Our Best Mall is Not for Shopping

This post may contain affilitate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Any opinions expressed are my own.

When I was planning a European adventure in 2019, the variety of free museums in London was a huge relief.  We were trying to be very conscious of budget constraints on that particular trip, and London itself is not generally a budget-friendly city to visit. But the costs of daily entertainment can be greatly minimized if people are willing to avoid the tourist traps. Just stick to the bastions of world history, art, and culture.  

How’s that for biased language?  Obviously I’m saying that as someone who avoided most of the tourist traps.  So there, London Eye!  Take that!  

It occurs to me, though, that my own country’s capital city is deserving of the same appreciation.  Like London, a trip to Washington D.C. is not generally cheap.  And also like London, Washington D.C. can help to compensate for the high cost of lodging with free-to-the-public museums and monuments.

Location, Location

But where London’s free museums are spread throughout the city, the majority of D.C.’s museums are concentrated along the National Mall. In addition to its museums, the National Mall features a significant number of National Park Service memorials.

The National Mall is generally considered to be the area between the U.S. Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. In the eyes of a visitor, it’s easy to add West Potomac Park to the National Mall’s footprint.  West Potomac Park is the area just south of the Lincoln Memorial. The Korean War and Jefferson Memorials are perhaps its most famous sights. It’s also home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial around the tidal pool. 

Decisions, Decisions

Your favorite museums and memorials will probably be driven by your own interests.  My favorite memorials to visit have been the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. 

It probably goes without saying that the Smithsonian Museums are worth a visit. I love the National Museum of Natural History. It usually has a rotating photographic exhibit that is worth a stop, no matter how many times I’ve been before.

But I’d say a non-Smithsonian museum, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, is easily the best museum I’ve ever visited.  Even after seeing the museums of London and Paris, I’d have to call this museum the better of them all. 

That being said, the Holocaust Memorial Museum isn’t fun to visit.  There are barriers preventing the youngest from seeing some of the images, particularly near the end of the experience.  And it genuinely is an experience.  Walking through the collection takes visitors on a chronological journey through post-World War I Europe, through World War II, and the resulting criminal prosecutions. 

The exhibits are emotionally evocative and haunting.  The voices of the past speak to you; in one room, you can sit as long as desired and listen to Holocaust survivors telling their stories in their own words.  I absolutely recommend this museum more than any other.

And then do something fun and uplifting (NOT sad or even remotely thought-provoking) after leaving.  

Little Details

I’ve been lucky to visit the city numerous times, including living there for a month for work-related business.  I spent most of my free time exploring (mostly free) venues, except a few of the art options.  The only other Smithsonian museum I still haven’t been able to visit is the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It requires a free timed-entry pass, generally booked at least the day prior.  It’s possible I was unaware of this requirement when I tried to go. 

It’s certainly worth looking into entry requirements for any memorial, monument, or museum before a trip.  The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum also uses timed entry. And a timed entry into the Washington Memorial is also possible. In our case, we signed up as early as possible in the morning and were assigned a timed group entry a few hours later.

I don’t often join facility tours, but there are plenty of options available for folks who want more information about these NPS properties.  Most properties can be visited without a tour, though, so base that decision on interest and time.  Just keep in mind that walking the entire National Mall can take quite a while and plan accordingly.

It’s a great idea to give yourself a little more time here. When you think about all the other opportunities nearby – e.g., the White House, the National Archives, Ford Theatre, the Library of Congress – it’s easy to see how a walking tour could take a while. I haven’t really run out of interest here before I’ve run out of energy.

Quick Visit? Fast Options

Of course, one option for fans of unsteady wheeled transport would be a tour of the city on a Segway.  Washington D.C. is certainly chock full of sights just itching for some drive-by narrative.  

Honestly, it wasn’t so bad.  And, honestly, I’ll probably never do it again.  But at the very least, I managed to walk away with zero injuries. I consider that a huge win.  Our tour was a bit more expansive, too, rolling by many sites beyond the Mall.

Given the tremendous concentration of historic sites in the area, I imagine it’s one of the best cities in the world for such a touristy thing.

Not in the market for a segway tour? I don’t blame ya at all!

In that case, running the National Mall is another great option! Few city areas in the U.S. are this historic or scenic. Take advantage of it! Running certainly provides a fast(er) way to see all the sites. And a strategically-timed early run means being able to visit sites soon after opening.

More importantly, an early morning run means having the National Mall nearly to oneself. It can’t get much better than that!

Shop the Mall

If you’re planning your own visit to D.C., make the most of the National Mall. The weather is bearable most of the year (although fall and spring are probably most pleasant). It’s easy to get there via the D.C. metro system. The sites are memorable and worthwhile. The museums are world-class.

Just check hours and entry requirements before arrival, and try to give yourself enough time to see the highlights important to you!