The National Cherry Blossom Festival is certainly one beautiful, uplifting reason to visit Washington, D.C. But travelers arriving in this city during or after the floral festivities may be surprised to discover that there are a lot of wonderful free things to see beyond the pink-trimmed Tidal Basin.
Here are our favorite free things to do in DC (plus a great train discount) to make your getaway to the capital even more enjoyable—and affordable.
What to do
1. The city offers plenty of free reasons to visit year-round, including excursions to the National Archives, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and The United States Botanical Garden.
2. Freer Sackler and Galleries of Art, a Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art, is always free and worth a visit to see renowned works by Asian artists and events like a Korean Film Festival. Check the site for upcoming exhibits and events.
3. The DC Jazz Festival takes place July 5-16, and will include over 100 performances throughout 50 venues in the capital. The Main Stages will feature the free two day event Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days, as well as the Grammy Award-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and The Roots.
4. Fans of photography and this publication won’t want to miss The National Geographic Museum’s current free exhibitions, Gardens by Night, and Beyond the Story: National Geographic Unpublished 2012 (through July 7, 2013). Fans of cuteness should catch Meerkats 3D.
5. History buffs and conspiracy theorists will love Ford’s Theatre’s latest performance, “History on Foot: Detective James McDevitt.” For only $15, guests help reenact the fateful night of the Lincoln Assassination with on-duty detective James McDevitt, putting together clues and finding out what really happened at the famed theater.
For more ideas on things to do and where to stay while in town, read District of Deals: Where to Save (and Spend) on Everything D.C. and Capital-ize on Spring: Outdoor Activities in Washington, D.C.
How to get to DC from NYC
Save 25% off your Amtrak trip when you book 14 days in advance. Consult oM’s public transit guide to DC for alternatives.
Photo: Freer Sackler and Galleries of Art
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Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram