
There’s a lot of rain in the forecast this week, so along with these daily recommendations, I suggest keeping The Great Indoors list in your back pocket, too!
Monday – Locate secret doors, see outrageously fabulous themed rooms, and browse a trove of secondhand treasures on a tour of The Mansion on O Street. The Dupont Circle landmark is a mansion, museum, restaurant, vintage store, and hotel all in one. And visitors are welcome to explore (and shop!) it all. Tours are offered 11am – 3pm. Self-guided tours start at $15. Purchase tickets in advance online.
Tuesday – Learn about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre. Self-guided tours of the National Historic Site include the museum, theatre walk-throughs and a presentation, and Petersen House across the street where Lincoln died. It’s open daily 9am – 4:30pm. Tickets can be reserved online in advance for $3, or same-day are available for free at the Box Office, which is open 8:30am – 5pm. (FYI: This is still the busy season, so they recommend reserving in advance.)
Wednesday – See the SWAGFUNK Band perform their musical mix of funk, jazz, rock, pop, R&B, and reggae at Discovery Theater! Recommended for ages 5-16, showtimes are 10:30am and 12pm. Tickets are $3-8. Plan to spend some time exploring the Freer|Sackler Gallery before or after — the venue is located in the Smithsonian Ripley Center connected to the museum. (And note that there are shows Tuesday – Friday.)
Thursday – Play paleontologist for a day at Purse State Park, where you can hunt for fossilized shark teeth and other fragments of prehistoric sea creatures. Be sure to check the tides before you go (look for Potomac River and Liverpool Point), as there’s not much beach at high tide. There are no concessions or facilities there, so plan accordingly. Admission is free.
Friday – Roam around the gorgeous grounds, view wildlife in the ponds, visit the Korean Bell Garden, and check out exhibits in the Visitor Center at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. Hours are 10am – 8pm this time of year. Admission is $5/adults, $2.50/ages 7-17 and seniors, free for ages 6 and under.