Free Things to Do in the Spring in Washington, D.C
Cherry Blossom Festival
A favorite spring time tradition in Washington, D.C is the Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs from Mar 26 to Apr 10 this year. Over 3,000 flowering cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are waiting for your viewing. It is a perfect time to get outside to see these magnificent blossoms. There is free parking at the Jefferson Memorial and a free shuttle that goes around the parking lots. You can take it to the Jefferson Memorial to start your walk. Along the way, you will find plenty of benches for resting and photo opportunities as well as clean restroom facilities. Check the Cherry Blossom Festival and theNational Park Service website for a more detail listing of free programs and events. The annual Blossom Kite Festival, scheduled for Apr 10 from 10 to 4 PM, is also free.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
With a wide range of exhibits that range from dinosaurs to ocean to butterflies, this fascinating museum attracts children and adults alike. Do not miss the opportunity to view dazzling Hope Diamond, currently on display in a temporary setting in the Harry Winston gallery. Aside from the Hope Diamond, there are other stunning gems and jewelry as well. The museum normally closes at 5:30 pm, but in the spring, it has extended hours until 7:30 pm. Check their website and calendar for hours and events.
National Air and Space Museum
Journey to space, touch a moon rock , and see how a star is born. You can see all that and more at the National Air and Space Museum. Get ready to be awed by the exhibits and artifacts of air and spacecraft from the Wright Brother's first successful airplane to the 1969 moon landing of the Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia." Check the museum's calendar for free lectures and shows at the Albert Einstein Planetarium or the IMAX theatres.
The Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art
If you are interested in Asian art, two Smithsonian museums of Asian art - the Freer Gallery of Art and the Sackler Gallery - have impressive collections, with over ten thousand objects, from ancient Chinese jades, pottery and bronzes to paintings and sculptures. Currently on exhibition is Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan, where you will see Chinese Buddhist sculptures from the sixth century and learn about the Chinese history of that era.
Torpedo Factory Art Center
A former torpedo factory, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to art studios, galleries, workshops and the Alexandria Archeaology Museum. Located in historic Alexandria on the Potomac River, about 20 minutes south of Washington, D.C., it attracts half a million visitors every year. Admission is free. You can tour the galleries and museum, shop for unique artworks, sign up for an art class, or just stroll the waterfront and picnic along the river.
Sources:
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
http://www.nps.gov/cherry/index.htm
Published by Eileen Thai - Featured Contributor in Travel
Eileen Thai is an adjunct ESL instructor at Chattanooga State Community College. She has traveled extensively up and down the U.S. East Coast and throughout the United States, Asia and some parts of Europe.... View profile
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