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Where to take the family while they visit DC

Rachel Nania | rnania@wtop.com

WASHINGTON 鈥� The next time you have visitors in town, try these not-so-typical destinations, and show your family another side of D.C.

The change-ringing competition at the National Cathedral on Oct. 20 brought competitors from all across the continent to ring the bells on the 31st story of the cathedral. (草莓传媒/Mike Murillo)
Tour the National Cathedral The is a great destination for those interested in learning more about art and history (the Cathedral offers several different , including one that ends with a traditional English tea). It’s also perfect for those who like to wander (the gardens on the grounds are simply gorgeous). Pack your appetite: serves coffee, sandwiches and sweets in the Cathedral’s cafe. Or check out one of the many restaurants across the street, including , , and .     (草莓传媒/Mike Murillo)
草莓传媒/Mike Murillo
Get out to Glenstone The 15-mile ride out to Glenstone in Potomac, Maryland, is a must for modern art-lovers. The newly reopened museum includes a 204,000-square-foot building filled with water courts and gallery rooms. It’s surrounded by 230 acres of聽meadow, peppered with wildflowers, walking paths and outdoor sculptures. Reservations are hard to come by and need to be made in advance, but cancellations pop up occasionally . (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
The Renwick Gallery When The Renwick Gallery reopened in November 2015, its exhibits quickly flooded the Instagram feeds of many Washingtonians … and it hasn’t stopped. The contemporary craft and art museum is one of the many Smithsonian museums in D.C. It’s interactive, family-friendly, and best of all, free. The current exhibit highlights the art from Burning Man. . (AP Photo)
AP Photo
ZooLights Beginning Nov. 23 and running through Jan. 1, the Smithsonian National Zoo tradition features more than a half-million eco-friendly lights. This year’s event includes a gingerbread village, a holiday market and rides on the Zoo Choo-Choo. Admission is free, and the show runs from 5 to 9 p.m. More information is available on the zoo’s . (Smithsonian’s National Zoo/Jim Jenkins)
Smithsonian’s National Zoo/Jim Jenkins
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 03: General view of Edens Celebrates Re-Opening Of Union Market With 1st Annual Sunday Supper on June 3, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens)
Take a trip to Union Market … D.C.’s is a food-lover’s paradise under one roof. And when parents or family come into town, it’s one of the best places to take a crowd for lunch, because there’s no need to agree on one cuisine. Your vegetarian brother can chow down on some curry potatoes at 聽or spicy tofu tacos at , while your meat-loving father can overindulge on one of Nathan Anda’s famous porkstrami sandwiches at . Mom can peruse the tablescapes and d茅cor options at , while you relax with some oysters and bubbly at 鈥� after all, entertaining family is hard work. Be sure to check out new additions across the street from the food hall, including Politics and Prose, Cotton & Reed distillery and The Village Cafe.   (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens)
Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens
When Jos. A. Magnus & Co. opened its doors in the Northeast D.C. neighborhood of Ivy City on Sept. 12, the distillery revived a century-old spirit. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Show off D.C.’s most spirited neighborhood聽 D.C.’s Ivy City is the city’s top distillery destination. Head to the Northeast neighborhood to show your family a more spirited side of the nation’s capital. , ,听听补苍诲听聽all offer tours, tastings and cocktails. While you’re over there, find food at , and , and catch live music at City Winery. Insider tip: Jos. A. Magnus & Co. is located next to , should you also have a beer fan in the family. See the next slide for more information on that. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Before saying "I do," they decided: let's brew! Bluejacket Kelsey and Greg鈥檚 Wedding Ale. (Courtesy Bluejacket)
Show them what’s brewing聽 D.C. has become a serious beer town. With countless packaging breweries and brewpubs, there’s no shortage of places to introduce mom and pop to hops. In Northeast, there’s , and . In Northwest, check out and , and in Southeast, . Don’t forget about in Silver Spring and in Alexandria 鈥� both are worth the short drive outside the District. (Courtesy Bluejacket)
Courtesy Bluejacket
The U.S. Capitol's former columns still stand at the United States National Arboretum in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Visit the聽Arboretum 罢丑别听 is one of the more hidden treasures of D.C., mostly because it is far away from the National Mall, just off New York Avenue in Northeast. But just like the national museums, this destination is also free. Wander the gardens and explore the exhibits 鈥� your visitors will never聽believe you’re still in the city.聽 (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
This artist rendering provided by Steven Holl Architects shows expansion of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is commencing nearly 50 years after construction began on the cultural center. The $100 million expansion will add space for arts education, programs, rehearsals and interaction between artists and audience members. It also will add memorial elements in a new garden honoring the 35th president. (AP Photo/Kennedy Center/Seven Holl Architects)
