Union Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE (202) 371-9441 Dazzling visitors with its granite walls, marble floors, 96 foot-high gold-leafed ceiling, and bronze grilles, Union Station endures as a classical landmark. As a restored beaux-arts train station, Union Station has been divided up into a series of levels and mezzanines that house 130 shops, restaurants and a movie theater complex. National Gallery of Art Constitution Ave, NW Washington Phone: (202) 737-4215 Cost: Free Hours: Mon.-Sat 10:00 am - 5:00pm, Sun 11:00 am - 6:00 pm; Closed December 25, January 1 Floors of green and gray marble, columns of Tuscan, walls of Italian limestone and Italian travertine all make up the West Building of the National Gallery of Art. Designed by John Russel Pope, it contains Western European and American art, spanning between the periods of 13th and 20th century. Highlights include Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, the only da Vinci painting in the Western hemisphere, collection of Italian paintings and sculptures, French Impressionist, and special exhibitions. Literally thousands of breathtaking canvases and sculptures are housed in this original building. The East building, designed by I.M. Pei, exhibits twentieth -century art within its angular architecture. Designed as a group of triangles, the East Building showcases free films, lectures, and concerts. One of the world's top ten art museums. Arlington National Cemetery Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge, Arlington Cost: Free Once the estate of Robert E. Lee, the beautiful landscape that now comprises Arlington National Cemetery is a testament to the service rendered to our nation by its citizens. National Air and Space Museum Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW (202) 357-2700 As a member of the Smithsonian complex, it houses a wide assortment of aerodynamic treasures. The museum exhibits the history of aviation and the space age; presenting the history of flight from the earliest yearning and attempts to fly, to World War II rockets, to modern space probes. The politics, physics, and art linked to man's dream of flying are explored within the 23 additional galleries. This museum presents visitors with the hands-on opportunities to design aircrafts, and inspect a model of Skylab. For a cosmic experience visit the Albert Einstein's Planetarium located within the museum. Projected onto a towering five-story high screen the Langley Theater features Imax films on air and space travel. Visiting the Langley Theater means gliding through the sky on everything from a hot air balloon to a fighter jet. National Museum of Natural History 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Washington Phone: (202) 357-2700 Cost: Free Hours: Daily 10:00 am- 5:30 pm; Closed December 25 Get into the spirit of exploration, and take a tour of 575 million years of history! The National Museum of Natural History encompasses everything from dinosaurs, diamonds and dioramas; this massive museum is filled with 118 million items. Exhibits cover the entire spectrum of the life sciences, minerals, botanicals, and zoological and geological materials. The Dinosaur Hall, exhibits on the evolution of human fossils, live Insect Zoo, bird displays, plants, rocks, and gems. The Sea Life Hall contains live marine life, plus a living coral reef. The Discovery Room is a big hit with children, of every age, with its hands-on activities and exhibits. Children can explore everything from the texture of an elephant tusk to an arrowhead. Plus, the Natural History Museum's costume room allows children to try on costumes from around the world. On your visit, remebber to also check out the Johnson IMAX 2D/3D Theater. National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue Phone: (202) 357-2700 Cost: Free Hours: Daily 10:00 am - 5:30 pm For the enjoyment of children, the Museum of American History presents the Hands On History Room, Hands On Science Center, Lemelson Center, and the ABC's of American History. In the Hands On History Room, history is placed directly in the hands of children. At this exhibit they will be able to participate in activities such as sending a message by telegraph, and riding on a highwheel bicycle. Children can unravel some of the mysteries of science in the Hands On Scioence Center. It is here where young "Experimenters" can examine DNA, measure distances with a laser, discover the chemical propertioes of common houshold items, measure radioactive hotspots, explore magnetisism, and much more. The Lemelson Center develops programs targeted to expand the study and exploration of invention and innovation among children. The museum fills its rooms with the affluence of American history; Ranging from George Washington's false teeth to the Star-Spangled Banner, this museum showcaes cultural and technological developments of the US. The machine exhibit, located on the ground floor, showcases such objects as railroad locomotives to atom smashers. In contrast the second floor displays people in their home-life, relationships, and community life. As a whole the museum's various floors and galleries, depicts all aspects of the American history.

Entertainment and the Arts

Ford’s Theatre

511 Tenth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004-1402

202-347-4833

Hours:  Call for performance schedule

Ford's Theatre is a live, working theatre located in downtown Washington, DC. As a national historic and cultural site welcoming visitors from across the nation, Ford's Theatre blends its rich history with performance excellence in serving as a living tribute to President Lincoln's love of the performing arts.

Shakespeare Theatre 450 Seventh St., NW

Washington, DC 20004-2207

202-547-1122

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The theatre endeavors to strengthen the tradition of classic theatre in America through productions that reflect its current world.

Studio Theatre 1333 P St., NW

Washington, DC 20004-2207

202-332-3300

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The mission of The Studio Theatre is to produce the best in contemporary theatre and through its Secondstage and Acting Conservatory, to offer rigorous training and provide opportunities for emerging artists. The commitment to artistic excellence serves the diverse communities of the Nation's capital.  

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company DCJCC, 1529 16th St., NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-393-3939

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The mission of the theater is to ignite an explosive engagement between theatre artists and the community by developing, producing and promoting new plays that explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience, and by implementing new ways to use the artistry of theatre to serve the people of Greater Washington, DC.

Kennedy Center Concert Hall

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566  800-444-1324

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The Center continues its efforts to fulfill President Kennedy's vision by producing and presenting an unmatched variety of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, and folk music, and multi-media performances for all ages. Every year the institution that bears President Kennedy's name brings his dream to fruition, touching the lives of millions of people through thousands of performances by the greatest artists from across America and around the world.

Dance

The Washington Ballet

Held at a host of venues in and around Washington DC

202-362-3606

Hours: Call for performance schedule and locations

Founded in 1976 by the great American ballet pioneer Mary Day, the Washington Ballet is an ensemble of powerfully athletic classical ballet dancers performing a repertory of new work and creativity. Considered one of the country's finest ballet companies, The Washington Ballet is recognized nationally and internationally for its high standards, artistic integrity, and unwavering commitment to presenting the very best in ballet.

Opera

Washington National Opera

Kennedy Center Opera House

202-467-4600

Hours: Call for performance schedule

Washington National Opera continues to move confidently forward on a great adventure that began when the company was founded in 1956. Four and a half decades and countless artistic leaps later, the Opera has achieved the stature of a world class company and plays to standing-room-only audiences at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Washington National Cathedral Wisconsin and Massachusetts Aves., N

Washington DC 20004;

202-364-6616

Hours: Call for performance Schedule

Symphony

The National Symphony Orchestra

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566 800-444-1324

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The symphony performs 175 concerts each year in, comprised of a variety of styles.

Sports

Washington Redskins

Professional Football

Games played at the FedEx Field 1600 FedEx Way Landover, MD 20785

301-276-6248

Season runs August – January

Call for schedule of games and ticket information

Washington Wizards

Professional Basketball

Games played at MCI Center

601 F Street N.W.

Washington D.C 20004

202-661-5100

Season runs April – October

Call for schedule of games and ticket information