10 Free Leisure Ideas in Washington

Washington Capitol Building. Photo: Nicolas Raymond, flickr.com

Only in Washington can you watch the working Congress, see the Guttenberg Bible and the Declaration of Independence, spend half a day with pandas and have lunch right next to the airport runway under the roar of airplanes. After all, Washington is the city where you don’t have to pay for impressions.

1. Capitol: the center of the US political world

Where: First street southeast, Washington DC, DC 20510

Openning time: Mon-Sat, 8: 30-16: 30

Take any American film where the action takes place in Washington, and the Capitol will definitely be in the first frame. This is the calling card of the city: if it is shown, it means that we are talking about the capital. The US Congress, the main legislative body of the country, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, operates in the Capitol building.

To get to the Capitol in two ways. First, permanent residents of the United States can book a tour through a member of the House of Representatives or a senator from their state. You can do it on Online tourist center of the Capitol.

The second is suitable for all tourists. On the same Online Anyone can book their visit by choosing a day and time. This must be done in advance; day after day you will no longer be able to book an excursion. After you book your tour, you will be sent an e-ticket with instructions on how long in advance you need to arrive and what items you will not be allowed into the building with.

The first premise of the Supreme Court. Capitol. Photo: Gabriel Rodríguez, flickr.com

The tour itself lasts about an hour. First, a film about the history of the Capitol and the United States. Then - an excursion, the route of which depends on the working hours of parliament at a given time. But you will definitely be shown the oldest part of the building, the steps along which the president climbs to the inauguration, and the hall where the banquet is held after it.

Watch the work of the House of Representatives or the Senate is also possible, but for this you need to take a separate pass and pass all the equipment. So, capturing yourself against the background of parliamentarians will not work.

2. Library of Congress: do not re-read in all my life

Where: 101 Independence Ave, SE Washington, DC 20540

Openning time: Mon-Fri 10: 30-15: 30; Sat 10: 30-14: 30, you can specify the schedule for Online

You can get here directly from the Capitol through an underground tunnel, which is especially convenient in winter. Seven minutes on foot and you find yourself in the central part of the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building. Without a library card and plans to work with library collections, libraries are only allowed here - here you can walk on your own or wait for a guided tour, which takes place every hour.

One of the largest and most famous libraries in the world began with a budget of 5 thousand dollars, which President John Adams allocated in 1800 for books necessary for the work of politicians. The fund was insignificant, and even that was burned during the fire in the Capitol in 1814. After this, the library began to be restored almost from scratch. Thomas Jefferson, then a former president, proposed that the Senate buy his collection of books—more than six thousand volumes. They still stand on the library shelves in a special room where tourists are also allowed. And the library's collection has since grown to 130 million publications.

Library of Congress. Central Hall Photo: Danny Fowler, flickr.com

The library will show you the Bible Guttenberg and Mainz, a collection of old maps and will take you to the main reading room, which has appeared in more than one Hollywood film.

The library contains so many treasures that the general manager is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. The five-dollar bill found in the pocket of the assassinated Lincoln, maps drawn by Washington, and a 17th-century book by Galileo are just the beginning of an impressive list. The total length of the shelves in the library's storage is 850 km, and they contain everything from books to a digital archive of all public Twitter posts.

3. Smithsonian Institution Museums: From Paintings to Spaceships

Where: 1000 Jefferson Dr., SW, Washington, DC (Institute Information Center).

Openning time: 8: 30-17: 30 every day

Their more than a dozen, and everything is free. There is something for everyone among the Smithsonian museums. Most of the museums are located along the National Mall in downtown Washington, so you can walk from one to the other. A list of museums can be found at site of the institute.

Art lovers will be interested in going to Art Museum and numerous galleries.

In one of them - Renwik gallery — the exhibition is open until spring Wonderwhere you can touch the rainbow, look into the middle of the trunk of a unique tree and take a walk among the mountains made of small stationery.

Kids will love it. Museum of Natural History. There are stuffed animals in full growth, the dinosaur's skeleton, a huge whale and many answers to the questions “why” about the animal world.

No less interesting and Museum of Aviation and Astronauticswhere planes, rockets and spacecraft are assembled, including the Apollo-11, which delivered the man to the moon. You can go inside the real spacecraft, touch a piece of moonstone and see the certificate of Yuri Gagarin himself only here.

Real planes and rockets in the Museum of Aviation and Space. Photo: m01229, flickr.com

The Smithsonian Institution is a government institution that was founded in 1846 with money from scientist James Smith. He bequeathed all his 100 thousand gold coins (about 10 billion dollars at modern exchange rates) to be spent on increasing and disseminating knowledge.

4. Park “Greveli Point”: under the wing of the aircraft

Park Greveli Point. Photo: Geoff Alexander, flickr.com

Address: George Washington Parkway, Arlington, VA 22201 map

Openning time: Around the clock, but at night the planes do not fly

This park is worth seeing even in winter, when the weather is not conducive to picnics. And all because of the aircraft.

Grevely Point is located 400 meters from the Reagan Airport runway. Here planes fly 45 meters overhead. The feeling that you just have to reach out your hand and you can touch the chassis.