Free concerts at The Kennedy Center聽 If your family enjoys the arts, take them to a show at the Kennedy Center. Put your credit card away 鈥� this one won’t cost you anything. Every day, the Kennedy Center puts on free performances at its Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. 鈥� perfect if you’re looking for a pre-dinner activity or are trying to keep it an early evening. For the full calendar of events, .聽 (AP Photo/Kennedy Center/Seven Holl Architects)
AP Photo/Kennedy Center/Seven Holl Architects
Radish tartine with Virginia country ham and caviar at The Inn at Little Washington, a two-star Michelin restaurant about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. (Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington)
Highlight D.C.’s culinary scene聽 There’s no doubt you’ll want to give your guests a taste of D.C.’s burgeoning dining scene by taking them to some of the city’s hottest restaurants, but do yourself a favor and limit your options to restaurants that accept reservations. Chances are, your parents are not going to want to stand in a four-hour line for a table at a crowded eatery 鈥� no matter how聽amazing it is. That said, you don’t have to deviate from the city’s “best of” list. Most of the top 10 restaurants on Tom Sietsema’s take reservations, and same goes for many of聽D.C.’s Michelin-starred restaurants. (Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington)
Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington
Head to Hillwood聽 Another option to D.C.’s crowded museums is the peaceful , which is tucked just a few blocks behind the Van Ness Metro station in Northwest. The former home of聽Marjorie Merriweather Post is now a museum that houses her collection of Russian imperial art and 18th century French decorative art, plus it sits on 25 acres of lush gardens. (Courtesy Hillwood)
Courtesy Hillwood
This is not M Street聽 is another D.C. estate that’s worth a visit. And if your guests are insistent on going to Georgetown, this is a great alternative to dodging crazed holiday shoppers on M Street. (Courtesy Dumbarton Oaks Facebook)
Courtesy Dumbarton Oaks Facebook
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 08: A visitor tours the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building October 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Library of Congress opens its Main Reading Room for a special public open house twice a year with librarians available to demonstrate the library's resources. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Linger at the Library聽 Have a book-lover in town? should keep him occupied for a few hours. Guests can take a free one-hour guided tour of the building, or sit in one of the library’s breathtaking reading rooms, which are organized by subject, language and format. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
Walk around Eastern Market聽 Not too far from the Library of Congress聽is D.C.’s . On the weekends, farmers and artists set tents up outside the main building to sell their products. Restaurants and cafes line the main street, should you get hungry for a warm meal or a hot beverage.聽 (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Even though Phase 1 of the $2.5 billion project officially opened to the public on Oct. 12, 2017, new restaurants and retail shops are still joining the the 24-acre, mile-long destination along the Southwest waterfront, and they will continue to do so through 2022, when construction on Phase 2 concludes. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)聽
Walk along The Wharf D.C.’s newest neighborhood is along the city’s Southwest waterfront. At , there are restaurants, music venues, shops and water activities, including a free shuttle that takes visitors from the piers to East Potomac Park. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Dig into Dupont Sundays are quite social in Dupont Circle. Each week, farmers and producers sells their products at the , and Washingtonians gather to grab breakfast, shop and hangout and listen to live music. The market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April through December, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. January through March. 聽 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
A 70 foot long and 35 foot wide billboard hangs on the facade of the Smithsonian's Hirshorn Museum on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 in Washington. The work, "Directions_Jim Hodges," consists of the words "Don't be afraid" written anonymously by delegates to the United Nations in their own languages. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Remember: The museums are free聽 If the Mall is a must, might we suggest the Hirshhorn? The modern art museum is always a unique gallery聽through which to wander. The National Gallery of Art is another treasure. The museum has everything from during the holiday season. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe (Courtesy Smithsonian Institute)
