's live music was the Junkyard Band (Sep 20, 2024). Other bands come further work we, farmers Marlon Wednesdays, sometimes a used book seller. It's is really great, Come by at lunchtime or checkout the website!

On the U.S. Capitol grounds is a historic summer house that's often open to the public to escape…read morethe sun, use the drinking fountain or east on one of the seats inside.

We were excited to stumble upon this cute little place outside the Capitol building. It's actually…read morea virtual geocache site so we were excited about that as well. It's a great place to take a seat in the shade. There's a fresh fountain there so you can wash your hands or cool off there as well.

Our nation's Capital houses many of the necessary departments to run our country. The building is…read morebeautiful and it has the Albert Gallatin statue in front.

My brother in law works here and told me about how tours are free. So naturally, this was added to…read moreour visit list! Be aware--you do have to log into their website and sign up for tickets for the tour--they will not let you in without this reservation. They do have a gift shop of sorts, but they do not sell water--just an fyi. They give a guided tour and it was so very neat! They tell you all about the money printing process from start to finish, how to tell the difference between real vs counterfeit. They discuss the reasons that bills change every few years. You get to see them actually working the ginormous printing machines. I highly recommend visiting on your next DC trip!

Be sure to look for these while in Rock Creek Park but be prepared to look awhile. It can be hard…read moreto find. The Capitol Stones are exactly that. Leftover stones from renovation of the Capitol Building. Somewhere there's a big pile in the woods. Finding these can take awhile. If you don't know where to go of course. The first place to head towards is the horse stables. After you get here go along the trail east. The stones are off to the side of this trail after a ways. Look for a do not enter sign. When you see this enter there. Ignore what the sign says and just go. The stones are in a few piles. It doesn't seem like much to look at. Just a lot of stones that are piled high. These are of course more than that so it's worth a visit.

Visit the hard-to-find Capitol Stones, hidden in the wilds of Rock Creek Park; easy to find if you…read moreknow where to look. We wandered the foot paths of the park for an hour, and even with the help of Google Maps (which showed the wrong location), we couldn't find the famous pile of discarded sandstone and marble sections that were removed the original US Capitol during the 1958 renovation of the West Front, until someone told us where to look. Park at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center, 5100 Glover Road. Walk over to the horse barns adjacent to the Horse Center's office. Locate the walking path near the southeast corner of horse barns. Follow that path in an easterly (ENE) direction, downhill. In 100 feet or so you pass a building on the right side of the path, beyond the trees and foliage. Continue along the path for another 400-500 feet, past the buildings visible on the right. On the right side of the path, past trees and foliage you will see a cyclone fence. There are two narrow dirt foot paths from the main path to the cyclone fence. The second one was much easier to traverse the day we were there. The Capitol Stones are piled up inside the fenced area. From outside the fence, it doesn't look like much. But there is a break in the fence, on the south side, and it is well worth climbing through to wander among the piles of discarded building blocks from the old Capitol building. You will come across carved pieces like the one shown below, sometimes stacks of them. The history of our city and country, discarded like trash in a landfill. A poignant bookend to every visitor's tour of the monuments.

AVOID THIS BUSINESS!!! I requested this business many times…read moreto remove their url webpage with my personal information on it and they refused to remove it. All other websites when asked removed my personal information!

