Washington, D.C. - More FREE Things To Do
For Washington, D.C. visitors on a budget, there are a ton of free activities and sightseeing opportunities. A few options for art and music lovers include: visiting the National Gallery of Art, which has free admission permanently. The National Gallery also hosts free concerts on Sunday evenings throughout the year. The concerts, which range from the New York Chamber Soloists to string quartets to orchestras, are held at 6:30 p.m. at the 6th street and Constitution Avenue NW entrance. Seating begins at 6 p.m. on a first come, first seated basis. The National Gallery of Art also hosts a "Jazz in the Garden" series on Friday evenings throughout the summer. The Gallery's beautiful sculpture garden creates a perfectly serene setting for the concerts.
On Wednesday afternoons, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, located on 17th Street, hosts jazz concerts throughout the year. The concerts last from 12:30-1:30 p.m., and provide a great chance to rest tired legs and enjoy great local jazz musicians in the Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium. The National Theatre, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, hosts a free Monday night series. The tickets for original plays, musical ensembles, dances, dramas, and comedies, which are performed by all local actors, are distributed a half hour before the show times (6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) on a first come, first served basis. A few examples of shows include: "Songs and Courage in a Time of Civil War," "Columbia Flute Choir," "The Power and Beauty of Taiko Drumming," and more. On Thursday evenings in the summer (June 26-August 21), the National Zoo hosts "Sunset Serenades," a series of free concerts on Lion/Tiger Hill. These concerts, which range from jazz to classical to rock and roll, are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, and families are encouraged to bring their own picnics or munch at the zoo's Mane Restaurant.
Ford's Theater offers an excellent blend of history and performing arts, as the site where President Lincoln was assassinated. The theater hosts daily discussions about the theater's history and its tragic events. The discussions are held every quarter past the hour from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The theater is also open daily for visitors to explore by themselves and does not have an entrance fee.
If the weather is nice during your stay and you feel like spending time outside rather than inside museums, the U.S. Botanical Gardens offers free admission. Visitors can stroll through the conservatory's various galleries, meditation garden, and various collections of orchids, oasis plants, and rare and endangered species. Outdoor gardens include Barthodli Park, which surrounds the Barthodli fountain, with beds geometrically aligned in a classical style; and the more recent addition of the National Garden, along Independence Avenue. The National Garden includes a butterfly garden, a rose garden, the regional garden, the Lawn Terrace, the First Ladies' Water Garden, and more. Amazingly, the U.S. Botanical Garden has over 26,000 plants in their collections!
In addition to free admission at the U.S. Botanical Gardens and the fabulous National Zoo, Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium has free admission as well, although they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Rock Creek intends to appeal to, educate, and entertain children. Here, kids can learn about the surrounding forest and wildlife through museum exhibits (including lots of hands-on learning), discussions and demonstrations, guided and non-guided nature walks, and a library. You can even download podcast tours of the park on your MP3 player! Rock Creek's planetarium has regular shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. of about 45 minutes in length, for children to learn about constellations and much more. Rock Creek Park also maintains the Pierce Mill and Barn, an early 19th century gristmill, within its property. The Mill and Barn are being renovated so that soon visitors can go inside and learn about a working mill. In the meantime, the stone building is a beautiful sight to see, and it is periodically open for exploration when renovations allow it. (This information is current as of February 2008).
With a little digging and research, visitors to Washington, D.C. can find a plethora of free activities to entertain and educate all ages. With the wealth of history and culture within the city, it is truly amazing how much visitors can do, learn, and see on a very limited budget.
Washington, D.C. - More FREE Things To Do
On Wednesday afternoons, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, located on 17th Street, hosts jazz concerts throughout the year. The concerts last from 12:30-1:30 p.m., and provide a great chance to rest tired legs and enjoy great local jazz musicians in the Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium. The National Theatre, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, hosts a free Monday night series. The tickets for original plays, musical ensembles, dances, dramas, and comedies, which are performed by all local actors, are distributed a half hour before the show times (6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) on a first come, first served basis. A few examples of shows include: "Songs and Courage in a Time of Civil War," "Columbia Flute Choir," "The Power and Beauty of Taiko Drumming," and more. On Thursday evenings in the summer (June 26-August 21), the National Zoo hosts "Sunset Serenades," a series of free concerts on Lion/Tiger Hill. These concerts, which range from jazz to classical to rock and roll, are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, and families are encouraged to bring their own picnics or munch at the zoo's Mane Restaurant.
Ford's Theater offers an excellent blend of history and performing arts, as the site where President Lincoln was assassinated. The theater hosts daily discussions about the theater's history and its tragic events. The discussions are held every quarter past the hour from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The theater is also open daily for visitors to explore by themselves and does not have an entrance fee.
If the weather is nice during your stay and you feel like spending time outside rather than inside museums, the U.S. Botanical Gardens offers free admission. Visitors can stroll through the conservatory's various galleries, meditation garden, and various collections of orchids, oasis plants, and rare and endangered species. Outdoor gardens include Barthodli Park, which surrounds the Barthodli fountain, with beds geometrically aligned in a classical style; and the more recent addition of the National Garden, along Independence Avenue. The National Garden includes a butterfly garden, a rose garden, the regional garden, the Lawn Terrace, the First Ladies' Water Garden, and more. Amazingly, the U.S. Botanical Garden has over 26,000 plants in their collections!
In addition to free admission at the U.S. Botanical Gardens and the fabulous National Zoo, Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium has free admission as well, although they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Rock Creek intends to appeal to, educate, and entertain children. Here, kids can learn about the surrounding forest and wildlife through museum exhibits (including lots of hands-on learning), discussions and demonstrations, guided and non-guided nature walks, and a library. You can even download podcast tours of the park on your MP3 player! Rock Creek's planetarium has regular shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. of about 45 minutes in length, for children to learn about constellations and much more. Rock Creek Park also maintains the Pierce Mill and Barn, an early 19th century gristmill, within its property. The Mill and Barn are being renovated so that soon visitors can go inside and learn about a working mill. In the meantime, the stone building is a beautiful sight to see, and it is periodically open for exploration when renovations allow it. (This information is current as of February 2008).
With a little digging and research, visitors to Washington, D.C. can find a plethora of free activities to entertain and educate all ages. With the wealth of history and culture within the city, it is truly amazing how much visitors can do, learn, and see on a very limited budget.
Washington, D.C. - More FREE Things To Do
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