And (some) have great food If you do head to the Mall and hunger strikes, your options aren’t limited to hot dog carts. at the is one of the best places to score a meal in D.C. It has everything from wild rice salad, to herb marinated bison strip steak, to beet cherry salad. (Courtesy Smithsonian Institution)
Courtesy Smithsonian Institution
mountvernon500.jpg
Buff up on your history聽 Just a short drive outside of D.C. is , where you can take a tour of the mansion, the grounds and even the first president’s whiskey distillery. Christmas illuminations at Mount Vernon run Dec. 1 through 30. Find more information on holiday-themed events on . (Courtesy Mount Vernon)
Courtesy Mount Vernon
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (2nd R) and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (C) stand with Erin Carlson Mast,(R) Director of Lincoln Cottage, Lester G. Fant III (2nd L) and Susan Fant (L) during a tour of President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers Home March 19, 2015 in Washington, DC. Prince Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a four day visit to the U.S. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Buff up on your history聽 Visit the Northwest D.C. home where President Abraham Lincoln lived for over a quarter of his presidency. 聽offers guided tours, exhibits and special events and programs. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Explore Old Town Alexandria聽 Walking up and down the streets of Old Town Alexandria is a great way to spend an afternoon聽鈥� and there’s plenty to do and see. Catch an art exhibit in , explore an that once doubled as a Civil War hospital, shop boutiques and check out one of the city’s many restaurants. (R. Michael Zilz/Visit Alexandria)
R. Michael Zilz/Visit Alexandria
Barista making cappuccino in his coffeeshop
A coffee crawl D.C.’s in the midst聽of a coffee renaissance, so take your coffee-loving visitors to some of the city’s newest cafes. Stroll along 14th Street and try the java at聽, , , ,听and . Then, burn off some of that extra “energy” with a walk-up to Meridian Hill Park for a picnic. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
(1/22)
The change-ringing competition at the National Cathedral on Oct. 20 brought competitors from all across the continent to ring the bells on the 31st story of the cathedral. (草莓传媒/Mike Murillo)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 03: General view of Edens Celebrates Re-Opening Of Union Market With 1st Annual Sunday Supper on June 3, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens)
When Jos. A. Magnus & Co. opened its doors in the Northeast D.C. neighborhood of Ivy City on Sept. 12, the distillery revived a century-old spirit. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Before saying "I do," they decided: let's brew! Bluejacket Kelsey and Greg鈥檚 Wedding Ale. (Courtesy Bluejacket)
The U.S. Capitol's former columns still stand at the United States National Arboretum in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
This artist rendering provided by Steven Holl Architects shows expansion of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is commencing nearly 50 years after construction began on the cultural center. The $100 million expansion will add space for arts education, programs, rehearsals and interaction between artists and audience members. It also will add memorial elements in a new garden honoring the 35th president. (AP Photo/Kennedy Center/Seven Holl Architects)
Radish tartine with Virginia country ham and caviar at The Inn at Little Washington, a two-star Michelin restaurant about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. (Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 08: A visitor tours the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building October 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Library of Congress opens its Main Reading Room for a special public open house twice a year with librarians available to demonstrate the library's resources. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Even though Phase 1 of the $2.5 billion project officially opened to the public on Oct. 12, 2017, new restaurants and retail shops are still joining the the 24-acre, mile-long destination along the Southwest waterfront, and they will continue to do so through 2022, when construction on Phase 2 concludes. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)聽
A 70 foot long and 35 foot wide billboard hangs on the facade of the Smithsonian's Hirshorn Museum on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 in Washington. The work, "Directions_Jim Hodges," consists of the words "Don't be afraid" written anonymously by delegates to the United Nations in their own languages. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe (Courtesy Smithsonian Institute)
mountvernon500.jpg
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (2nd R) and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (C) stand with Erin Carlson Mast,(R) Director of Lincoln Cottage, Lester G. Fant III (2nd L) and Susan Fant (L) during a tour of President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers Home March 19, 2015 in Washington, DC. Prince Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a four day visit to the U.S. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Barista making cappuccino in his coffeeshop

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