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Best Free Things to Do

  • Peruse the Constitution: Only in Washington and only at the National Archives will you ever be able to read the original documents that so well grounded our nation in liberty. Here, you'll find the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights -- all on display behind glass.

  • People-Watch at Dupont Circle: This traffic circle is also a park, an all-weather hangout for mondo-bizarre biker-couriers, chess players, street musicians, and lovers. Sit on a bench and watch the scenes around you.

  • Attend a Millennium Stage Performance at the Kennedy Center: Every evening at 6pm, the Kennedy Center presents a free 1-hour concert performed by local, up-and-coming, national, or international musicians. This is a winner. After the performance, head through the glass doors to the terrace for a view of the Potomac River.

  • Groove to the Sounds of Live Jazz in the Sculpture Garden: On summer's Friday evenings at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, you can dip your toes in the fountain pool and chill, as live jazz groups serenade you from 5 to 8pm. The jazz is free; the tapas and wine and beer served in the garden's Pavilion Café are not.

  • Pick a Museum (Just About), Any Museum: That's the thing about Washington -- because this is the U.S. capital, many of its museums are federal institutions, which means admission is free. The National Gallery of Art, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and the Smithsonian's 16 Washington museums, from National Air and Space to the Freer Gallery, are among the many spectacular free places to visit.


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    Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


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    Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2009 Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2009

    Author: Elise Hartman Ford
    Pub Date: November 03, 2008
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