Ok, the walls on the National Mall were clocking in at 105 degrees today. And yet, that didn’t deter tourists (and even some locals) who hit the National Mall on Thursday.
With temperatures like this, you might just feel like you’re melting.
If you’re feeling like an indoor day away from the crowds of the National Mall, here’s a few places to consider:
Museums off the Mall:
- Buzz around the Hive: The National Building Museum’s new exhibit showcases a giant, hive-shaped construction made out of over 2,700 paper tubes. A walk around the Hive is an audio and visual experience, and once you've finished, you can check out the rest of the exhibits the museum has to offer.
Cost: $16 for adults, $13 for children and seniors
- Get Artsy: Take a stroll by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It’s off the mall, which means you’ll get a taste of a different side of the city. But it’s still a Smithsonian, which means it’s free.
Cost: Free
- Play I-Spy: Crawl through air ducts and unleash your inner James Bond at the International Spy Museum.
Cost: $21.95 for adults, $15.95 for children
- Travel to the Land of Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln’s home may be in Illinois, but his cottage is in Northwest D.C. (The cottage has an air cooler but is not fully air-conditioned, so keep in mind that it could still be warm.) Schedule a tour of the cottage, but be sure to get tickets in advance.
Cost: $15 for adults, $5 for children
Get Cultured:
- Explore art that’s literally underground: Check out DuPont Underground, an arts and culture organization that hosts local artists and performers in a refurbished underground trolley station. Current exhibitions showcase nature photography as well as modern art that plays with light and shapes.
Cost: Tickets vary by exhibit
- See a movie with meaning: The March on Washington Film Festival kicks off Thursday night and will have showings and panels going on for the next two weeks. The festival focuses on civil rights movements past and present. You can check the film schedule here.
Cost: Varies by film
- See artists at work: Take a trip to the Torpedo Factory, which features multiple art galleries and workshops of local artists. You can see everything from jewelry design to print making all under one roof.
Cost: Free
Indulge your inner foodie:
- Be the fancy foodie: Union Market offers food from over 40 local vendors. Even if you’re not hungry it’s still worth the trip just to look around.
- Take the farmers market inside: Eastern Market has both indoor and outdoor features, but the indoor market is open from Tuesday to Sunday, so there’s plenty of cooler options for exploration. The market features plenty of vendors selling everything from veggies to baked goods.
- Get your drink on: Consider a brewery or winery tour or tasting right in the heart of D.C. Breweries and wineries like 3 Star Brewing Co., Atlas Brew Works, and Cork offer tours and tastings on weekends. Many tours are 21 and up, so make sure to check with the specific brewery or winery before bringing kids along.
Have some good old fashioned family fun:
- Cool down on ice: Fort Dupont Ice Arena offers public skating hours at select times throughout the month. You can rent skates on site and glide into ice cold fun. Be sure to check open skating hours before you go.
Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for children, $3 skate rental
- Bowl a strike: There’s several bowling alleys in and around the district, so why not play a game or two? Some alleys are more family friendly than others, so be sure to look into which alley will work best for your family.
Try: Pinstripes, Potomac Lanes Bowling Center, Fort Myer Bowling Center
- Try an indoor playground: There’s plenty of places to take little ones to help them burn off energy inside. Check out this list of indoor activity centers in D.C. and the surrounding suburbs.
