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Things to do in DC

Things to do in DC

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Created by H I • Updated On: January 11, 2014

A collection of landmarks and recommendations by friends of things to do while in DC.

The Big Chair is one of Things to do in DC.

1. The Big Chair

7.8
2120 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE (at V St SE), Washington, D.C.
Outdoor Sculpture · Historic Anacostia · 10 tips and reviews
Old Post Office Pavilion is one of Things to do in DC.

2. Old Post Office Pavilion

6.1
1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 12th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Federal Triangle · 56 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Take the elevator to the top of the 315 ft clock tower for a 360 degree view of downtown DC

Politics and Prose Bookstore is one of Things to do in DC.

3. Politics and Prose Bookstore

9.3
5015 Connecticut Ave NW (btwn Nebraska Ave & 36th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Bookstore · Chevy Chase · 81 tips and reviews
Washington Walks is one of Things to do in DC.

4. Washington Walks

2715 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Travel and Transportation · Georgetown · No tips or reviews
Old Ebbitt Grill is one of Things to do in DC.

5. Old Ebbitt Grill

9.1
675 15th St NW (at G St NW), Washington, D.C.
American Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 690 tips and reviews
Eastern Market is one of Things to do in DC.

6. Eastern Market

9.0
225 7th St SE (at North Carolina Ave. SE), Washington, D.C.
Farmers Market · Capitol Hill · 142 tips and reviews
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is one of Things to do in DC.

7. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

8.8
1517 Connecticut Ave NW (at Q St NW), Washington, D.C.
Bookstore · Northwest Washington · 328 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Make a late-night stop, order a big piece of pie and enjoy live music Wednesday through Saturday nights.

Courtyard Cafe is one of Things to do in DC.

8. Courtyard Cafe

7.5
800-898 G St NW, Washington, D.C.
Café · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 19 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Courtyard has free WiFi!

Union Station is one of Things to do in DC.

9. Union Station

7.7
50 Massachusetts Ave NE (at Columbus Cir NE), Washington, D.C.
Rail Station · 662 tips and reviews
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) is one of Things to do in DC.

10. Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)

8.7
1000 Jefferson Dr SW (btwn 9th & 12th St SW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 86 tips and reviews
Chinatown Friendship Archway is one of Things to do in DC.

11. Chinatown Friendship Archway

7.7
7th & H St NW, Washington, D.C.
Monument · Chinatown · 23 tips and reviews
Mexican Cultural Institute is one of Things to do in DC.

12. Mexican Cultural Institute

8.6
2829 16th St NW (at Columbia Rd NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Columbia Heights · 10 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Open 10AM - 1PM and 3-6PM Monday through Friday

Bohemian Caverns is one of Things to do in DC.

13. Bohemian Caverns

2001 11th St NW (at U St NW), Washington, D.C.
Jazz and Blues Venue · U-Street · 27 tips and reviews
Busboys and Poets is one of Things to do in DC.

14. Busboys and Poets

8.9
2021 14th St NW (at V St NW), Washington, D.C.
American Restaurant · U-Street · 356 tips and reviews
Oohh’s & Aahh’s is one of Things to do in DC.

15. Oohh’s & Aahh’s

7.7
1005 U St NW (btwn 10th & 11th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Southern Food Restaurant · U-Street · 97 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Soul food for under $10

Lincoln Memorial is one of Things to do in DC.

16. Lincoln Memorial

9.6
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW (btwn Constitution & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 472 tips and reviews
Washington Monument is one of Things to do in DC.

17. Washington Monument

9.5
2 15th St NW (btwn Constitution Ave NW & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 344 tips and reviews
World War II Memorial is one of Things to do in DC.

18. World War II Memorial

9.5
1750 Independence Ave SW (at 17th St SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 160 tips and reviews
Julia's Empanadas is one of Things to do in DC.

19. Julia's Empanadas

7.2
1221 Connecticut Ave NW (at 18th St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Empanada Restaurant · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 45 tips and reviews
Chinatown Express is one of Things to do in DC.

20. Chinatown Express

6.2
746 6th St Nw (at H St), Washington, D.C.
Chinese Restaurant · Chinatown · 126 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Watch the chef make ropes of skinny noodles in the window here. Then order some for under $5.

