20 Things To Do In Washington, DC, If You’re Not Really Into Politics

Who isn't done with politics at this point?

1. Buy flowers and peruse local artwork at Eastern Market.

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Although technically on Capitol Hill, this historic market (in operation since the 19th century) offers the freshest meat, seafood, and produce from the Mid-Atlantic, as well as crafts, artwork, and fresh flowers.

2. Dress up for a night out at The Kennedy Center; dress down for a live show at the 9:30 Club.

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Don gowns and suits for performances like Hamilton and To Kill a Mockingbird at the elegant John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, or catch an intimate show from smaller acts like Ripe and The Dustbowl Revival at local fave venue, the 9:30 Club. The Anthem and Black Cat are also dope options for smaller shows.

3. Laugh until you cry at DC Improv Comedy Club.

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Around since 1992, the club’s first show featured Ellen Degeneres and Dave Chappelle.

4. Go for a leisurely rowboat ride at Fletcher's Cove.

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Skip the congested parts of the Potomac River near Georgetown and the National Mall in favor of the serene setting upriver at Fletcher's Cove.

5. Take a salsa dancing class at La Cosecha, a contemporary Latin marketplace.

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Got two left feet? No worries! Join other salsa dancing newbies for Baila Thursdays, hosted by DC Style Salsa Academy.

6. Pay your respects at what's believed to be the world’s only cemetery with an LGBT section.

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The northwest section of the Congressional Cemetery was dubbed the “Gay Corner” after Vietnam vet Leonard Matlovich chose his own burial plot there, after being dismissed from the Air Force for his homosexuality. His self-designed memorial, which reads “When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one,” is thought to have inspired nearly 35 other LGBTQ veterans and activists to purchase plots there to show solidarity.

7. Savor a classic chili half-smoke at the original Ben’s Chili Bowl location.

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The iconic U Street restaurant has served its quarter-pound pork and beef grilled sausage smothered in mustard, onions, and homemade beef chili since opening its doors in 1958. Ben's Chili Bowl is a pillar of DC’s African-American history and culture and won a James Beard Award in 2004.

8. Eat and shop your way through Union Market.

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More than 35 vendors offer everything from Venezuelan arepas and gourmet donuts to nosh on, while local homewares shops like District Cutlery and Salt & Sundry have everything you need to stock your own kitchen.

9. Stand on the exact spot where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.

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The precise location on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial is honored with an inscription.

10. Explore Cedar Hill in Anacostia.

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Tour Frederick Douglass’s final estate, Cedar Hill, where his legacy is preserved through thousands of original artifacts spread across 21 rooms.

11. Scream at the top of your lungs at Audi Field.

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The newest stadium in town is home to D.C. United, the most championed professional soccer team in DC and the most decorated franchise in the history of US soccer.

12. Check out past and present at The Wharf.

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Pick up freshly shucked oysters and steamed blue crabs at the Maine Avenue Fish Market, which has been in operation since 1805 and is the oldest continuously operating fish market in the nation (according to District Wharf). Heading southwest along the waterfront is the $2 billion transformed portion of The Wharf, filled with new restaurants, shops, and nightlife including Kith/Kin, Milk Bar, and Politics and Prose Bookstore.

13. Immerse yourself in augmented reality at Artechouse .

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Going to a gallery and staring at a portrait is so last decade. Artechouse combines art with technology to create spaces that completely surround guests with projections, lasers, and swirling colors. A cocktail at the AR bar makes the experience even more trippy.

14. Picnic by the drum circle at Meridian Hill Park.

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Now a more than 50 year old tradition, the drum circle in Meridian Hill Park (also known as Malcolm X Park) began in the 1960s as a way to celebrate black liberation in the mostly African-American neighborhood. Now, the circle includes people of all races and still takes place in the park on Sundays at 3 p.m.

15. Travel the world on Embassy Row.

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Stroll along Massachusetts Avenue NW between Dupont Circle and Observatory Circle and you’ll find yourself on the unofficial Embassy Row, where a majority of the 170+ embassies in DC reside. Try a self-guided walking tour, or plan your trip for the Around the World Embassy Tour weekend when embassies open their doors and feature all-day cultural events.

16. Feel worlds away from the city at the National Arboretum.

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Although it’s only a ten minute drive from the Capitol Building, the 446-acre National Arboretum feels dang near rural thanks to its wide variety of plant life, including 10,000 azaleas, bonsai trees, and a grove of trees representing the 50 states and DC. Be sure to also check out the impressive display of Corinthian columns that look straight from ancient Rome.

17. Tour DC's urban breweries and wineries.

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You’ll recognize these names on menus around town, but if you'd rather go straight to the source head to 3 Stars Brewing Company, DC Brau Brewing Company, or Capitol City Brewing. Vino fans can get their fix at District Winery and City Winery.

18. Spend the day in Capitol Riverfront.

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Although DC has technically rebranded this neighborhood as Capitol Riverfront, locals know it as Navy Yard, where one of the oldest operating Naval facilities in the country has existed since 1799. Kick it here all day watching a Washington Nationals baseball game, splashing in the freshwater Canal Basin and Waterwall at Yards Park, and flying through the air at Trapeze School, then rest your head at the brand new Thompson Washington D.C. hotel.

19. Get stopped in your tracks by striking murals.

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From the U Street corridor down to the Southwest Waterfront and nearly everywhere in between, DC is filled with colorful murals that honor the vibrant people that left their mark on the capital city.

20. Sip spirits at DC’s hidden bars.

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Sometimes the best bars are those you can’t even tell are there. Like Allegory, hidden behind a bookshelf at the Eaton Hotel, the Japanese whiskey bar on the second floor of O-Ku Sushi, and Nocturne, the French-inspired bar below Sugar Shack doughnut shop.

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