Top Free Attractions in Washington, D.C.

But the Mall isn’t the only place in Washington, D.C. where you and your family can keep an eye on spending and still experience the city’s historic wonders. The Nation’s Capital offers a veritable smorgasbord of fun and free opportunities around every corner.

The National Mall

Lace up your sneakers and head straight to the shady sidewalks of the Mall, where a cluster of Washington’s major memorials and museums reside. First stop: the National Archives Museum where you and the kids can see the U.S. Constitution and other documents that helped shape America. Continue on your history tour and marvel in awe of the Lincoln, Jefferson and Vietnam Veterans memorials and the Washington Monument. Walk in the President’s footsteps at the White House and see congress in action at the Capitol. All attractions are free, as are the Smithsonian Museums.

Parks and Recreation

Rock Creek Park slices through the center of Washington, connecting the Potomac River with the city’s Maryland border. The park is home to a nature center with hands-on displays for children and a planetarium, miles of hiking and biking trails and the National Zoo, with free admission. Take the George Washington Parkway to Gravelly Point, a riverside park in Virginia just across the Potomac River from the Mall. The main attraction? The park is at the end of the runways of Reagan National Airport, and planes thunder overhead, close enough to think you can reach up and touch them.

Festivals

Celebrate the sights and smells of spring at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Events are primarily free and open to the public. Stroll around the Tidal Basin, taking in the glorious display of pink blossoms. Find a spot along the parade route, hang out on the Southwest Waterfront to watch the fireworks or watch kite tricks on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Head to the National Mall for the mid-summer Smithsonian Folklife Festival. About a million people attend the 10-day festival to celebrate our cultural diversity with music, food and interactive performances. Be sure to visit the kid’s center for games and family-friendly activities.

History and Heritage

Experience life in the 18th century with a visit to the oldest home in the city, the Old Stone House, located in the historic neighborhood of Georgetown. The house was built before the existence of the United States and if a great example of Revolutionary-War architecture. Pay your respects to two presidents—John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft—who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. While you’re there, watch the inspiring changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

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