Extreme Budget Washington DC Itinerary; FREE Attractions and Transit

Extreme Budget Washington DC Itinerary; FREE Attractions and Transit

Lisa Mueller
This itinerary covers 3 full days in the Nation's Capital, with free bus transportation to national monuments, museums and picnic spots, hand selected by a native Washingtonian. This family-friendly guide will save you money and time. The itinerary assumes you will pack a lunch for each day, and the first 2 days begin at a grocery store.
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Make Reservations Here Ahead of Time.

Here's where you'll go:

DAY 1:

Streets Market
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Buy breakfast and picnic lunch here, optional.
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Planet Word
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Short walk from Streets Market New and fun interactive museum for adults and older kids alike. Highlights include karaoke, interactive books, hidden nook, interactive settings "paint" Best to Reserve tickets ahead
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Franklin Park
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Picnic here across from the museum. Playground, tables and restroom.
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The White House
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Walk through Black Lives Matter Plaza to see the White House, then walk down 15th Street to the Washington Monument
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Washington Monument
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PHOTO OP
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Short walk down Madison Drive to the museum entrance; good for kids; Hope Diamond, dinosaurs; animals
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Recreation Pier at The Wharf
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BYOB "happy hour" here 52 Bus
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The Yards Park
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BYOB "Happy Hour" here P6 bus
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DAY 2:

Manhattan Market
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Buy breakfast and picnic lunch here, optional.
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Smithsonian National Zoological Park
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Walk through the zoo, enjoy exhibits, exit at the back into Rocl Creek Park for forest walk to downtown Highlights include pandas; rainforest, petting zoo
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Rock Creek Park
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National Park Service's trail through the woods along Rock Creek. Walk to Dunbarton Oaks and picnic.
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Dumbarton Oaks Park
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Picnic here.
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Dumbarton Oaks Museum
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FREE
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John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
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Free Performance at Millenium Stage @ 6:30 pm, Reserve tickets ahead. JFK Exhibit at the Kennedy Center Photos from the balcony Art at The Reach
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The REACH, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
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BYOB "Happy Hour" here
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DAY 3:

Peace Monument
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United States Botanic Garden
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FREE Highlights include: medicinal garden; rainforest; children's garden; orchids; Holiday-time train exhibit
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2 Sisters Deli
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Buy lunch to go and picnic on the Mall
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National Mall
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Picnic here
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National Museum of the American Indian
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Fun interactive kids exhibit Good cafeteria featuring Native foods
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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
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Old Post Office Pavilion
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Enter on 12th St. for access to the Clock Tower, amazing view from the top
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Short walk down Madison Drive to the museum entrance; good for kids; Hope Diamond, dinosaurs; animals
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Lincoln Memorial
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Take RED Circulator bus to the Lincoln Memorial
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Watergate Steps
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BYOB "Happy Hour" here; short walk from the Lincoln Memorial (toward the Potomac River)
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