The Enid A Haupt Garden is 4.2 acres of flowers depicting a Victorian garden. You'll find the…read moreGardens located behind the Smithsonian Castle. Look for the grand iron gates as the entry way to the gardens. Enid Haupt was a horticultural philanthropist.

This is a peaceful and gorgeous garden which is directly behind the Smithsonian Castle. Although…read morethe garden is hidden from the Mall, you can catch a glimpse from Independence Avenue. The garden also has a direct entrance to the National Asian Art Museum (Sackler Gallery entrance) as well as the National Museum of African Art. In the fall, the colorful leaves are gorgeous and well worth a visit. If it's warm enough outdoors, you can find a few benches here and there to sit down and admire the garden. Enjoy!

The planetarium is nice, it's not what I was expecting, I thought it would be more along the lines…read moreof a film, not a ranger narrating everything the whole time. But it was still nice. If you're not a kid person, don't go. All in all, it was nice, just wish the show was a bit longer, 30 minutes flew by.

Fun family activity for a weekend - so many great trails nearby! Parking is ample and there are…read morebathrooms the nature center, as well as great directions from the staff on site. We parked near the horse center and got a chance to watch horse riding lessons.

Beautiful public gardens located near Bethesda in an upscale neighborhood, with nice restrooms and…read moreminimal parking. The reviews on McCrillis are very confusing so I'll try to address some of the issues in my review. When you arrive in front there is a circle drive to a house. This house is public property and can be rented for meetings or weddings, and clean restrooms are located around the back. These are public restrooms located on the left of the house when facing it from the rear. There is also a water fountain. The front of the property has no parking and neither does the busy Greentree Road along which the park is located. I parked at a school nearby and I'm sure that was not allowed during the week, but if school is out that is the recommended parking location. You can also enter the gardens through a rear gate from Armat Drive, which I discovered after wandering around the gardens. These are public gardens but there is no public parking that I could find. The gardens are magnificent and I would love to be here for sun rise. with ample tree coverage, beautiful paths wind around azalea bushes and a few rhododendrons. Interestingly I note that some reviewers complained that this garden had no flowers, just bushes--that's because it's an azalea garden and if the azaleas aren't blooming there's not a lot of flowering plants there at all. So I recommend coming during azalea season, and also possibly during rhododendron season. Compared to the Arboretum this was less crowded (we were the only people in the garden for most of our time there) and more dense with azalea bushes. The arboretum is expansive by comparison, and more popular as well. If you are touring azaleas I think this would be my second priority after the arboretum but it's a great, great garden with nice little walking paths that are mostly very well shaded by large trees.

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.

Beautiful museum with an impressive collection of Impressionist and Spanish art, tucked away in a…read morequaint DC neighborhood. Once the residence of the Kreeger family (founders of GEICO), this place punches well above its weight in their offerings of impressionist art such as Monet and Bonnard. With art offerings covering two floors of a very large house plus an impressive outdoor sculpture garden, this place offers a great place to enjoy the art leisurely indoors and then make your way outside to enjoy the sculptures in the beautifully manicured back yard. We went during the time in which they also allowed for picnics in their sculpture garden for free and it was an idyllic setting for both art and nature to be enjoyed. Even in this case, it was not overcrowded and as you would guess surrounded by the DC locals. Also on display was their impressive collection from Miro. An entire room dedicated to his work. If you are looking for a very relaxing way to spend a few hours in DC, this is your place.

DC has a lot of museums. I know. I get it. Here is the thing...not every great museum is nestled in…read morethe heart of the Federal District. Some museums are a little off the main thoroughfare and are nonetheless worth a visit. Such is The Kreeger Museum. I randomly came across the Kreeger while on YouTube of all places. It intrigued me that there was a museum nestled in a residential neighborhood. Okay..neighborhood, in this case, deserves some air quotes. We are in seven to eight digital home values in this "neighborhood." When you see the artwork, it all begins to make sense. The Kreeger family was a husband wife dynamo that collected modern and impressionist artwork in an exciting and approachable way. Yes, to the detractors - the couple was known to ONLY collect the works of male artists. Since their passing, the conservatorship has invested in acquiring works from female artists that blend harmoniously with the existing collection. Parking is easy, whether you Uber or drive yourself. I very much hope to go back to see the collection again as well as to walk their sculpture garden. Museum well, my friends.

