Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
The 10 most awesome travel freebies in Washington D.C.
If I had to name my all time best value travel destination, I’d have to say Washington D.C. The hotels aren’t the cheapest, nor the plane flights, but here’s the thing: Nearly everything you want to do is free. Can’t beat free, my friends.
Go to the Washington Monument, see the pandas at the National Zoo, touch a moon rock at the National Air & Space Museum, tour the Ford Theatre and see the gun that shot Abraham Lincoln. Total cost to get in: Zero. Zilch. Nada. Here are my 10 favorite freebies. 1. Capitol >> You have to plan this one in advance because they no longer allow tourists to drop in. But tours are free, if you register. There is a visitor center for those who didn’t plan in advance. You can take a regular tour, or check with your local elected official about an individual tour. All free. Learn more: VisitTheCapitol.gov
2. National Zoo >> This is a lovely facility. My kids especially liked seeing the pandas gnaw on bamboo. The zoo has three Giant Pandas—Tian Tian, an adult male, Mei Xiang, an adult female, and a male cub named Bei Bei, on loan from China. There are also giant cats, elephants, reptiles, clouded leopard, sloth bear and many other rare and endangered animals. Learn more: nationalzoo.si.edu
3. National Museum of American History >> This is one of my favorite museums anywhere. You could spend a week in here and not see everything of interest. Collections include an original ticket booth from Yankee Stadium, first edition of the Book of Mormon, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” Dumbo the Flying Elephant, donated from the Disneyland attraction in 2005, an original 1903 “Teddy Bear” first created to honor President Theodore Roosevelt, a piece of the Plymouth Rock first trod upon by the Pilgrims when the Mayflower arrived in 1620, a recreation of cookbook author Julia Child’s kitchen with original artifacts and many more. This is one of 19 museums in the Smithsonian empire, all of which are free to visit. Learn more: americanhistory.si.edu
4. National Mall >> Yes, this is where U.S. presidents are inaugurated, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech and many other historic events have occurred. You could spend an entire day exploring this site, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (I always need to bring a tissue) where you can do rub-
bings of the names if you like, the Lincoln Memorial and so many more. Ask a park ranger for a Junior Ranger kit for the kids. If you plan ahead, you can even go up in the elevator at the Washington Monument, which gives you a stunning view of the city. It’s free to go up, but I suggest you get advance tickets, which cost you a small reservation fee. Learn more: NPS.gov/wamo.
5. White House >> You can no longer just stand in line to visit anymore, as you might guess, but that was tiresome anyway. Check out the new White House Visitor Center, which you can visit any time. Or, if you have more lead time, contact your congressional office and ask for free tour tickets. This must be done months in advance. I must say I was a little surprised at its lack of grandeur compared to the great palaces of Europe, but, then, we don’t have any kings or queens. Yet. Learn more: NPS.gov/whho
6. Arlington National Cemetery >> Did you know this first national cemetery was built on the former estate of Robert E. Lee, which was confiscated during the Civil War? You can visit his house there, too. The cemetery is free to visit, but it’s so vast that I recommend paying for a shuttle tour, unless you really like to walk. There is a free shuttle service if you want to visit a particular grave. Your first stop should be the free visitor center, which tells the history of this fascinating site. 2017 narrated bus tours cost $13.50 adults, $6.75 for kids, free for military in uniform, disabled and their companions. Really, don’t miss it. And if you’re like me, you’ll need a hankie. Learn more: arlingtoncemetery.mil
7. Bureau of Engraving and Printing >> If you like money, this is for you. Actually watch millions of dollars being printed as you go on this free tour to learn all about how the government prints our bills. The 40-minute-long tour includes a movie and escorted tour. It’s easy to visit this facility near the Washington Monument, too. You don’t need tickets fall through spring, just show up. My kids liked the tour, too. It only runs weekdays, closed on weekends and federal holidays. Learn more: moneyfactory.gov/washingtondctours.html
8. National Air and Space Museum >> This breathtaking collection includes Charles Lindbergh’s airplane, the “Spirit of St. Louis,” the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, a moon rock you can actually touch, the 1903 wood-andmuslin biplane built by Wilbur and Orville Wright and first flown at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, triggering the modern era of flight and so much more. There are 90-minutelong docent tours conducted free twice each day. There’s also a free 10:30 a.m. show in the Albert Einstein Planetarium. This is part of the Smithsonian collection, and there’s a sister museum with even more artifacts in Virginia. Learn more: airandspace.si.edu
9. Abraham Lincoln’s assassination museum at Ford’s Theatre >> If you have even a passing interest in American history, you just can’t miss this site, where you can gaze at the exact spot Lincoln was sitting in the Presidential Box when actor John Wilkes Booth entered and shot him in the head. The downstairs museum includes the .44 deringer pistol Booth used to carry out the assassination, the bloody pillow that cradled Lincoln’s dying head and much more. Across the street, in Petersen House, you can see the bedroom where he was carried, wounded, and subsequently died. Learn more: fords.org
10. National Gallery of Art >> This gallery not only features American art, but also well-known Dutch, Flemish, French, Italian and Spanish masterpieces, including works by Rafael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, El Greco, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet and much more. You’ll recognize many of the works here. There’s also a six-acre sculpture garden with contemporary fountain. Free guided tours are offered daily. Learn more: nga.gov