Looking for recs my family can do when visiting me besides the mall and museums

Submitted by sugarsoccer t3_11ebk9i in washingtondc

They’ve been to DC before so they’ve done the mall, which is cool and all but I’m not sure my mom is super pumped to do it again, and I don’t want them trying to do all the museums and not actually enjoy anything. What are some good alternatives around the city for family tourism I guess? I was thinking maybe walking the basin, maybe take them to meridian hill park… they’re coming in April.

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cardamom_peonies t1_jad1hvd wrote

There's rock creek park. Also, DC has loads of venues for plays, concerts, ballet etc etc so maybe they can check out what's going on at the Kennedy Center or Wooly Mammoth?

Or they can walk around near DuPont circle and check out all the embassies. Some of the buildings have very cool architecure. I think the open embassy days are in may but maybe there might be other events going on.

What are your folks into?

For other outdoorsy stuff in particular, if you have a car, there's the arboretum, which has some good walks. For smaller museums, Dumbarton house and the hillwood house museum- these are both manor houses with fancy gardens.

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meditation_account t1_jad1roa wrote

Do they like casinos? Go to MGM National Harbor for the day and have lunch there. Even if they don’t gamble they have a lounge and piano bar in the lobby of the hotel where it is nice to chill.

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giscard78 t1_jad2gaj wrote

Lincoln’s Cottage, the Civil War forts (throughout the city), Anacostia River trail, some of the fancy houses (Decatur, Woodrow Wilson, Lars Anderson, Dumbarton Oaks, the lady with the fancy faberge eggs in Rock Creek), Glen Stone in Maryland, the Kreeger Museum, the Arboretum, and probably more.

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SamW20910 t1_jad2pe9 wrote

Go see The Awakening at National Harbor
Watch the planes landing at DCA from Gravelly Point
Check out the Exorcist steps in Georgetown

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Independent-Key-666 t1_jad46fn wrote

The Wharf is fun, and you can take the water taxi to Alexandria which is super nice.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_jad89p3 wrote

Do you have access to a car ? Monticello + Charlottesville nearby .

In DC :

Cross Tate Bridge and down Connecticut Ave past some grand buildings. Kalorama + Wyoming + California on your right side has embassy residences and other elegant homes.

Then down Connecticut to Dupont. Take New Hampshire Ave to U St , a beautiful walk .

Take them on a weekend to Eastern Market and walk through Capitol Hill.

Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens The former mansion of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post holds one of the world’s greatest collections of Russian Imperial art, which she collected in the USSR shortly after the Communist revolution It and an impressive array of French, Native American, and European antiques are displayed in her mansion and several outbuildings. In warmer months, there’s a manicured garden noted for its roses.

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Fun-Accountant-5939 t1_jaddu94 wrote

You could do Arlington Cemetery and Georgetown while you are on the side of the metro.

You can also head over to George Washington’s Mt. Vernon- there is a cost but interesting visit. You can drive there or there are boat tours/ taxis from Old Town Alexandria. Also Old Town can be fun to check out and grab a bite at one of the restaurants on the water.

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Playful-Translator49 t1_jadh7zl wrote

Sportsball games are generally fun, Artechhouse has a cherry blossom themed exhibit coming up, the aquarium in baltimore is a good time. Distillery, beer, wine tours, old town, food food and more food. Annapolis is a good day trip.

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Seppafer t1_jae3gsj wrote

If they want some exercise or hiking I can recommend the C&O canal. It’s got some really fun trails and is great for walks too. April should also be great for Al king along the sections of Rock Creek Park that are now permanently closed to traffic

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romanceordelusion t1_jae4ff2 wrote

Check out some cheap seats at the symphony, or the free Millenium stage or anything in the kennedy center.

Have a coffee in Logan circle

Go for a round of frisbee by the monument

Check out Tyson’s mall if they like that

Check out an imax at the air and space museum

Head out to the burbs for Korean bbq

Take a walk through rock creek on the weekend

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foreverurgirl t1_jaekj08 wrote

I would check out clockoutdc on Instagram and find some good lectures or events for the time you are there. They have such comprehensive offerings there is surely something to please everyone.

Also, after Meridian Hill Park I would suggest hitting up Dan’s Cafe for the real DC experience. Just tell them it’s a speakeasy. It is within walking distance, just maybe not back after.

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clockoutdc t1_jaem5fg wrote

Replying to NPRjunkieDC (#2,110,885)

I definitely would recommend the Hillwood Estate if your family is into decorative arts. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

There should be a few new exhibits in DC around that time including an afrofuturism one at the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Also, the bird house at the zoo will be open—but you will need tickets. There’s a Disney-themed exhibit that will be opening at the American History Museum.

For festivals, besides those mentioned there will be the Georgetown French Market at the end of the month.

The Kennedy Center is having a river themed festival — there’s one performer that makes instruments out of ICE https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivals-series/riverrun/

If they enjoy art, I’d recommend going to the Phillips collection. If you can swing tickets, the Glenstone is always a treat too.

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nesta1970 t1_jaf11ik wrote

I think Georgetown and M st/Wisconsin Avenue are worth the visit, plenty of nice cafes and restaurants, some like Blue bottle have a nice view by the canals.

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