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Home » Free Trips » 29 Free Things to do in Washington, DC

29 Free Things to do in Washington, DC

February 23, 2018 By Jamie Dorobek 12 Comments

C.R.A.F.T. is about creating really awesome free things, and I love to create vacations almost as much as I love to DIY. You have to buy plane tickets, food, and sleep some where, but daily activities don’t have to break the bank! Although, Andy and I have camped in a minivan at the Grand Canyon. Washington, DC has a ridiculous amount of fun, free things to do!

Free things to do in Washington DC

29 Free Things to do in Washington, DC

I spent MLK weekend in DC with my girlfriends! Although it was chilly, it didn’t stop me from maniac-ing around the city, taking tons of pictures, and soaking up the history.  A quick bit of history about out capitol city: According to Wikipedia, on July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a federal district to become the national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution. The District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state.

1-19. Smithsonian museums

Yes, there are 19 free Smithsonian museums! I was amazed when I realized they were all free! We spent the most time at this one:
One of my girl friends has a 10 year old boy, and he loved the America on the Move exhibit at this museum… I liked it too!
This exhibit explains how transportation has changed our life… from boats, to trains, to the the automobile…!
Transportation even changed how we view time…
As you can tell, we liked this museum! Here is a map of all 19 museums. These could keep a person busy for days, and the best part is that most of the museums surround the National Mall. You can walk to all of them pretty easily.

20. National Zoo

There are 5 daily scheduled walking tours, and of course, free admission! Sadly, we did not make it to the zoo, but according to the website there are over 500 animals, including pandas, elephants, white-naped cranes,  gorillas, tigers, and cheetahs!

21. Walking Tours of DC

There are 9 walking tours to choose from, check out a quick summary of each tour to decide which one is best for your crew. Check the schedule because some happen daily while others happen weekly. Here is what the website says about the price, “This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it’s done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone’s budget.”

22. See how money is made

You can literally watch millions of dollars being printed for free at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)! The ticket booth, located at Raoul Wallenburg Place (formerly 15th Street, SW), opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes when all tickets have been distributed for the day. Be sure to check the website for peak times and seasons.

23. Play in the field at the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is closed until spring 2019 to modernize the elevator. When it opens back up you can throw a frisbee, throw a football, have a picnic, fly a kite, or take silly pictures in the field.

24. The White House

The White House is walking distance to the Washington Monument and National Mall. Be sure to check out the front and the back side of the White House. If you want to see the inside, you have to request a tour through a member of congress and all tours are free of charge. See the details here. This is actually the back of the White House. (I feel like this is always the view on tv?)

Also, Lafayette square is directly in front of the White House and has really tame squirrels that are fairly entertaining. You know I like squirrels.



25. Memorials

According to Wikipedia, there are 179 monuments and memorials in Washington DC. Here are 5 don’t miss memorials.

  1. Lincoln Memorial
  2. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  3. MLK Memorial
  4. Korean War Memorial
  5. WWII Memorial

 



26. Cherry Bloom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival happens every year to remember the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan. Today the festival takes place over 4 weekends and welcomes more than 1.5 million people.

27. Visit the National Archives

The National Archives is open 7 days a week from 10am- 5:30pm and admission is always free. You can view the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence!

28. Tour the U.S. Capitol

Advanced reservations are recommended, but not required. To schedule a free tour, you need to create an account and reserve your spot online.


29. Old Post Office Clock Tower Tour

Since the Washington monument is closed, the next best spot for a birds eye view of Washington, DC is the old post office clock tower built in 1899. The clock tower is 315 feet tall and has 360 degree views! The clock tower also houses the official United States Bells of Congress, a bicentennial gift from England celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War. Call 202-606-8691 for more information and accurate schedules.
Things to do in Washington DC

Have you been to DC? Did you know ALL of the Smithsonian museums are free! That was such an exciting surprise! Check out 50+ cities on the Creating Really Awesome Free trips series!

Filed Under: Free Trips Tagged With: free things to do, travel with kids

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Comments

  1. Courtney says

    February 28, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Wow, I knew the museums were free, but the zoo is free too? That’s awesome. Though I’m sure they probably make up for the free admission by marking up the prices of food and drinks inside, but I suppose that means we’d just have to bring our own 😉

    Reply
  2. Tiffany Schwander says

    April 16, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    My family and I just got back from a trip to DC. We also went to the Smithsonian of Natural History. They have a section called Q?rius that is a total hands on science lab for kids and adults! It is fantastic! Check it out:
    https://qrius.si.edu/‎
    Don’t forget the Penny coins- a great cheap souvenir!

    Reply
  3. Lisa Nelsen-Woods says

    January 29, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    On my last trip to Maryland, we took a day to see some of the Smithsonian Museums we missed on our last trip. Being from Ohio, I got chills standing next to the original Wright Flyer. It's amazing that little plane started it all.

    The Spy Museum isn't free, but it's fun for kids and adults. The best part of the trip was seeing the Korean Monument at night. It adds a lot to an already moving memorial.

    Reply
  4. daperfectmix says

    January 25, 2012 at 9:25 am

    I live about half an hour from DC and I think you've seen more of it that I have! lol Eventually we'll get to all of those museums. The zoo is great, but it's an all day thing. I'm glad you had a good visit!

    Reply
  5. Megan says

    January 25, 2012 at 9:12 am

    Next time you go, you have to find the Albert Einstein monument which is a little hidden but a gem! If you stand on the North Star and talk to Albert it is in stereo!

    Reply
  6. C.R.A.F.T. says

    January 24, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    I would love for you to write a post about Portland…that is one city I'd love to visit 🙂

    Reply
  7. C.R.A.F.T. says

    January 24, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    I'm not a DC pro… I was just going with what I saw in a weekend 🙂 I'm sorry I forgot the Vietnam Memorial… I will definitely check it out on my next trip to DC, hopefully when it is not so cold 🙂

    Reply
  8. Katie Newcomb says

    January 24, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    I love DC! We used to live in Maryland so I feel lucky to have seen so much of the capitol. If you do decide to host a month of really awesome free trips I'd be happy to write one about Portland, Ore. 🙂

    Reply
  9. rebknitz says

    January 24, 2012 at 11:05 am

    Um, you forgot the Vietnam Memorial. There's tons more to do for free, as well. 6 pm concerts at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage are free, there's hiking on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath, Arlington Nat'l Cemetery, checking out the fish market, exploring neighborhoods like Georgetown and Eastern Market…

    Reply
  10. Shannah @ Just Us Four says

    January 24, 2012 at 10:51 am

    I actually live in DC (actually right outside of the city but I work in the city). The free museums are awesome. Yep, the zoo is free…just pay for parking…or take the metro and walk!
    The Cherry Blossom Festival is a must. They are so gorgeous!
    Looks like you had a great time on your trip.

    Reply
  11. Toni @ SugarTart_Crafts says

    January 24, 2012 at 10:17 am

    We just moved to the DC area last spring, and I was surprised about the free museums as well. I was really hoping to see the cherry blossom festival this year since we missed it last year due to the move, but this time (the 100th anniversary by the way) we have a baby due the day before the parade! Hopefully we'll get to participate at least a little before the bundle of joy (and sleepless nights) arrive ; )

    Reply
  12. Crafty Mischief says

    January 24, 2012 at 3:05 am

    I went on a trip to Washington DC years ago but I would love to go back. There's so much to be seen! I love your The Washington Monument pic!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Jamie!
I Create Really Awesome Free Things for your home, wardrobe, kitchen, and kids in Austin, TX with the sometimes help of Andy!
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