All with walking distance of each other. The ones I go back to again and again are a) National Archives because I can’t get enough of looking at the original Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and the Bill of Rights. b) National Gallery of Art is amazing, and I find incredible inspiring. Gazing on the masterpieces is something I never tire of. c) National Museum of Natural History is particularly enticing to children and adults alike - maybe because there’s a rotating collection of 127 million items including dinosaur bones, the Hope Diamond (is it really cursed?) and ancient Egyptian mummies.

Established in 1890, is a favorite destination any time of year. As a 1,754 acre national park, it doubles the size of Central Park in NYC. There is a Nature Center, creeks, great hiking trails, places to relax and have a picnic. Dog lovers bring their fur-babies to play on the beautiful grassy areas.

Stunning when in full bloom and, although there can be hordes of people looking at them, it’s worth seeing them up-close and in person. I highly recommend getting to the Tidal Basin between dawn and 9am which helps to mitigate the number of other blossom seekers you’ll run into. Each year I sign up for a 5K, such as the St Patrick’s Day walk/run, during the Cherry Blossom timeframe which is a great way to exercise and see the gorgeous blooms. It’s all about timing it correctly.

Such a great way to learn about other cultures. There are 176 resident embassies in DC and each one is unique. Each year, dozens of embassies open their doors to the public during Passport DC. It’s usually the first weekend of May. Events at the embassies will vary but could include cooking demos, tours, music, dancing, local cultural attire and craft displays. Other opportunities to check out embassies is through the events (such as wine tastings, dance parties, theme parties and other fun themes) organized by the International Club of DC. If you have a particular country you’re interested in, you can check their individual website as well for events they may be hosting.

an all-time favorite of mine. As a member, there are many benefits including attending orchestra rehearsals, options to buy theater tickets before the general public and more. But even if you aren’t a member, you can enjoy first rate shows, last minute discounted tickets, the Millennial Stage shows which are free every night at 6 pm. Take a tour of the building if you can, it has a great history. Step out onto the terrace and enjoy beautiful views of the Potomac River, Georgetown and Rosslyn.