Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love that the museums are free. Every time we visit another city and have to pay to go to a museum I'm reminded of how great it is that we can pop in anytime for a quick visit.
So true. Having my baseline be "free" actually makes being a tourist elsewhere less enjoyable. For example, take New York:
MoMA: $25
National Gallery of Art + various Smithsonian art museums: Free
Bronx Zoo: $40
Smithsonian Zoo: Free
Empire State Building: $42
Washington Monument observation deck: $1.50 reservation fee
Multiply that over all members of your family/group, throw in food, and it's just much much easier to have a nice day in DC without breaking the bank. And after you've exhausted all the touristy stuff,
we still have lovely tree-lined neighborhoods that are just so pleasant to stroll around. I think DC has the perfect balance of city amenities while not being so dense and overwhelming that I feel like I'm constantly being crushed by other people.