What a great concert which made me cry! A great collaboration between Japanese and American…read moremilitary bands. There are free movie nights too;) Event price: Free~?! Interior: Great. Some traditional pictures. Theater room: Clean and small. Parking lot: Hmmmm... Gotta find private or street ones. Location: Fantastic! Everything is close here. The Army Navy club, Nordstrom rack, Paul,...

Lovely pictures of bonsai. A video tells you some interesting history about the greatest man to…read morepractice the art. A really cool lighted bamboo mini bridge was on display as well. Lighted with micro chips. Enjoyed my visit.

I visited the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream last weekend with my husband, and it…read morewas interesting. So what is it? It's a new museum that opened in the fall of 2025, just steps from the White House and the U.S. Treasury. It touts itself as an interactive museum which highlights the successes of American capitalism, entrepreneurship, and financial and banking institutions. The museum's namesake is Michael Milken, who partly curated and controls the museum. Located in five historic buildings, rumor has it the museum cost $500 million. Exploring the museum, I was conflicted. I love museums, and I think you should keep an open mind and learn what you can everywhere, from anyone, for your whole life. I value curiosity and critical thinking above many other things. However, this is definitely a museum with a point of view, and it's probably good to know that going in. Michael Milken is an American financier mostly known for his role in the development of the market for high-yield bonds (junk bonds), leading to his reputation as the "Junk Bond King," and his conviction and sentence on felony charges for violating securities laws. He was sentenced to 10 years (he served 2) and fined $600 million. He was pardoned by President Trump in 2020 and is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the world (with an estimated net worth of $6 billion). None of this is to say you can't enjoy or learn from or even love the Milken Center. I just think it's relevant information to know going in as the museum deals with American financial markets and capitalism. I certainly wouldn't recommend taking your most progressive or democratic socialist friends to this museum. The museum is free to visit, but you do need to make an reservation for a timed entry (I'm not sure why, because they were not busy at all on a Sunday afternoon when we visited). There is an add on experience (the Holodeck Experience) which has an associated cost of $15 per person. We probably spent an hour and a half at the museum. You can certainly see where they spent the alleged $500 million. It's shiny and new and has lots of interactive aspects and exhibits. If you're into historical artifacts, this is not the museum for you. (They did have an iron lung, and since I'd only ever seen one other, that was a pretty interesting artifact to see.) This museum is full of videos and holograms and signs (and some art as well) but light on artifacts for sure. We wandered around the museum, not really sure what the highlights were that we shouldn't miss (we ended up missing the hologram gallery that many other reviews mention). Most of the financial floors of the museum weren't of very much interest to me, although I could see how it would be interesting/educational for kids (for example, there was an interactive quiz where you choose how much a young person with their first job should save, spend on trips, etc., and then you see how well they're doing after a bit of time). The highlights of the museum for me were the building itself and the art. The Basil Kincaid quilts are massive and and jaw dropping where they hang over the Tree of Generations. And two art-related exhibits really caught my attention: "Celebrating 250 Years: A Journey Through America with Robert Freimark" (which showcased abstract prints the artist made, each representing one of the 50 states) and "Visualizing Impact" (an exhibit showcasing art made by young artists in grades 6-12 focus on unsung heroes in history). We also did the Holodeck Experience - the add on experience for $15 per person. From their website: "It's more than just a movie--it's an unforgettable multisensory adventure held in a unique 360-degree megapixel environment. You're invited to embark on a new journey in the Perpetual Story Machine by Moment Factory, a mind-bending fusion of technology and imagination. Dive into stories of perseverance, innovation, determination, and mentorship at the breathtaking Kenneth C. Griffin Holodeck Experience. Are you ready to take the leap?" That's vague, but it's a hard experience to describe. I actually think children might enjoy it more than adults, because we found it a little silly (especially the parts where you have to "help" the Machine before the more movie-like part begins). We were alone at the experience, so it there were two staff members for the two of us. I did learn about three very different and interesting American experiences, but ultimately I found it a bit cheesy. The Milken Center is free, so I encourage anyone with some spare time to check it out for themselves. But it's not the museum for me. Some of the smaller art exhibits caught my eye, but the majority of the museum felt a bit off to me. Maybe I'm just not into these newer "museums" without artifacts. More like immersive experiences with informational signs. I doubt I'll be back, but you might get more out of it or enjoy more than I did. Who knows?

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.

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!

This is such a DC hidden gem! I was walking around the area and needed a place to hunker down for a…read morelittle bit until my next meeting so decided to walk in to the cultural center. There's a library and an exhibit detailing Oman's rich history, which I learned so much about. The employee was super nice and even guided me through some of the exhibit. 10/10 would recommend!

Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center opened in 2014 to serve as a place that encourages Oman-USA mutual…read moreunderstanding. It's a beautiful building designed like a house of its size in Oman. It's open Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm to the public. Guests can walk through 1.5 rooms of learning about how people in Oman live as well as visit the large library. Throughout the building one can find brochures promoting Oman tourism. They also host events throughout the month as well as Arabic lessons, etc. The guy at the front desk was friendly and helpful.

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.

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!

Seeing the pillow with Lincoln's blood was honestly one of the most vivid historical experiences…read moreI've ever had. It's one thing to read about history in a book, but standing in a place where such a major moment actually happened makes it feel completely different. Ford's Theatre does a great job of preserving the history and telling the story of what happened that night. Walking through the theatre and seeing the artifacts in person was honestly chilling, but in a really fascinating way. Definitely a place I'd recommend visiting if you're in DC and want to experience history up close

This is a must visit museum. It has such a well-thought-out design that takes you from our start in…read moreAfrica, through slavery, gaining freedom, the civil rights movement, and covers all of our more recent contributions to education, art, entertainment, sports, etc. There are so many things to see, learn, and be inspired by. A few words of advice: 1. Start with the lower level and work your way up. 2. If you can, take a break at the cafe after going through the Slavery and Freedom exhibit. It's a lot to take in, and giving your mind a short break will help. 3. This museum has a lot of information. If you can break it up into two days or make a full day of it, I'd recommend doing so. Honestly, you could spend 8 hours there, and you still may not be able to absorb it all. 4. Bring the family.

I enjoyed myself. My wife and I went to check it out and we had a good time. It's a large museum so…read morewe decided to start at the top floor and work our way down. There was so much to see. With anything there was good and things that can be improved. The good, a lot to see. Throughly enjoyed the exhibits, statues and stories behind each one. Learned some things I thought I already knew but was completely wrong. Very spacious. What can be improved: the third floor interactive section could be more in depth. Maybe add more items. It was the smallest room and I felt more things could have been added. Didn't feel as if there was a route to take to ensure you see everything. Maybe place arrows on the floor to guide people through. The food. Granted it was tasty for the most part but those prices are outrageous. 2 pieces of chicken and 2 sides were almost $25. Between my plate, my wife plate and 2 drinks it came up to over $60. (To Me), the roasted potato was dry. I even used the provided butter but it didn't help. Also there was a fly flying around the section in between the front counter as soon as you walk in I let the server know and he swiped it at. Overall, it is a nice museum. Would recommend bringing comfortable shoes. Would recommend trying the food but by prepared for the price.

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!

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.