Amsterdam Falafelshop is one of Things to do in DC.

21. Amsterdam Falafelshop

2425 18th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Falafel Restaurant · Adams Morgan · 119 tips and reviews

H I.H I: No forks, spoons, or plates here. Make sure you load up on napkins!

Cafe Asia is one of Things to do in DC.

22. Cafe Asia

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
Sushi Restaurant · North Rosslyn · 79 tips and reviews
The Phillips Collection is one of Things to do in DC.

23. The Phillips Collection

8.7
1600 21st St NW (at Q St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Northwest Washington · 80 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Access to permanent collection is free of charge Tuesdays through Fridays.

Old Stone House is one of Things to do in DC.

24. Old Stone House

7.6
3051 M St NW (btw 30th St NW & 31st St NW), Washington, D.C.
Historic and Protected Site · Georgetown · 16 tips and reviews
National Gallery of Art is one of Things to do in DC.

25. National Gallery of Art

9.5
6th St and Constitution Ave NW (at Constitution Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Northwest Washington · 155 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Ride the moving walkway between the Gallery's East and West buildings.

Smithsonian American Art Museum is one of Things to do in DC.

26. Smithsonian American Art Museum

9.0
800 G St. NW (8th and F Streets, NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 86 tips and reviews
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is one of Things to do in DC.

27. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

9.3
1850 W Basin Dr SW (at Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 144 tips and reviews
National Geographic Museum is one of Things to do in DC.

28. National Geographic Museum

1145 17th St NW (at Sumner Row NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 49 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Adult admission is $8

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage is one of Things to do in DC.

29. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

8.5
2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C.
Performing Arts Venue · Northwest Washington · 16 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Free performances every evening at 6PM.

Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle is one of Things to do in DC.

30. Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle

8.5
2401-2461 16th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Concert Hall · Columbia Heights · 6 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Sundays between 3 and 9PM

Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of Things to do in DC.

31. Smithsonian’s National Zoo

9.0
3001 Connecticut Ave NW (at Hawthorne St NW), Washington, D.C.
Zoo · National Zoological Park · 326 tips and reviews
Rock Creek Park is one of Things to do in DC.

32. Rock Creek Park

9.3
Beach Dr NW (at Park Dr NW), Washington, D.C.
National Park · Rock Creek Park · 43 tips and reviews
Original Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of Things to do in DC.

33. Original Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

9th St NW (at Pennsylvania Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Federal Triangle · 3 tips and reviews
East Potomac Golf Links is one of Things to do in DC.

34. East Potomac Golf Links

7.8
972 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, D.C.
Golf Course · Southwest Washington · 29 tips and reviews
National Air and Space Museum Flight Simulator is one of Things to do in DC.

35. National Air and Space Museum Flight Simulator

8.6
Lenfant Plz SW, Washington, D.C.
Exhibit · Southwest Washington · 27 tips and reviews
The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. Hotel is one of Things to do in DC.

36. The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. Hotel

9.1
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 14th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Hotel · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 69 tips and reviews

H I.H I: The lobby of this hotel is where Julia Ward wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his renowned "I Have a Dream" speech.

President Lincoln's Cottage is one of Things to do in DC.

37. President Lincoln's Cottage

8.2
140 Rock Creek Church Rd NW (at Upshur St NW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Petworth · 17 tips and reviews
Freer Gallery of Art is one of Things to do in DC.

38. Freer Gallery of Art

Jefferson Ave SW (12th St SW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Southwest Washington · 37 tips and reviews

H I.H I: Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the KSA runs till Feb 24, 2013. Open 10 - 5:30PM daily. Admission: Free

Naan & Beyond is one of Things to do in DC.

39. Naan & Beyond

1710 L St NW (btwn 17th St NW & Connecticut Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Indian Restaurant · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 27 tips and reviews
Zaytinya is one of Things to do in DC.

40. Zaytinya

9.0
701 9th St NW (at G St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 411 tips and reviews
Embassy Row is one of Things to do in DC.

41. Embassy Row

Washington, D.C.
Neighborhood · 5 tips and reviews