LogFAQs > #975210876

I've lived in DC for 25+ years. I second pretty much any Smithsonian, especially Air and Space, American History, and African American. The best museum food (at the National Mall) is at the American Indian museum (National Gallery East Wing is second best). Since the museums are free, you can easily pop in for food.

If you've already been to zoos in NYC, San Diego, or Philly, then you can miss the National Zoo. It's good, but not amazing. It requires (free) tickets for timed entry (from their website).

If you can make it out to Udvar Hazy, then definitely go, it's one of the top-3 aviation museums in the US (again, free except for parking). But unless you are staying near Dulles Airport, it will probably take a whole day.

Try to at least drive past the Pentagon and FBI buildings, so you can at least say you saw them. It's traditional to point out how ugly the FBI building is (it's a crumbling example of Brutalism). Georgetown (neighborhood, not necessarily the school) is good for people watching and has nice restaurants. Also at least drive by Comet Ping Pong (or eat there; the pizza's amazing).

Check whether there's anything free going on at The Kennedy Center.

I have not been to the Spy Museum at it's new location, but I hear it's good. The old one was lots of fun (note that it is not a free museum).

As others have said, DuPont Circle is a nice place to walk around and get something to eat. If you are there anyway, check out the statue (of Farragut) in Farragut Square, with its mortars. More up and coming areas are H Street, Shaw, and The Wharf, but an exhaustive list would be hard (there so many cool little areas). Even a place like Penn Quarter puts you by the National Portrait Gallery (not as boring as it sounds), my favorite statue (the Lichtenstein at 9th & F NW), and China Chilcano (a great restaurant).

Obviously walk past the White House to check out the fence and the protesters, even if you don't get a tour.

DC is very serious about brunch (which lasts until like 2-3pm) and drinking, so definitely take advantage of that. Pot is legal except on National Park land, if you are interested in that.

Get a book or check out a site like Atlas Obscura to learn about all the little trivia about all the places you are walking or driving past. There's a lot of historical (and pop culture) references to catch incidentally. It's a place where local news is often world news.

If you spend time along the Potomac, you'll probably see some cool low-flying helicopters.