The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts can be considered the headquarters of stage performances in Washington, or even the whole country for that matter! The entertainment facility is immense as it sprawls out over 17 acres, overlooks the Potomac River and features six theaters that are always staging various productions like plays, operas, ballets and lots more. There are tours of the facility itself, as well as several exhibits and even an excellent concession area.
For a high-flying afternoon with the whole family, head out to the National Air and Space Museum. Part of the Smithsonian group of museums, this venue presents several life-size exhibits and attractions that only make them all the more dramatic. This is the Smithsonian's most visited museum largely due to the dozens of aircraft that are on display that include Lindbergh's aircraft to the Wright Brothers' Flyer and lots more.
Want to know where all the money comes from? Then get set to find out on one of Washington, DC's most popular tours when you visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Some of the exhibits include bills that are no longer in circulation, counterfeit money and a staggering $100,000 bill, along with a presentation of how money is produced and printed. In keeping with fiscal responsibility, the tour is actually free but during peak summer months, admission tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
The National Archives is the ultimate historical storage unit. Every significant document and tangible piece of history is cataloged and stored here. The site houses everything from the Declaration of Independence, to the Louisiana Purchase, to the Watergate tapes. When you walk in, you'll be struck by the fortuitous, 75-foot rotunda where the most treasured documents are on display. Maps, movies, photographs, texts and more are all here, and you can delve into your own research if you are looking for something in particular.