Travel Tips: Things to Do in the Washington, D.C. Area

So maybe you live here and don't want to be caught up in the tourist crowd or maybe you're just a tourist who wants to try something other than the obvious. Here are five of my favorite things to do in the Washington, D.C. area that don't involve getting up at the crack of dawn and wandering around downtown with your backpack and water bottles.

1. Gravelly Point - I lived in this area for 6 years before I discovered Gravelly Point. It's a large open area; let's call it a park, that's sits adjacent to Reagan National Airport. Now my husband started bringing me here because I had always been fascinated by how "low" the planes were flying around D.C. Where I grew up, when you saw a plane in the air it was just a little speck in the sky. Well, I didn't know the meaning of seeing a plane fly low until we watched some land from Gravelly point at night. We could see the wheels, the name of the airline and if you looked close enough the people in the windows. Well, okay, not the people in the windows, but you are so close to the planes that kite-flying is not allowed in the area. It's also a lovely place to park your beach chairs or camping chairs and watch the boats maneuver around the Potomac. There's plenty of open space for your children and your animals to play. Bring your own outdoor games, you won't find any actual playground equipment here but there is usually a picnic table available. If you like to bike, run, or even walk, there's a trail that goes on seemingly forever. Parking is free and plentiful.

2. Jefferson Memorial after Dark -The view of the Jefferson Memorial at night from the Tidal Basin is very beautiful. If you're lucky enough to have a digital camera that can take good pictures in the dark you will be able to capture a nice shot across the water. As with any nighttime activity you should always put caution first. Even in a well-patrolled part of the city, don't be stupid, take someone with you. At night you shouldn't have any problem parking in the lot near the paddle boats.

3. The Washington Monument at Sunset - I've been to the Washington Monument many times since I've lived in this area but always in the middle of the day. At sunset it was absolutely breathtaking. There are still quite a few tourists in the area at this time of day but there are plenty of places around the perimeter of the Monument were you can sit alone and enjoy the scene. If you walk right up to the platform you can take a nice shot of the flags waving in the sunset. Parking on Constitution is allowed after 6:30 PM so if you time things right you can avoid using metro rail.

4. Mount Vernon - I will admit I had never even heard of Mount Vernon as a tourist attraction until recently. Mount Vernon is the home of George and Martha Washington. My husband and I got up early one Sunday morning to check it out. It was a very large property. This is the one thing on my list that I would recommend you bring bottled water to. The Washington's had a very nice place. You can tour the mansion with the price of your regular admission and then roam the grounds on your own. We visited both the old and new tomb, the wharf, the farm (complete with farm animals), and the orchard. We also visited the museum to look at the Presidential China collection. We spent about 3 hours walking around but we should have planned to stay much longer. I'm not sure if we saw everything there was to see. For those that are interested in covering every square inch, a season pass is available for just about twice the amount of a regular admission ticket. There is a nice cafeteria which you will likely want to visit before you leave. It was a bit pricey but the food at the grill was very good. There is also a high end restaurant on site for those who can afford it. Before you go, don't forget to stop by the gift shop.

5. Screen on the Green - This is truly an enjoyable experience. Screen on the Green sponsors outdoor movies in the Nation's capitol. It only happens in the summer and only for a series of weeks so as soon as you hear about it, make plans to attend one night. These days they are showing the movies on the National Mall, close to the Capitol Building. Get off the metro at the Smithsonian station and walk past the Carousel and you will see everyone setting up their blankets. Come early if you like to sit close, although the sound is clear enough that you could sit far away and still enjoy the movie. This is an excellent way to spend a cool summer evening with friends. Pack your cooler and a deck of cards to keep you occupied until the movie begins. If you prefer to drive, parking is available in the area after 6:30 PM but the spots will fill up quickly.

By Lorelle Noble