One of my favorite national museums…read more The museum makes a strong first impression, with sculptures and a rushing waterfall surrounding the exterior. Inside, the soaring ceilings create a grand sense of scale. The walkways were accessible and easy to navigate, though the elevators were a bit slow. During our visit, the museum was not particularly crowded, allowing us to take our time reading the exhibits and fully appreciating the displays. What I appreciated most was the museum's emphasis on the differing perspectives of American Indians and Americans throughout history. Many exhibits presented both viewpoints side by side, highlighting how dramatically interpretations of the same events could differ. The timelines were thoughtfully organized and I learned about numerous Indigenous nations and communities that were rarely discussed in my prior education. The Americans exhibit was particularly memorable. It explored the representation of American Indians throughout popular culture, including television, sports mascots, advertising, food branding, and more. At the end, visitors were invited to write postcards reflecting on examples of Indigenous representation in modern life. Pocahontas was a recurring figure throughout the exhibit and I gained a much deeper understanding of both her historical significance and how her story has been commercialized and reinterpreted over time. The Nation to Nation exhibit focused more on cultural and historical artifacts, showcasing clothing, household items, tools, and musical instruments. Meanwhile, Water's Edge explored the importance of water through both artistic expression and its relationship to Indigenous life and traditions. The gift shop was easily one of the best I encountered among the national museums. It featured a wide variety of unique and meaningful souvenirs, and the lighter crowds meant several items sold out elsewhere were still available here. I was surprised by some of the lukewarm reviews, as I found this museum engaging and informative from start to finish. It easily filled two to three hours and I left with a far greater appreciation for Indigenous history and perspectives. I would love to see future exhibits further explore Native American music, art, and cultural expression.

I came for the taco and stayed for the art! After researching a few places for lunch, the reviews…read moreof the Mitsitam cafe here were amazing for their fry bread taco. The museum itself is gorgeous, inside and out. The grounds area has lots of plants and shrubbery to observe. It's kind of serene and takes you away from the capital craziness which isn't too far away. Inside, you'll find multiple floor with displays about history, conflict, and art. I took the elevator to the top then worked my way down each level via the stairs. It's an awesome place and the gift shop had some of the coolest stuff too. It's right next to the super popular Air and Space Museum so if you don't feel like walking too far after exploring that one, check this one out.

Definitely a fun stop in D.C. The exhibits are nice, and to see the entire history of printed…read morestamps was amazing. I wish we had more time to browse through all the stamps they have archived. There is Ana activity where you can get five used stamps, from the past, to start a collection. It was fun to sift through them. Make sure to get there before the stamp store closes at 5pm. Then you can purchase the current stamp designs. The gift shop is separate and has some nice first print covers and a mixed bag of used stamps if you're just starting out collecting.

Although some of the exhibits appear dated, the museum's historical progression and international…read moreperspective on mail created a surprisingly timeless experience. There was a modest line at opening because security was extremely thorough. Once inside, however, the museum felt spacious and easy to navigate, aside from the more crowded areas surrounding the large mail carrier exhibits. *Moving The Mail: one of the older exhibits featuring recreated mail transportation vehicles. This section felt especially geared toward children, as many enjoyed peering into the driver seats and exploring the interiors. *On The Road: another large scale exhibit showcasing the evolution of mail transportation, from horse drawn wagons to the familiar modern white postal trucks. *Binding The Nation: an engaging walkthrough covering the development of mail service during colonial America. I enjoyed moving through different historical periods and seeing how influential figures and major events shaped stamp designs over time. *Airmail In America: unexpectedly haunting after learning about the high number of fatalities associated with early airmail delivery. This exhibit gave me a much deeper appreciation for both the dangers of postal service and the role mail played in advancing aviation. *Systems At Work: comparatively plain next to the other exhibits. This area relied more heavily on videos rather than physical displays or interactive elements. Personally, the modern logistics focus interested me less than the historical sections. *William H. Gross Stamp Gallery: an incredibly impressive collection. Not only was there a beautifully organized display of international stamps, but there was also an entire room filled with pullout frames highlighting rare stamps and their histories. Everything was thoughtfully categorized by era or theme. My favorite section focused on counterfeit stamps and the subtle differences that exposed the forgeries. The gift shop was surprisingly extensive and carried a variety of specialized merchandise. They even had their own mascot featured on themed clothing and trinkets. I especially appreciated the mail themed products and the conveniently attached postal station. While this was not the largest museum I have visited, it ended up being one of the more memorable. Some exhibits could benefit from updated lighting since their age is beginning to show, but most of the displays remained engaging and informative. The hands-on activities were particularly distinctive and thoughtfully designed. Even if you are short on time, the stamp gallery alone is well worth visiting.

