Washington DC,  a hub for tourists and business people alike, built on not one, but two rivers, and regularly ranks atop the most walk able cities. It’s a beautiful place to live, but after seeing the giant T-Rex skeleton for the umpteenth time it can feel like it is for tourists and nothing else.

So if you’re looking for something new to do, here is a little guide with fun things to do, minus the dinosaurs.

NATIONAL MALL

The main area of interest for most tourists will be the National Mall, the large urban park located in the center of DC. It is surrounded by several Smithsonian museums, such as the American History Museum and the Natural History Museum. As well as monuments like the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

This is where most people go when they want to do something in DC; it’s educational and fun. The museums are very interesting and almost always have something new or fun to see. Museums are fun, but not always original and get crowded. 

ART MUSEUMS

A lot of the greatest places to see are in places you would have never thought to check, like art museums. They are usually assumed to be boring and bland, but art museums are a great place to take pictures, think creatively, or to just look around.

One great art museum isn’t actually on the mall, but it’s still a Smithsonian. The National Portrait Gallery on 8th and F Streets NW, a block away from the Chinatown gate, is a beautiful museum featuring a cafe and courtyard and beautiful art on all three floors.

Ever get stuck on a history paper? Come to the National Portrait Gallery and, use the collection to explore the lives of presidents, activists, renegades, artists, writers, inventors, and other Americans who have a place in our national story.

Modern art is especially popular; on the National Mall they have an entire modern art building, filled with neon lights signs and colors. The museum housing the building of modern art is the National Gallery of Art, a huge art museum, containing fountains, sculptures, a gorgeous cafe with an underground waterfall. The building has an moving sidewalk tunnel surrounded by moving lights to get to the modern art section.

Another prominent feature is the gift shop, a two floor market containing everything from books about art to seasonal scarfs and dinnerware. Although if you want to do some shopping minus the gift shops, try City Center DC on Palmer Alley.

SHOPPING

Washington DC is a great place to shop and with the holidays fast approaching fast, it’s better not to procrastinate. A popular shopping area is City Center DC, a large and modern shopping center with high-end retailers, sophisticated restaurants and a luxury hotel. Some of the retailers there include Dior, Gucci, and Kate Spade.

Although higher end, this area is very popular. It has a fountain right after the gateway that kids are encouraged to play in and a giant digital art feature gateway, displaying the weather, images of space, and other vignettes.

Another great retail area is Georgetown Park, containing shops and restaurants that are more locally based. Located farther away from the bustle of the main city, Georgetown seems a lot like old town Maryland, with the restored historic buildings and less commercial shops.

FOOD

DC is a great place for food, from the various food trucks to local cafes and black tie restaurants, DC has it all.

On any good day you can visit pretty much any fast food place you want, there’s a McDonald’s in Chinatown and also Chipotle, and of course a Starbucks practically every two blocks. But let’s get a little less vague. If you want to find a good light lunch or brunch place, try Bakers and Baristas on 7th street NW or head down to Georgetown and feast in some local coffee shops and cafes.

After a day of exploring the National Mall try snacking on street vendor food in-between museums. It’s not five-star, but it will keep you energized. Many museums have cafes or full on restaurants in them already that are exclusive to that museum. Try the Mitsitam Cafe in the National Museum of the American Indian, featuring indigenous cuisines of the Americas and traditional western foods with a twist–think buffalo burgers.

So, next time you complain to your mom that there’s nothing fun to do or have a convenient four-day weekend, grab some friends and run up to our nations’ capital. There’s always something new to do if you look for it.

Gallery • 9 Photos

Lee Robinson

Chinatown gate from a Starbucks window