During the day you can see up to 30 aircraft per hour. After the first, you get used to the roar of the engines; after the third, the fear that the colossus will simply knock you off your feet goes away. And then the game begins - which pilot is better at landing. Lovers have another fun thing: kissing every time they see a plane.

Getting to the park is not entirely easy - it is already in the state of Virginia, on the other side of the Potomac River. But from Washington you can take the subway to the station Crystal city and from there walk.

5. Botanical Garden USA: tropics all year round

Where: Between Maryland and Washington Avenue. Look at the details Online

Openning time: Mon-Sun, 10: 00-17: 00

To get to the jungle in winter, from there walk a few meters and find yourself in the desert in the middle of cacti, and then turn into the primeval garden of the Jurassic period. All this is possible in US Botanical Gardenwhich is very close to the Capitol.

The garden with a collection of plants was planned to be opened by the first US President George Washington, but it was founded only in 1820 by a resolution of Congress. It is considered the oldest botanical garden in North America.

It consists of three parts: the Conservatory, where all heat-loving plants are collected under the dome, the National Garden (next to it) and Bartholdi Park. But the last two are already in the open air, so it looks best in warm seasons.

6. Smithsonian National Zoo: A Visit to the Pandas

Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008

Openning time: 08: 00-17: 00, exact schedule here

In addition to the standard set of animals, this zoo boasts a whole family of giant pandas. Tian Tian, ​​his girlfriend Mei Hyang, teenager Bao Bao and the very little panda Bei Bei, who was born last August. The first bears appeared here in 1974. The zoo is one of the few where they not only care for the species, but also promote its reproduction. For example, after her fourth birthday, a little panda will be sent to a reserve in China.

Every day something happens in the zoo, so look into their calendar, so as not to miss, for example, feeding Amazonian fish, the story of elephant rangers about how to care for giants, or training of fur seals. You can also get on excursion with a guide.

7. J. Kennedy Center for the Arts: theater without tickets

Where: 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566

Openning time: From 18: 00 every day. Schedule scene “Millennium” can be viewed here

It is a main concert venue capital Cities. All the famous operas, performances, performances and tours take place here. And tickets, of course, cost money. But also in the complex there is scene “Millennium”On which every day in 18: 00 teams give free performances. This may be dance performances, concerts or theatrical performances. And in February and April, the scene takes young talents from conservatories, colleges and universities.

“Theater for All” (this is the name of the project of free performances) was organized in 1997 by the chairman of the Kennedy Center, James Johnson. The main goal is to make art accessible.

8. Arlington Cemetery: Peace for the Elected

Where: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, VA 22211

Opening hours: 08:00-17:00 (октябрь-март), 08:00-19:00 (апрель-сентябрь)

This is the oldest cladbishte USA. Military personnel, two US presidents, as well as famous personalities in their fields - astronauts, doctors, actors - are buried here.

In the mid-19th century, these lands belonged to General Robert E. Lee, who was married to the daughter of the adopted son of George Washington, the first president of the United States. And it so happened that the general was against slavery, but Virginia, the state he ruled, was for it. Lee did not go against his people - he became a Confederate and a traitor, respectively. Its lands were taken away during the Civil War; in 1864, the first soldier was buried here.

There are now more than 300 graves in Arlington Cemetery, with up to 30 new burials taking place every weekday. Therefore, if you don’t want to go to the funeral, come on the weekend. You will be able to see the Kennedy family grave, near which the eternal flame burns, and the grave of the unknown soldier with a constant guard. It changes every hour, and the ceremony is very spectacular: the soldier marches, then freezes for exactly 21 seconds and makes a sharp turn. The number is not accidental - it symbolizes 21 artillery salvoes, which are fired in honor of especially revered persons.

Also buried here is Joe Byerly, the only soldier who managed to serve in both the American and Soviet armies during World War II. And throughout the entire territory there are many trees that were planted in honor of a specific military unit or ship. The entrance to the cemetery is through the information center, where you can get a map. It, like walking tours, is free. If you want mini-tour tour - then you have to pay for comfort.

9. Pentagon: in search of military secrets

Where: 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400

Openning time: Mon-Fri 09: 00-15: 00

One of the most secret US facilities - Pentagon - also welcomes tourists. Of course, they will only show you what is possible, but even just getting inside the building and wandering around its corridors a little is already interesting. In addition, during the hour that the excursion lasts, you will be told about the American army and types of troops.

Tour must be booked on Online in advance - at least two weeks.

Since this is a sensitive facility, the security requirements are serious - they ask you to arrive an hour before the appointed time to go through control. You need to have documents and a printed tour reservation with you. There is also a whole list objects that are not allowed into the Pentagon (they are allowed with telephones and cameras, but they cannot be used).

10. National Archives: everything and everything

Where: Constitution Ave. NW (between 7th & 9th St.) Washington, DC 20408

Openning time: Mon-Sun 10: 00-17: 30

Here are the main US documents: Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. As well as thousands of records of the first immigrants and even a canceled check for the purchase of Alaska.

A separate exhibition will show children's photos of the presidents of the United States and the first ladies, here you can read children's letters to the first persons of the state and find many other documents that played an important role in the history of the country.

Admission is free, but if you don’t want to stand in line, you can book for $1,5 Online time and get a tour with a guide to boot.

The editors ask to check the opening hours and conditions of entry, as they may vary.

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