{"id":10210,"date":"2020-03-09T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T17:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thegirlinspired.com\/?p=10210"},"modified":"2025-11-03T22:58:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:58:15","slug":"things-to-do-in-washington-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegirlinspired.com\/things-to-do-in-washington-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do in Washington DC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington DC is a bustling hub of politics, history, monuments, memorials, and museums. It is also a thriving city full of eclectic neighborhoods, excellent food and bars, interesting architecture, and loaded with culture. Let’s look at some of the best things to do in Washington DC for your next visit!<\/p>\n

\"Tall
Washington Monument<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About Washington DC<\/h2>\n

Where is Washington DC exactly? This political center of the United States of America is located on the Potomac River, bordering both Maryland and Virginia. It is a federal district – the District of Columbia, hence the DC and is not defined as one of the 50 U.S. states. The nation’s Capitol, the White House, and the Supreme Court are all located here, as well as innumerable federal buildings and operations.<\/p>\n

If you’re like me, and are trying to visit all 50 states, Washington DC is the perfect central location for day trips out to the surrounding states of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and even Pennsylvania! I was able to visit most of the main sites in DC, as well as all 5 surrounding states during my recent one-week trip. On the other hand, DC has so much to offer within its 68 square miles, you could certainly spend weeks just touring this area alone.<\/p>\n

Getting around in DC is not too difficult. Ride share options like Uber and Lyft are readily available and not too expensive. I drove a rental car and even though the roads are kinda crazy and the traffic is packed, I didn’t have trouble following the mounted GPS screen for directions most of the time. The only time I was uncomfortable driving in DC was in the Dupont Circle area and I think that was mostly due to trying to find somewhere to park. You can also hop on a jump bike or motorized scooter and zip around with ease. No need to worry about transportation in Washington DC!<\/p>\n

The National Mall of Washington<\/h2>\n

\"close<\/p>\n

The National Mall is NOT a shopping mall. Rather, it is a defined National Park, sometimes referred to as “America’s front yard.” It is two miles from end to end. You can think of it as a cross shape with the Capitol at the foot, the Lincoln Memorial at the top, the towering Washington Monument in the center of the cross arms. The White House is at the tip of one of the cross arms, while several memorials are situated around the Tidal Basin (a pool of water off the Potomac) for the other cross arm. The Smithsonian Museums are dotted all up and down both sides of the National Mall. You could spend days exploring all there is to see and do here.<\/p>\n

\"Park<\/p>\n

Definitely stop in at the Smithsonian Institution Center<\/a>, also knows as “the Castle,” to collect a map and devise a plan of attack. The Castle is the Smithsonian’s Visitor Center and has “sneak peeks” of artifacts from each of the museums to aid in your planning. If you’re traveling to DC in cold weather, bring your gloves, scarf, hat, and layers to keep warm while walking about – although you will stay warm inside the museums, there is much to see outside and take it from me, that icy wind can chill you to the bone!<\/p>\n

Smithsonian Museums of Washington DC<\/h2>\n

\"Giant<\/p>\n

Among some of the most popular and FREE things to do in Washington DC, there are 17 Smithsonian museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo. Eleven of these are located along the National Mall, six elsewhere in DC, and there are three additional museums in New York City and Virginia (not included in the links below.) You will most likely need to pick and choose which museums\/galleries to visit. You will probably also have to pick and choose sections to visit WITHIN each building. They are HUGE and wonderful and loaded with information. Go HERE to view a map of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC.<\/a>  Below I have listed the Smithsonian Museums in the DC area. Click on each to view their webpages for more information.<\/p>\n

Smithsonian Museums in DC:<\/h3>\n