Whether you are visiting, hosting visitors, or looking for a break from the books, it's difficult to run out of things to do in Washington, D.C.  Situated in the heart of  the city, GW is in close proximity to most of the capital's world famous museums and monuments and the city's other rich cultural attractions.

Below are just some of the many possibilities for exploration, entertainment, adventure, and fun.   Most museums in D.C. are free and many other attractions offer student discounts.

Traditional Travel and Tourism Sites

Cultural Tourism D.C. “A nonprofit coalition linking you to Washington’s heritage and arts.”   Includes a special section, African American Heritage Trail. 

Washington.org Official Tourism Site of Washington, D.C., run by the District government. 

Museums

The Smithsonian Institution Air and Space Museum

American History Museum

Anacostia Museum

Dimock Gallery

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur Sackler Gallery

Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Luther W. Brady Art Gallery

Museum of African Art

National Gallery of Art

National Museum of the American Indian

Natural History Museum

National Museum-Women In Arts

Professional Sports 

DC United Washington's soccer club plays at RFK stadium.

Washington Nationals DC has its own MLB team again!

Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a quick train ride from Washington's Union Station.

Film

There are many movie theaters in the D.C. area, but two standouts are worth a special trip:

Enjoy first-run films and classics within walking distance or a short ride on Metro to the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center .

The Uptown Theater is the last movie palace in Washington, DC still showing first-run films.

The Great Outdoors

Washington's famous for its parks and trails. Here are a few favorites. 

Dumbarton Oaks
Located just above the Georgetown neighborhood, this wooded park makes a wonderful escape.

Hillwood Museum & Gardens‎ was founded by heiress Marjorie Merriwether Post in upper N.W.

C & O Canal National Historic
Passes through Georgetown from Washington Harbor to Maryland. 

Great Falls Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Located on the Potomac River (on both Maryland and Virginia sides), minutes by car from the GW campus. 

Rock Creek Park (U.S. National Park Service) 
One of the largest urban parks in the country, it's a great place to go walking, jogging, or rollerblading.

Theater 

Enjoy everything from experimential theater to traveling productions of Broadway hits. 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Ford's Theatre

The Shakespeare Theatre

The National Theatre

Arena Stage

Horizons Theatre

Studio Theatre

Woolly Mammoth

Signature Theater