Are you interested in planning a trip to DC but uncertain about whether you can afford it or not? You’ll be relieved to find out that DC is no money-guzzling city of sin like Las Vegas. You can arrive in DC with just enough cash for transportation, food, and lodging, yet manage to enjoy an action-packed vacation.
Contrary to stereotypes, DC is home to a whole lot more than Capitol Hill and lobbying firms. Brimming with free events, museums, and monuments, DC is a hot spot for budget travelers. This list of 10 free things to do in DC is sure to keep you busy if you plan a getaway to our nation’s capital.
1. Natural marsh, water plants and flowers, and bird watching in DC? No, we’re not joking. DC’s Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are home to the last natural marsh in DC. If you’re itching to escape from the concrete jungle for a quick breather, visit the gardens free of charge. They offer a glimpse of what DC looked like before European settlers arrived.
2. Remember that hair-raising film, The Exorcist? The staircase the priest fell down during the climax of the film is located in Georgetown, Washington DC. Relive that spooky scene by visiting the 75-step staircase, which connects M Street and Prospect Street. Other (less disturbing) movies that have been filmed in the posh neighborhood of Georgetown include True Lies, The Jackal, and Transformers.
3. Every year, on the Tuesday before Halloween, thousands of spectators gather in Dupont Circle to watch a drag race. No, not that kind of drag race. A drag queen race. Braving the cold weather, elaborately dressed drag queens donning high heels race down 17th street. The race starts at 9pm, so if you want to get a prime viewing spot, make sure to get there a couple hours in advance. It gets very crowded because people flock to see these drag queens in their best gowns (or lack thereof), even when it’s rainy and freezing outside. In At past races, DC drag queens have dressed up to resemble a variety of familiar faces, from Britney Spears to the hosts of The View.
4. You can’t go wrong with free food and free art. From April through June and September through November on the third Friday of the month, Galleries 1054 in Georgetown’s Canal Square hosts opening receptions from 6pm to 8pm complete with catering from Georgetown’s Sea Catch Restaurant.
5. Few free museums in the world compare to the fascinating, all-embracing Smithsonian museums in DC. The Smithsonian is the largest museum complex in the world and features tons of world class exhibitions. The Smithsonian museums are free of charge every day of the year. Favorites include the African Art Museum, American History Museum, National Design Museum, and the Air and Space Museum.
6. In the summer, jazz lovers flock to the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden on Friday evenings to enjoy free, live jazz concerts. These free jazz concerts, known as “Jazz in the Garden,” feature jazz acts from around the world. The adjacent Pavilion Café serves creative cuisine and beverages, which are regrettably not free of charge.
7. If you’ve got a green thumb and an urge to escape the city smog for a moment, don’t miss a visit to the National Arboretum. There are over 400 acres of land in the National Arboretum, where you’ll find innumerable varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs. To conclude a long, tiresome day of free sightseeing, why not plan a peaceful picnic surrounded by beautiful greenery at the National Arboretum?
8. The Arlington National Cemetery is a must-see for anyone visiting DC. It is located in Arlington, on the other side of the Potomac River. Highlights of taking a stroll through the Arlington National Cemetery include watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visiting the graves of John F. Kennedy and family. There are over 300,000 people buried at this serene cemetery.
9. Check out the National Theatre on Monday nights, from October to April, to see local comedians, musicians, dancers, and singers in action. The 6pm event is free of charge, but tickets must be obtained approximately thirty minutes in advance of the performance.
10. The National Archives house over three billion documents and continue to grow by billions of pieces each year. Everything from the original Declaration of Independence to captured German records from World War II can be found at the National Archives. The Exhibition Hall is open from 10am to 7pm, giving the greater public access to documents that helped set up America as a democracy in 1774.
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