Free Things to Do: Fall in DC

National Zoo

Celebrate fall’s crisp “tempurrratures” by spending the day watching animals at the National Zoo. From big cats, to giant pandas (and red ones, too), Asian elephants, apes and exotic birds, you can explore animals from all walks of life in one afternoon. Admission to the zoo is free, but for an additional cost you can enjoy special fall events there: Autumn Conservation Festival, Boo at the Zoo and Night of the Living Zoo.

Rock Creek Park

Become one with nature this fall with a visit to the 2,100 acres that call Rock Creek Park home. Let the kiddos release some pent up energy at one of the many playgrounds found throughout the park, followed up by a refuel with lunch at one of 30 picnic locations. Make sure to snap photos of the color-changing leaves blanketing the area this time of year. For an additional fee, enjoy a horseback ride, rent a bicycle and feel the crisp breeze take over as you coast down one of the paved bike paths or spend an afternoon playing 18 holes at the public golf course.

National Mall

See the National Mall in all of its fall beauty with DC by Foot, a walking tour company that hosts free, kid-friendly tours (gratuity recommended). You’ll enjoy taking in the sights, while learning monument-themed fun facts and trivia. Tours include the Arlington Cemetery Walking Tour, the Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour and the Twilight Washington Bus Tour.

C&O Canal

Fall is the perfect time to lace up your hiking boots and trek down the C&O Canal, which traces the Potomac from Georgetown to Cumberland, Md. The serene trek includes plenty of fall foliage around October and the soothing sounds of nature amidst the beauty of Georgetown.

U.S. National Arboretum

Let DC’s fall foliage surprise you with a visit to the U.S. National Arboretum. Take in the harvest hues on one of the many trails and see the majestic pillars from the original U.S. Capitol. A common misconception many hold is that the pillars were removed in 1814, when the building was burned by the British troops in the War of 1812. In fact, the Corinthian columns were removed in 1958 after a renovation to the U.S. Capitol Building.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

Nothing says fall comfort food like chili – and nothing says chili like Ben’s Chili Bowl. While we can’t promise a free meal, the famous chili half-smoke is happiness for your wallet and your taste buds.

Kennedy Center

When the fall evenings become too cool for late-night outdoor fun, take in a free performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Showtime is 6 p.m. nightly and includes everything from performances by the National Symphony Orchestra to poetry slams.

Eastern Market

Enjoy live music, local farm-fresh produce, handmade arts, jewelry, crafts and more than 100 merchants on weekend mornings at Eastern Market. While taking in the beautiful fall surroundings, warm up with locally made, toasty beverages and baked goods.

Old Stone House

Journey through time at the Old Stone House in Georgetown is the oldest unchanged building in the District. Why it’s still here: In 1791 George Washington met with Pierre L’Enfant to discuss the plans for the new federal city. For decades it was thought that the meeting took place at the Old Stone House, leading to its preservation. However the National Park Service discovered in the 20th century that the meeting actually took place at a tavern at K and 31st. Stroll through Georgetown and consider a stop at cafe Baked & Wired for nibbles and its fall specialty drink: Chaider.

National Gallery of Art

As days get shorter, entertainment becomes more important. Get swept away by live music with the National Gallery of Art’s free Sunday concerts. The concert usually takes place in the West Garden Court, but may also occur in the Sculpture Garden or West Building Rotunda.

Looking for more free (and almost free) things to do in DC? Find them here.

Money Saving Hacks for Visiting DC

Washington, DC can be an expensive city to visit. However, your trip to the nation’s capital doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are many ways to save money, and many free resources to utilize. Here are some of our favorite budget travel tricks:

• Invest in a SmarTrip Metro Card – Using a SmarTrip (the plastic metro card) rather than a paper card saves guests $1 per metro ride. The card costs $10 to purchase, though $5 of that is add to your SmarTrip balance and is thus used toward impending rides. Assuming you plan to use the metro more than 5 times, this is a huge money saver as paper cards charge guests an additional $1 for every ride. SmarTrip cards are less likely to be lost, and can make for a nice souvenir if not saved for a future trip to DC.
• Explore the National Gallery of Art with a docent led tour – Though not a Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art is a fantastic art museum that is completely free of charge. Because of the breadth of work that is featured, the National Gallery of Art can be a bit overwhelming for some. Fortunately however, the museum offers free, docent led tours of different types of art throughout the day. Reservations are not required; guests must simply arrive at the start of the tour!
• Dine at the Department of Agriculture – Though the Smithsonian Institute is a fantastic free resource, the price of dining at any of the museums is out of budget for many visitors. The Department of Agriculture’s cafeteria is a nearby and much more affordable option for those looking to save a few bucks on lunch. The entrance to the cafeteria is on C St. SW, just off the corner of 12th Street. It is opened to the public Monday-Friday for lunch, and all that is required is that adults present a form of ID upon entering.
  
• Take a “name your own price” walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery – No trip to DC is complete without a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. If the tram is out of your budget, consider taking a walking tour of the hallowed grounds. DC By Foot offers a number of “name your own price” walking tours around the city, and guests are only asked to tip what they thought the tour was worth.
• Utilize Capital Bikeshare – With over 200 stands around the city, this is an affordable (and super convenient!) way to get around the city. Visitors can choose between 1 ($7) or 3 day ($15) membership. Just be careful to note that those memberships do not mean that you have access to one bike for that entire time. Guests are expected to drop their bike at a station within 30 minutes of removing it in order to avoid additional fees. However, every time a guest picks up a new bike, their time restarts. Because DC is so small and there are so many stations around the city, it is very easy to avoid the additional fees!
• See a free film on the National Mall – If you are visiting DC during the summer months, consider going to Screen on the Green. Throughout the season, a number of films are shown on the National Mall for free. For a full list of the films and a calendar of when they will be featured, check out Screen on the Green’s website.
  
• Take advantage of DC’s immense selection of free museums – DC is famed for its huge variety of free museums. All of the Smithsonian museums — including the National Zoo — are free of charge, and 10 of those are located directly on the National Mall. Though not museums, the National Archives and Library of Congress are also free to the public and well worth a visit. Other free museums include the National Gallery of Art, African American Civil War Museum, Anacostia Community Museum, DAR Museum, Ford’s Theater and Peterson Boarding House, and the Holocaust Museum.