As our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C is home to institutions like Congress and the White House, memorials honoring Americans who died in overseas wars, and exhibits that commemorate difficult parts of our history, such as the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
I've lived in Washington, D.C. for more than three decades. And while there’s nothing quite like exploring the museums and witnessing the monuments by moonlight on the National Mall, I’ve seen them more times than I can count. And it’s far from the only thing to do in town.
D.C. has much more to offer, whether you've been before or are a first-time visitor who wants to mix lesser-known but extraordinary places into your sightseeing routine. Even after so many years in D.C., I'm still discovering new things to do in my hometown, like exploring an heiress's gardens or wandering through a quirky museum filled with hidden doors.
Here’s where to find something new, well beyond the National Mall.
In this article
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens
The heiress to the Post cereal fortune, Marjorie Meriwether Post, once called Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens home.
Nestled in the hills of Washington, D.C.'s Van Ness neighborhood, Hillwood offers a respite from the city's hectic crowds. I love exploring the estate's 13 acres of formal gardens, including a Japanese-style garden, rose garden, and serenity garden with European flair. It's one of my favorite places to bring visitors or spend a slow afternoon with friends.
The grounds also include a large greenhouse, a motor court, and a pet cemetery. You may also wander through Post's mansion to marvel at her enormous dining room and parlor, and admire artifacts from her life, including those from her time living in France and Russia while her husband served as an ambassador.
No reservations are required, and you can purchase tickets on-site.
Climb the Steps to the Clocktower at the Waldorf Astoria
Just steps from the National Mall, the Waldorf Astoria Washington, D.C. is worth a visit even if you don’t plan to spend the night.
It’s also well regarded for its history as a former post office for the city, and for boasting one of the city's best viewpoints. The latter is in the clock tower, which houses one of D.C.'s best observation decks and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. Inside the tower, visitors can also see its antique Bells of Congress, modeled after the bells in London’s Westminster Abbey. The clock tower has a designated entrance at the hotel's rear. Admission is free, and no reservations are required.
My family and I also visit a couple of times a year for themed tea time in the hotel’s Peacock Alley, which has a soaring, opulent atrium. Thanks to its location near the White House and Congress, you never know who you might spot there.
Planet Word Museum
Washington, D.C., has a museum for just about everything, including words and language.
The highly interactive Planet Word Museum quickly became one of my favorites after it opened in 2020. The museum explores the origin of language and the various ways we use words to express ourselves, including poetry, song, books, and persuasive advertisements.
Exhibits teach visitors everything from how we learn our first words to the origins of many English phrases. A magical library brings stories to life, and visitors can search the stacks for a hidden poetry nook.
Then, head to an alcove where virtual drawings on bright white walls bring stories to life. A booth lets you record your own story about words that have had a powerful impact on you, and you can also recite a famous speech and explore why its words are so impactful. You might even leave having learned a new word, or several dozen.
Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.
The O Street Museum
From the outside, the O Street Mansion and Museum looks like an ordinary DuPont Circle row house. Inside, however, visitors will find a surreal, eccentric museum with over 80 hidden doors spread throughout more than 100 rooms across interconnected buildings.
I love grabbing a friend and going on a self-guided scavenger hunt through the mansion, gawking at its life-sized bear in a log-cabin-style room and a room filled with mirrors.
The museum also has a John Lennon suite, a safari room, and guitars signed by musical greats like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
It also has ties to the civil rights movement. After Rosa Parks was arrested for fighting for equal rights in Alabama, she often stayed at the O Street Mansion when she visited Washington, D.C., to continue her quest for equality.
I find I have a different experience every time I visit, and after multiple stop-ins, I'm still not sure I've found all the museum's hidden doors. Tickets are required and may be purchased online.
Eastern Market and Capitol Hill
In the heart of DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Eastern Market has been a vital part of the community since 1873.
During the week, an indoor market sells flowers, pastries, fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, and other staples. It's a great place to stop for lunch or snacks.
However, the atmospheric market really comes alive on weekends, when it expands outdoors. Year-round, a vibrant weekend farmers market draws vendors from across the region selling baked goods, artisanal cheeses, and other farm-fresh foods. Craftspeople also travel to the market to sell everything from candles and homemade purses and clothing to paintings.
While you're in the area, wander around to enjoy the residential side of Capitol Hill, with tree-lined streets and historic row houses. Lincoln Park, which features memorials to President Abraham Lincoln and Civil Rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune, is a favorite nearby gathering spot for locals.
Eastern Market is free to visit but is closed on Mondays.
The Shortcut
Washington, D.C., is more than just a few famous museums: Go beyond the Smithsonian to find quirky museums like the O Street Mansion and Museum, with over 80 hidden doors spread throughout more than 100 rooms, or the Planet Word Museum, which explores the origin of language.
Find history in unexpected places: D.C. has plenty of history, but some of it is less obvious, like a neighborhood market that's been operating for more than 100 years or a 13-acre estate filled with manicured gardens.
Spend time in smaller neighborhoods and take in unexpected views: Visit a free, historic clock tower for one of the best views of D.C. without the crowds, and take time to explore local neighborhoods with colorful homes to see how locals live.
