I am going to Washington D.C in 2 weeks. What are some fun things to do there that are off the beaten path?

Answer 1

There's a sculpture that few people know about in DC in east Potomac Park. It's basically a giant man coming up out of the ground. It's pretty cool. You get there by taking Ohio Dr SW near the Jefferson Memorial. The road just keeps going, all the way to the point at East Potomac Park, and the sculpture is down at the point.

There are two Titanic memorials in DC if you're into that kind of thing; the first is near the White House, coming around the south side toward 17th street near the Old Executive Office Building; it's a fountain/birdbath and it's a memorial to two victims of Titanic who were friends of then-President Taft, Archie Butt and Francis Millet (you can kind of read the inscription around the edge of the fountain bowl, but it's worn down quite a bit). The other sculpture is harder to find because it's a bit off the main roads in southwest DC at 4th & P Streets SW, not the nicest neighborhood (make this trip only in the daytime). It's a bit tricky to get there, because it's next to Fort McNair. The sculpture is in a park off P Street; you have to park and walk down to the waterfront to see it. It was commissioned by the women survivors of Titanic in memory of the men lost in the sinking.

Another off-track thing that's kind of nice, if it's still there, is a little hidden garden on the grounds of the Capitol Building, on the Pennsylvania avenue side facing the Mall. There used to be a little red-brick grotto there with pretty gardens inside and seats. It's a really pretty and relaxing place to read or write or just look around. When I was last in DC they were doing construction in that general area; I don't know if the garden survived.

A really great way to see DC is to take a night bus tour. They will pick you up at your hotel and you spend a few hours hitting all the main monuments as well as the Kennedy Center. It's great for photos; the monuments are all lit up and the crowds are thinner.

The FDR Memorial is one that's often missed by people touring the Mall, because it's kind of off to the side near the Jefferson Memorial. It's neat, though; it's a walking sculpture and garden tour that memorializes FDR's three terms in office.

There's also a small White House museum that's in the Department of Commerce Building at 15th & Pennsylvania; they have displays of various White House items and history as well as a White House Historical Association gift shop where you can purchase White House Christmas ornaments (they issue a new ornament each year).

You might want to check out the Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Capitol. You used to be able to go to the top of the tower there, which is a great view of the city.

National Cathedral is also worth a stop; it's on Wisconsin Avenue NW. If you go around noon on a sunny day, the stained glass windows create incredible rainbows. Be sure to take the elevator up to the top to see the views of DC/VA/MD (there are guide photos on the walls between the windows to tell you what you're seeing) and don't forget to check out the gargoyles. The cathedral was built over many decades of the 20th century and there are gargoyles reflecting the periods, including a Snoopy one and a Darth Vader one.

I hope those are helpful!

Answer 2

Union Station, Gallery position, Pentagon Mall, something in Georgetown and the shops alongside Wisconsin street on the District Line are all impressive procuring elements. revenues and different reductions ascertain that you're going to discover deals that are often better than those on the off-value shops. Get your self excursion bus tickets. you could hop on and stale the bus as you want. the superb fares are many times for dissimilar day tickets. that is the right thanks to ascertain the total city and stumble on the elements that intrigue you. The "could do" record could contain lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl, brunch on the former Ebbitt and a live performance or teach on the Kennedy center. they are large venues for persons observing. inspect the indications at Ben's. Obama loved it and so does invoice Cosby, between others. lots of the points of interest listed lower than are free. The nationwide Gallery of artwork, each and every of the Smithsonian Museums, the Library of Congress (each and every e book revealed contained in america of a is right here), the nationwide information the position you'll discover the Declaratio of Independence and the structure, the nationwide Zoo, the Museum of the yankee Indian and the Holocaust Museum are merely a number of the internet sites. Then upload each and every of the memorials and correct there you've a week. Mount Vernon is very exciting, yet there's a small charge. in case you will get to the inner Harbour in Baltimore and visit fortress McHenry, that is nicely well worth the vacation. Take a "geese" excursion on a bus that drives proper into the harbor. there are such a great number of issues to ascertain that 2 weeks are going to fly by utilizing!

Answer 3

There're a lot of great suggestions. It all depends on what you want to do. The C&O Canal, which was supposed to connect Washington with Ohio, runs north alongside the Potomac River on the Maryland side, from Georgetown to Great Falls and beyond. You can rent canoes, go biking, or hike (many trails) there...if you get as far as the falls, you will be amazed....nobody knows there is a great waterfall so close to the nation's capital, and with all the rain we've gotten recently, Great Falls should be spectacular.

Answer 4

Thornfield has some good fun suggestions.

One of my favorite offbeat places in Washington is the Exorcist Steps, which are at M Street and 36th. There's a small parking lot and the stairs lead up.
The house at the top of the stairs is the house they used for the exteriors in The Exorcist. And the stairs are where the priest fell when he flew out the window. Late at night, it's a truly spooky spot.

Answer 5

If you're there on the weekend, Eastern Market can be fun - it's a farmer's market, flea market, etc. Inside the food hall you can buy cheese, flowers, meats, etc (the blueberry pancakes are great), there are veggie and fruit vendors outside, as well as any kind of artisan you can think of.
Across the street is a flea market.
There are also lots of little shops and restuarants in the neighborhood.
Most of the people you bump into there will be locals, too.