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.

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.

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.

The Hirshhorn Museum is easily one of my favorite modern art museums in Washington, DC. Every visit…read moreoffers something new to discover, and the museum itself is as impressive as many of the exhibits it houses. A few highlights from my visit: Beautiful, clean, and modern space that complements the artwork perfectly. The museum's unique multi-level circular layout makes it easy to navigate and explore. Every turn seems to reveal a new exhibit, installation, or piece of art that invites you to stop and reflect. A great mix of modern and contemporary works that appeal to both casual visitors and art enthusiasts. Clean, well-maintained facilities throughout the museum. Bathrooms are conveniently located on the lower level and easy to find. Free admission makes it an easy recommendation for anyone visiting the National Mall. One of my favorite aspects of the Hirshhorn is how immersive the experience feels. As you move through the circular galleries, each corner offers something different to see and experience. The museum encourages exploration, and it's easy to lose track of time wandering between exhibits. Overall, the Hirshhorn is a must-visit for anyone interested in modern and contemporary art. Between its striking architecture, thoughtfully curated exhibits, and welcoming atmosphere, it's a place I return to whenever I'm in DC.

Such a good solo date in DC! I got to the Hirshhorn about an hour before closing and was honestly…read moresurprised that I was still able to see everything without feeling too rushed! My tip if you're short on time: start on the top floor and work your way down. I started with the outer part of the floor and worked my way inward, then followed the same pattern on the next floor. It made it really easy to navigate the museum without missing anything. Definitely recommend for a solo date, art lovers, or anyone looking for something affordable to do while visiting DC. Pro tip: Even if you only have an hour, GO! Start at the top, work your way down, and you can cover a lot.

This place is HUGE! I would highly recommend stopping by the volunteer desk on your way in for a…read moremap and to hear about some highlights. The woman at the desk gave me her opinion on where to start, what I couldn't miss, etc. This was super helpful when I was an hour in and starting to have museum-fatigue, so I just hit some of her favorites that she had circled for me. I loved getting to see some of the presidential portraits, but this was only a small part of the museum. So many incredible things to see, and so much diversity. I found the upper floors to have much cooler architecture than lower ones, so make sure you look up there. There was some construction happening when I was there, so some staircases led to locked doors and some hallways led nowhere. I am sure this is common, and was all part of the adventure.

I came here specifically to visit the Portrait Gallery. It is a smaller museum and is currently…read moreundergoing some construction, so not all of the galleries and exhibits were open during my visit. I was able to explore the first and third floors and enjoyed seeing the variety of paintings and portraits on display. I especially enjoyed the presidential exhibit, which was very interesting and worth taking the time to walk through. The museum itself could use a little sprucing up in some areas, although the ongoing construction may address some of that. Overall, it was an enjoyable museum to visit, and I'm glad I took the time to stop in.

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.

The Museum of American History strives to preserve items from our past in areas such as sports,…read moretransportation, telegraphic, sports and music to name a few. Some may remember seeing the metal TV trays and TV dinners. The Museum of Latin America is also housed in this building. This section captures dance, culture and foods of the Latin American people. Visit the museum to see a bit of Americana. There is a large gift store where you can purchase souvenirs. Expect to spend at least 3 hours viewing if you have the time.

The National Museum of American History is a fun place to explore, especially if you like learning…read moreabout the people and events that shaped the country. The exhibits cover a little bit of everything,from pop culture and politics to transportation and war. Seeing things like the original Star-Spangled Banner and the First Ladies' dresses in person is pretty cool.

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.