Not all Colonial Inauguration events are mandatory, so don’t think you need to run to every seminar or luncheon. If you’ve skimmed the CI agenda and it looks too similar to what you did on your eighth grade field trip to D.C., fill those gaps with less traditional spots.
There are plenty of free activities to do without Colonial Cabinet members cheering you down the street. Here are some alternative options while you’re in the city for a few days.
1. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
This modern art museum isn’t exactly what you pictured when you thought of going to exhibits in D.C. Located at the corner of 7th Street and Independence Avenue, just on the other side of the National Mall, the Hirshhorn doesn’t look like the other Smithsonian museums (though, yes, it is part of the Smithsonian Institution). Featuring modern art and a sculpture garden, it focuses on showcasing artworks created in the last 50 years. And with the architecture bearing a strong resemblance to a spaceship, the building itself is as interesting as what you can find inside its circular walls.
2. Georgetown
Sure, the Colonial Cabinet will bring you to the nearby neighborhood, but why not explore while you’re there? The Potomac River waterfront is an unmatched summer walking spot, and the surrounding neighborhood offers some of the best shopping in the city. But if you don’t have room in your suitcase to take home new clothes, you can also see a movie at the AMC Loews Georgetown 14. Don’t forget to make a stop at Baked & Wired for cupcakes.
3. Sunrise at the monuments
There’s an option for a “midnight monument walk,” but you can also make it an all-night endeavor. Take some new friends and walk by all of the monuments at 3 a.m. Just make sure that you’re back at the Lincoln Memorial by sunrise for a view that is Instagram worthy. It will top any photo that your friends from home post during their orientations.
4. Chinatown
Take a quick Metro ride to the Gallery Place-Chinatown stop, eat authentic Chinese food and take a photo under the intricate Friendship Arch. Chinatown is also home to the Verizon Center, where the Washington Wizards and Capitals play and where stars perform when they come to the District. Learn the area now so you can check out games and shows without the worry of getting lost later. Plus, you can also stop by the National Portrait Gallery if it’s too hot outside. Its American Cool exhibit runs through September.