My family and I were introduced to Josiah Henson by watching a PBS special on his life. We pass…read morethe museum frequently so we finally decided to go. The Museum & Park located on the plantation property where Josiah Henson was enslaved for over twenty years before escaping to freedom. The tour starts with a video presentation detailing the history of slavery in Montgomery County, details about Josiah Hensen's life and his impact on American history. After the video the guide gives you an orientation on the property. There is an outdoor path with signage with historical information + the Isaac Riley house (Henson's former enslaver) that has been converted to a modern museum. The guides were extremely friendly and helpful in providing additional background information about the site and life at that time. I think we spent about 1.5 hours there. There is a very very small parking lot in front of the visitor center but a larger parking lot about 1.5 blocks away. Overall it was a great expereince and I would highly recommend it.

I visited this museum a couple months ago and it was an excellent experience more than I expected…read more Small yet so impactful on what Josiah Henson's history means to the state of Maryland and the country. Tickets were $12 a piece and you have to park a 1/2 a mile away across the street at a park then cross a busy street. My only suggestion for this part of the visit is to let visitors park at the daycare next door or the commercial building lot where there was no one on the weekend. (Saturday in particular no 1 was at either business) Both are on the same side as the museum and much safer to walk. Once I was at the museum, you watch a video of Josiah Hensons' history which was about 10-12 minutes. Then Ginger, the friendly front desk receptionist, takes you outside to the grounds of where Josiah and his family were enslaved. There's signage at each ground site and then you walk into the original house where everything felt surreal. Our tour guide Jessie had so much wealth of knowledge and was able to answer every question we had. We actually had the house to ourselves so it felt more personable as she guided us until the next group came in. You can take pictures of most inside. While I don't want to go into the particulars of what you see (nothing graphic), some things you just have to experience in person. I would highly recommend this hidden treasure to any local of Maryland. I would pass this place all the time and glad I finally carved time out to visit. What I thought in the beginning would be less then an hour turned into 2 1/2 hours of a phenomenal, educational visit. Thank you Ginger & Jessie! (We even bought a couple books after)

So we went to the National Guard Museum and Washington DC and it was really good for being small. I…read morewas really educated by the National Guard because I was confused with the reserves and the National Guard the reserves are federal and the National Guard state. We took some pictures and my boy got to hold his grandfather's gun And take a picture next to the grand great granddad that died in 2007 and the boy was born in 2012 so he never knew his great granddad but there are plenty of books and a Netflix special on his great granddad Felix Larry Sparks!

Our interest in visiting the National Guard Memorial Museum stemmed from its location across the…read morestreet from our hotel, its early opening at 9am, and its free entry. The entrance is on the rounded corner where you press the intercom to be let in. Downstairs, a nice army reservist introduced us to the gallery and spoke with us for a few minutes before we set off on our own--and at that time on a Friday morning, we were entirely on our own. Their displays and upkeep of artifacts should do the National Guard very proud. There are many interesting bits and pieces of the service's history and the people who made up this militia. So why would I only give it about 3.5 stars? Because the indoctrination is so real. The homogeneity of the introductory video was emphasized for me when the National Guard's contributions were being enumerated. The narrator mentions how Guards helped maintain order in the 1960s when "domestic tranquility was marred by civil (unrest)," and once my mind snagged on that branch, I kept getting pulled back to it. How telling that efforts to level the playing field for ALL Americans is considered "marring" by the National Guard narrator. Don't even get me started on the heroic and victorious portrayal of armed colonists against the Native Americans. It was an informative and infuriating way to spend the hour before more kid-friendly museums opened.