11 Insider Tips for Washington DC Museums

[@marksands6380]

We took a group of Boy Scouts to the National Postal Musuem, and the kids and adults all loved it. We spent more time exploring than we anticipated...and it wasn't crowded.

[@TripHacksDC]

Those are all reasons why I like it!

[@tessat338]

When my husband's college roommate and his family were in DC, my husband took the bulk of the group: mom, dad and the kids, to the Natural History Museum. I split off with our friend's father-in-law to have a whirlwind tour of the National Gallery of Art. Grandpa and I could move quickly because it was just the two of us. It is one of my favorite museums and I love showing my new friend my old friends among the exhibits.

[@Nytalite]

I’m a lifelong Alexandria resident. Although I don’t usually go to the museums, my favorites are the Air and Space Museum and Botanic Garden.

[@TripHacksDC]

Excellent choices!

[@davideifert2054]

the 3 Sisters wrap (vegetarian choice) @ the National Museum of the American Indian was one of the best things we ate on our trip this past spring. I am NOT a vegetarian, but we tried it along with the bison chili. Both were definite winners! Also off the mall across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial is the National Building Museum. The inside is amazing!

[@mikeywestside8509]

I've been to Washington DC three times in the last 8 years. I think the American History museum is my favorite. Even though the Library of Congress is not a museum it still feels like one. My favorite museum that is not part of the Smithsonian family is the Museum of the Bible.

[@TripHacksDC]

Library of Congress is great.

[@mikeywestside8509]

@@TripHacksDC it's the greatest

[@Azrael8]

My favorite museum is the Museum of the Bible. It is massive and so eye-opening.

[@Rottingboards]

I loved the National Museum of Natural History, where you can find the "David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins" which explores the scientific evidence of human origins over the past 6 million years.

[@birbluv9595]

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is amazing. My favorite part is the fourth floor - entertainment and music. But it barely brushes the surface. I understand there’s a more thorough music exhibit in a city in TN or somewhere.

[@patlussenden4536]

My favorite museum is the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center of the Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport. The whole thing is stacked with full size specimens of air and space craft. Because it’s so huge it doesn’t feel too crowded even if it is. The docents were amazing and knew their stuff. Plenty of food options around as well. It is a drive or bus to get there. What I am not sure is how the Silver Line on Metro interfaces with the bus to get there. It was under construction last time I visited.

[@pdxaviation]

So many great museums but my favorite is the Air & Space was my favorite! Went there every day even if only for like an hour before I went off to other museums/sites.

[@TripHacksDC]

Great pick!

[@kikisiggy]

I’m so glad you mentioned the Renwick Gallery! It was beautiful and had great picture opportunities. It’s not very big so it felt like a win to see everything in an hour or two before our flight home that evening. Thank you for your videos! I love DC.

[@TripHacksDC]

Thanks for watching!

[@nsbd90now]

I want to make a solo trip for a week or two, staying at a nice hotel, and check out all the museums at a leisurely, multi-day pace, plus other sites like Mr. Vernon and take educational tours. I actually lived in the area in the 1980s, and had a family trip back in the 1960s. The Metro wasn't as extensive in the 80s as it is now! As a little kid, we were at the Mayflower, and I was totally into the National Geographic museum.

[@birbluv9595]

Hotel rates are insane there right now.

[@danastein8927]

I liked the botanical museum

[@lizpratt1641]

Hey Rob, can you get food take out or to go from the museum cafes and eat it outside on the national mall picnic style? Or do they not let you take the food with you?

[@TripHacksDC]

Some places sell pre-packaged food so if that's what you get then I don't see why not.

[@vindeguzman1866]

These tips are so valuable. Love the way you present them and so I've subscribed to your channel :)

[@TripHacksDC]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bennycohen]

Cool video

[@TripHacksDC]

👍👍👍

[@CarinRuff]

I'm a local, but my favorite complete museum experience is Portrait Gallery-American Art. The Kogod Courtyard really makes the experience, because it's such a calming place to take a break from walking and looking. It's always quiet, even when there are crowds! It's beautiful in its own right. And yes, the cafe is overpriced, but it's right there and it has good wifi. Plus you get two museums in one complex and they're right on top of the Gallery Place metro. Relatedly, Asian Art and African Art are underrated: intertwined underground, with the stunning Haupt Garden overhead to take a break from museum overload.

[@TripHacksDC]

All excellent choices!

[@RickJ04040]

I feel like the American History Museum could use a major update.

[@TripHacksDC]

They seem to update it piecemeal but I agree some sections feel a bit stale.

[@perplehaze112]

@TripHacksDC gonna be staying navy yard for the Nationals Yanks series at the end of august. Any recommendations for cool gift shops like the one at franklins brewery? Especially if you know of a halloween spooky type stores

[@liortepper3619]

Thanks a lot, Rob. Are the crowds in Mt. Vernon same as the museums in terms of trends and level of feeling its too much? I would also recommend the Postal museum. I liked most of it a lot, especially the early history part. Thank you

[@MTBPerspective]

We were in DC for a week in late April to see the typical stuff but mostly visit in real life a bunch of sites featured in the game "The Division 2" which is set in DC We did find that the Smithsonian cafeterias were solid lunch plans - our favorite was the American Indian cafeteria. We just thought about our lunch as a substitute for entry fee. Over 100,000 steps on our visit

[@TripHacksDC]

Wow that's a lot of steps!

[@MTBPerspective]

@@TripHacksDC We had seen the point about good shoes in one of your other videos before our trip!

[@Silentdeath1194]

How's the first week of March ?

[@marucantu7102]

Fui este verano y muchos autobuses llegan al museo😉

[@MercenaryTX]

Liked Air and Space but it was under construction. Missed the Space Shuttle at Dulles. Too many activities.

[@bmacduffppk]

Hate the ticket system. I was just there. Haven't been in 24 years. Was unaware of it. We couldn't get in. We're from Canada, don't know when we can get back. They already pay people to manage the entrances. Why not do a first come first served and let people in as people come out? That way people that make the trip don't get turned away.

[@timothycampbell9762]

I will say the hot chicken sandwich at the Am. History museum was one of the best museum sandwiches I have had

[@TripHacksDC]

Now that's a hot tip (sorry for the pun)

[@car_tar3882]

Technically the museums have a chaperone policy and all groups must have someone 18+, is this enforced? -bored dc teenager

[@ln14517]

In my opinion the natural history museum is the worst, its target audience is little children and last time I was there I felt like I was in a Chuck E. Cheese.

[@davidblakely1282]

I was not impressed with the walking surface on the mall. It seemed 3rd world to me.

[@mikeywestside8509]

Flat and clean is 3rd world? Mkay