Washington D.C. Unique Things to Do
If you want to move past the standard, textbook school-trip itinerary of the National Mall, Washington, D.C. has a surprisingly playful and experimental side that truly wakes up during the warmer months. To beat the intense mid-Atlantic humidity while doing something completely unexpected, you can head over to the National Building Museum to experience “The Playground.” This massive summer installation completely takes over the historic Great Hall, turning the soaring architectural space into a giant, sculptural landscape designed by Snarkitecture. It completely scraps the traditional “look but don’t touch” museum rule, actively encouraging visitors of all ages to climb walls, dive down custom slides, construct giant towers out of soft blocks, or just lounge around in hammocks suspended beneath the building’s colossal columns.
The digital art scene in the capital is also gearing up for a major renaissance just a short walk away in the Southwest neighborhood. Tech-art enthusiasts are keeping a close watch on ARTECHOUSE DC, which is officially returning to its original home at 1238 Maryland Avenue this year after renovation.
While the studio has confirmed they are reopening this summer, they still have not announced a precise opening date just yet. Once the doors unlock, it will bring back its signature floor-to-ceiling panoramic projection rooms, spatialized audio, and interactive software ecosystems, re-establishing itself as a core anchor for digital storytelling right next to L’Enfant Plaza.
If you prefer to escape the indoors entirely and take in the city’s iconic marble landscape from a completely fresh vantage point, trading the pavement for the Potomac River is a brilliant move. Instead of crowded, commercial cruise boats, you can rent a self-driven electric boat or take a sunset kayak tour right out of The Wharf or Georgetown. Paddling along the water as the sun dips below the horizon gives you a remarkably quiet, uninterrupted view of the monuments as they begin to light up for the night. It is a peaceful, active alternative that lets you see the absolute best of the city’s geography completely on your own terms.
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