Hidden Treasures of Washington D.C

Ok, so it's no secret at all that our nation's capital is rife with things to do and see, most of which are in a pretty small area. But do you ever notice how it's always the same few things that get mentioned over and over- The Air and Space Museum, the White House, all the monuments and memorials- things like that. Of course, all of those attractions are very worthy of the time needed for a proper visit, but there are some other places that shouldn't be overlooked during a vacation here. Maybe these aren't exactly "hidden", but you certainly hear about them a lot less.

The U.S Botanic Gardens- This amazing facility, the oldest botanical garden in the country, actually consists of three permanent exhibits (the Conservatory, Bartholdi Park, and the National Garden), and several seasonal ones throughout the year. The Conservatory alone houses almost 29,000 square feet of growing space and has separate garden rooms for cacti, rare plants plants native to the rain forest, and several others. Bartholdi Park, just south of the Conservatory, is geared more toward the home gardener, with many exhibits detailing compatible plant and color combinations. And the National Garden, which lies on the western edge of the facility, is home to a butterfly garden, the First Ladies Water Garden, and a spectacular array of roses. And of course, it's not only beautiful, but educational. All the plants are labeled with names, and uses, with plants that are used for common purposes like medicine or food specifically noted. All in all, it's an extremely underrated collection that gets very little attention as far as DC is concerned. Time should be taken to at least step into the Conservatory and appreciate what lies inside.

The Freer and Sackler galleries- As far as Smithsonian facilities are concerned, the three biggies are the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, and the Natural History Museum. However, the collections that these two smaller buildings house are magnificent. The Freer and Sackler galleries are two different museums, but are smaller facilities connected by an inside walkway. Both specialize in Asian art, often causing them to be lumped together as one stop. Since the galleries are smaller, it is pretty easy to do both in a reasonable amount of time, and they are worth it. Notable exhibits include an extensive collection of hand painted Chinese scrolls, Egyptian sculptures, ceramics from several areas of Asia, and the beautiful Peacock Room (inside the Freer), a dining room designed for a British shipping magnate and painted by James Whistler. The colors and detail of the Peacock Room alone make the trip inside the galleries a must. Inside the Sackler, one of the more unique piece is a several-story high sculpture called "Monkeys Grasp for the Moon". It makes for a stunning centerpiece to the gallery.

The Tidal Basin- Ok, so this is a pretty visible landmark to be on a list of "hidden" treasures. I am aware of that. However, I don't want people to miss out on the fact that they can walk all the way around the edge of the Tidal Basin. From the Jefferson Memorial, there are several routes back to the National Mall, but this is by far the most scenic. Shaded by thousands of cherry trees, the path gives many different views of the Jefferson Memorial and takes you right past the construction site for the MLK memorial that will be dedicated in late 2011. As an added bonus, a trip in late March or April will afford you the chance to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. None were blooming when I was able to make the trip ,but I still consider this a must-do. Benches are placed at intervals all the way around.

All in all, Washington DC is full of things to do and places that will occupy people of any interest. You could spend days and still not do everything. These three things are just a few items off the beaten path that you won't find too many guide books devoting a lot of time to, and I feel they are all hugely underrated. They also offer a slightly slower pace from the big city rush, so they are perfect for getting in a little break without wasting valuable vacation time. As with most attractions in DC, all three of these are free and open to the public. Please visit the official sites with the links provided for full hours of operation.