Beautiful, modern, well-lit bookstore with all sorts of books, maps, posters, national park guide…read morebooks, and every other kind of publication produced by federal government agencies. A quiet respite a block from the Postal Museum and close to the Capitol, it even has a kiddie corner for children to read some of the children's books, and some comfortable chairs for adults, too. Their collection of military history, national park books, and small business books, as well as books on Congress and the federal budget are first-rate (and in some case, can only be found at the US Government Bookstore retail store or online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov). They occasionally hold book signings and book launches there with lots of press, (Watch for press releases from GPO at http://www.gpo.gov/newsroom-media/ or call them for special event schedules.) I particularly liked the Presidential Commission reports like Deep Water (BP Gulf Oil disaster) http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=040-000-00784-9 and the 9/11 Commission http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/911anniversary.jsp. Some teachers and businesspeople were browsing when I was there, while one mother was picking up the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=001-000-04747-7 where they replaced the old food pyramid with an easier-to-understand dinner plate. I'd recommend stopping first at the FREE GPO 150th Anniversary Exhibit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFTu8a-PLao&feature=player_embedded) going on next door in the main Government Printing Office building. They have the original printer's proof of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on display that the first GPO printers used to print the speech and other cool historical artifacts of government printing. Note: Both the exhibit and the bookstore are only 2 blocks from Union Station (out the 1st Street exit) so they're convenient for DC workers or tourists before or after a lunch stop. As you leave the exhibit, make sure you pick up the peach and turquoise Bookstore brochure/card with a 25% OFF COUPON at the exit before heading over to the bookstore to shop. Who said the government doesn't give a good deal? ;-)

A deeply historic property in Georgetown, Evermay was built in 1801 and designed by Nicholas King…read more It passed owners through the years, but the foundation inside it now is doing a beautiful job of preserving its legacy and allowing the community to use the space when it's aligned to their mission.

Wow. What an incredible gem hidden in Georgetown. Wow. A couple with a passion for the arts…read more(museums and music) bought this estate. I met Dr. Ryuji Ueno last year at a performance for a wonderful group called The 6821 Quartet. I watched him beaming with pride as the artists performed inside Union Station. I would suggest googling him and his wife, Sachiko Kuno, to learn about them. They sponsor things that (in my opinion) bring them and others joy. Dr. Ueno shared that music is healing. The acoustics in the room are great (silence your phones & don't use a camera with a noisy shutter). The space inside Everymay was wonderful and intimate. This concert room holds approximately 40 to 50 people. Weddings are also held on the grounds. You are greeted by the valet staff in the circular driveway. There is a large room for mingling while you enjoy all the incredible food that is served. The visit includes a performance, complimentary valet, drinks and food (shared appetizers, not a meal). The staff members are very polite and helpful. The bathrooms are upscale and spacious. The grounds are beautiful. I would visit when the weather is warm and you can stroll around or sit under the gazebo. There are many beautiful photo opportunities. The best "mansion pose" is in the back yard. Just wow. Whatever type of event you are attending, it will be memorable. The Ryui Euno Foundation has a series of musical performances. It is a lovely place to share an experience with someone special. Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves. Who knew that such a wonderful place was in the heart of Georgetown. You will feel totally pampered while you are on the estate. There are two cherry blossom trees on the property that were started from seedlings from some of the original trees. It is worth taking a stroll to view the gardens and beautiful architecture. On a hot summer day when everything is in bloom, they would have to pull me out of there. You can check out more information at www.rueno.org Tickets are $65. Parking is free. The only disappointment is leaving...

Queen Isabella Organization Of American States, 17th St SW - Even from the outside, this building…read morecaught my attention with its architecture and pleasant surroundings. The place feels representative, yet calm and dignified at the same time. Everything is well maintained, clean, and easily accessible on foot. I especially appreciate the central location, where one can pause, rest, and absorb the atmosphere of international cooperation and history. An interesting spot on the map of Washington.

How can a garden in between the highly visited The White House and Washington Monument go…read moreunnoticed? If you need a green space to rest while sightseeing, look for the German-American Friendship Garden. Along popular Constitution Avenue is a lush garden with benches, historical signage, a plaque, a splash area, and views of the National Mall. The garden honors over 300 years of German immigration into the U.S.

This is a nice section of the National Mall. Located on the White House side of the Washington…read moreMonument, I would guess most people don't even know it's there. It's small for sure, but still a neat part of the Mall. Stop, read the history behind the park, and enjoy! It's well worth the break from the hustle & bustle of downtown D.C.