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Don’t let the weather rain on your parade and plan a fun-filled day of indoor activities instead.
This long-running (since 1976) Dupont Circle bookstore and cafe is open from early until late, keeping its doors open until 3 a.m. on the weekends. The buzzy spot attracts those on the hunt for paperback novels, travel guides, coffee and hearty breakfasts.
Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall - Free Museum in Washington, DC
No visit to the nation's capital is complete without a visit to the museums that comprise the Smithsonian Institution, where eager learners of all ages can discover everything from the origins of man and the future of flight to the history of art across multiple continents. The museums contain nearly 140 million objects, works of art and specimens altogether. And the best part: you won’t have to pay a penny to experience it as admission is free at every location.
Smithsonian IMAX at Air & Space Museum - Washington, DC
You’ll be amazed at the jumbo screens that measure more than six stories high at the National Air and Space Museum. Daily movies (many in 3D) include major Hollywood releases, as well as educational, family friendly fare. There’s also a planetarium in the same complex that allows you to immerse yourself in the stars. The Smithsonian Institution is also home to the largest IMAX screen in Northern Virginia at the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center.
In and around NoMa & Union Market, you'll find a dense concentration of rainy-day activities.
A haven for food-lovers, there are culinary options for any budget in the Union Market area. Located in a restored 1930s food hall, the market itself shelters a range of local food vendors offering everything from eat-while-you’re-here Korean tacos and Chesapeake oysters to take-home African spices and French wines.
The once-industrial zone is also home to excellent shopping. Peruse a slew of thrift shops and local boutiques, and you can even make your own candle at District Candle Lab.
Looking for a different kind of challenge? End your day at the F1 Arcade, located in the northern-most street of Union Market. The space gives visitors a taste of the pros with top-tier racing simulators.
Most hotels offer spa services, but a few DC properties up the appeal with on-site jacuzzis, pools and other escapist fare. The Spa at the Four Seasons in Georgetown features massage, facial and couples’ treatments, and also includes an indoor pool, a eucalyptus steam room and a sauna. Plus, couples can book private, ultra-romantic nighttime spa appointments there. The zen-like Salamander Spa fills 10,000 square feet with jetted jacuzzis, a serene relaxation area and treatment rooms for East-meets-West services like cherry blossom massages or customized facials.
Families, friend groups, couples and everyone in between flock to this upscale, 32,000-square-foot bowling alley and entertainment complex not far from Georgetown’s main drag. Fourteen moodily lit, retro bowling lanes and six faux-turfed bocce courts encourage lively competition. There’s also an on-site Italian bistro with great happy hour deals.
The state-of-the-art International Spy Museum in L'Enfant Plaza offers enough spy-related intrigue and interactive fun to fill an entire day. With numerous activities and in-depth exhibits, this attraction will help the entire family discover the fascinating world of espionage. The museum is open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
Theater lovers can take in comedies, tragedies and French farces most months of the year at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s two playhouses in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. The acclaimed, venerable company (founded in 1986) has received a regional Tony Award, and it’s known for its canny, contemporary takes on the classics by the Bard and other playwrights.
Great Big Game Show
Georgetown’s The Escape Game is essentially an on-site game of Clue. You show up, join a small group and get “locked” into a clue-filled, set-like room. Hilarity and lots of quick thinking ensue as you and your fellow investigators try to crack spy rings and solve cold cases in an hour or less. You can also try Great Big Game Show (pictured above), which puts you on-stage to compete in mini-games that test your speed, strategy and more.
A stormy day calls for a good book. Where better to read than the Library of Congress? After you've finished admiring the stunning architecture and browsing the exhibits, visit the Main Reading Room, where it is easy to feel like you've stepped into a novel yourself. The Library is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Swingers
Steps away from the Dupont Circle fountain is an underground, adult mini golf experience curated to be uniquely high-energy and social. Compete on undulating "crazy golf" courses outfitted with lush greenery, with the added bonuses of a 1920s English golf clubhouse, a slew of cocktail bars, gourmet street food vendors from local restaurateurs and live DJs on the weekends. The space is accessible and recognized for its sustainability initiatives.
Pickleball players and rollerskaters rejoice! Kraken Kourts & Skates' facility in Brookland provides plenty of space to play, no matter the conditions outside. In addition to a full bar, ping pong, giant jenga, cornhole and darts are also available for use with your reservation – all of the necessary ingredients for full day of fun with friends, family or your fiercest rival.
Did someone say ping pong? Check out other District spots with table tennis setups. Make an evening of it with a trip to SPIN DC, which touts 13 ping pong tables, a full bar, communal seating areas and the opportunity to try your luck against professional players.
This entirely indoor museum is an interactive playground where kids can learn on their own terms, designed to cultivate curiosity and fun. Kids under age 12 can explore through play-based exhibits with a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
For fun both indoors and out, check out all the things to do in Washington, DC.
