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Don’t let bad weather rain on your parade – plan a 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. Enjoy this buzzy spot where folks hunt for paperback novels, travel guides, coffees 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.
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.
You’ll find lots of diversions at 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.
The 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 The Great Big Game Show (pictured above), which puts you on-stage to compete in mini-games that test your speed, strategy and more.
Little Leaf Plant Shop at Union Market - Places to Shop in Washington, DC
Located in a restored 1930s food hall in NoMa, the hip Union Market 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. Those who venture into this happening bazaar will also find kitchenware boutique Salt & Sundry, as well as offshoot Little Leaf, which specializes in plant and paper products. The industrial-cool space is host to frequent weekend festivals, too.
For fun both indoors and out, check out all the things to do in Washington, DC.
