This week marks my sixth year anniversary as a resident of the DC area! As much as I love to travel, I truly believe that you can experience that feeling of adventure and discovery right in your own backyard. I put together a list of over 50+ different and off-beat activities that, despite this being my 8th summer in DC, I (mostly) have yet to experience. Moreover, I’m a fan of art, history and being outdoors, so a lot of these activities are geared towards those types of activities.

Whether you’re new to DC, been here for years, or just looking for something new to do. Here’s my list of 100+ mini-adventures around the DC area that you can start doing today!

Northwest DC

• Adams Morgan
  • Participate in the Sunday Drum Circle at Meridian Hill Park

• Cathedral Heights
  • Climb the National Cathedral – Classic Tower Climb
  • Tour the US Naval Observatory

• Chinatown
  • Visit the German American Heritage Museum

• Cleveland Park
  • Wander around Tregaron Conservancy

• Columbia Heights
  • Monday Night Trivia at Wonderland

• Dupont Circle
  • Browse the art at Phillips After 5
  • Get lost finding your way around the O Street Mansion Champagne Tour
  • Check out the National Geographic Society
  • View the works at the Art Museum of the Americas

• Farragut Square
  • Visit the White House. Request a tour through your state representative or senator.
  • White House Garden Tour

• Federal Triangle
  • Visit the FBI Education Center

• Foggy Bottom
  • Catch a free show at Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center
  • Tour the diplomatic rooms at the State Department
  • Visit the Department of Interior Museum
  • Explore the The Octagon House
  • Learn about crafts at the Textile Museum at GWU

• Foxhall
  • Check out the art at the Kreeger Museum

• Georgetown
  • Twilight Tour of Potomac or Stand Up Paddleboarding at Key Bridge Boathouse
  • Check out the Soundscape at Dumbarton Oaks Garden

• Kalorama
  • Visit the President Woodrow Wilson House
  • Discover Hillwood Estate
  • Take advantage of Dupont – Kalorama Museum Walk
  • Take a picture of the Spanish Steps – 22nd St to S St

• Logan Circle
  • Take a Wine Tasting Classes at Cork & Fork

• National Mall
  • Learn about other cultures at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

• Rock Creek Park
  • Gaze at the stars at an Exploring the Sky Event
  • Ride a horse around the park at the Horse Center

• Shaw / U Street
  • Thursday Night Trivia at Nellies

• Union Station
  • Visit the National Guard Memorial Museum

• Woodley Park
  • Go on an Elephant Trails Tour at the National Zoo

Southwest DC

• Waterfront / Navy Yard
  • See the Nats play during Night Out at Nationals
  • Walk along Yards Park or Georgetown Waterfront

Southeast DC

• Anacostia
  • Kayak on the Anacostia River at Ballpark Boathouse
  • Visit the Frederick Douglass House and admire the views of the DC skyline
  • Visit Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
  • Check out the Anacostia Community Museum

• Capitol Hill
  • Get a reader registration card at the LOC
  • Go on a tour of the US Capitol Historical Society

• Eastern Market
  • Listen and watch the US Marine Band Parade
  • Take a look at the art at The Fridge DC

• Potomac Ave
  • Tour the Congressional Cemetery

Northeast DC

• Brookland
  • Visit the Franciscan Monastery

• H Street
  • See a demonstration of Ethiopian coffee making at sidamo coffee Ethiopian 2pm Sunday

• NoMa / NY Ave
  • Learn about deaf culture at the Gallaudet University Museum
  • Explore the arboretum at night: National Arboretum by Moonlight

In Maryland

• Annapolis Area
  • Have a dinner al fresco on Wednesdays during Dinner Under the Stars
  • Go sailing around Annapolis
  • All You Can Eat Crabs at Harris Crab House on Kent Island (M-F)

• Baltimore Area
  • Check out a wine festival: Great Grapes Wine Festival
  • Visit Ellicott City
  • Visit Fort McHenry
  • Head over to the Maryland State Fair – 8/26 – 9/5

• Capitol Region
  • Rockville – Go Ape Zip Line
  • College Park – Visit the College Park Aviation Museum
  • Fort Meade – Learn more about cryptology at the National Cryptologic Museum
  • Silver Spring – Be surrounded by butterflies at the Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit
  • Kensington – Take in the scene at the Festival of Lights at Mormon Visitor Center
  • Poolesville – Pick blackberries at Homestead Farms and drink wine at Rocklands Farm

• Chesapeake Bay / Eastern Shore
  • Go on a Day Trip to St. Mary’s City.
  • Explore Solomons Island.
  • Visit St. Michaels & Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

• Western Maryland
  • Antietam – Learn about the Civil War at the National Battlefield Memorial
  • C&O Canal – Go for a ride. Great Falls Canal Boat Ride, Williamsport Launch Boat Program
  • Hagerstown – View the art collection at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
  • Grab dinner at Volt in Frederick
  • Hike Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hereford Area
  • Hike Monocacy Aqueduct

In Northern Virginia

• Alexandria
  • Driving Range at Top Golf
  • Take a boat from Alexandria to explore the Mount Vernon Estate

• Arlington
  • Friday evening concert at the Air Force memorial
  • Walk around Roosevelt Island
  • Watch planes at Gravelly Point
  • Night time at the pentagon 9/11 memorial
  • Arlington House at Arlington Cemetary
  • Visit the DEA Museum

• Fairfax County
  • Lunch buffet at Woodlands
  • Rent a canoe at Burke Lake Park
  • Peking Duck at Peking Gourmet Inn
  • Bull Run – Picnic at The Winery

• Loudoun County
  • Visit Marshall House in Leesburg
  • Work your way through the many wineries around Loudoun County

• Prince William County
  • Visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle
  • Wander around the small towns in Occoquan
  • Visit Fredericksburg