11. Check out the Books at the Library of Congress
You can’t literally check out books to take home, but this enormous library holds 36 million volumes of printed materials shelved on 838 miles of stacks in three Capitol Hill building and basically comprises the world’s most comprehensive record of human creativity and knowledge. The stacks are off-limits, so you can’t just peruse the shelves looking for some light reading material. It’s more of a research facility for scholars and Congress, but anyone 16 years and over can access materials to read on the premises. You’re welcome to walk around or take a free guided tour to see the Great Hall, the Visitor’s Gallery and the Main Reading Room. See one of the world’s remaining copies of the Gutenberg Bible circa 1455, or a first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The library’s Thomas Jefferson Building with its marble floor, columns, staircases, mosaics, paintings and stained glass ceiling is one of the most impressive public buildings in the country.
12. Stroll the C & O Canal
Among the many free parks and trails to enjoy around Washington, this one is particularly noteworthy. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal runs 185 miles through Maryland and the District of Columbia. Pop down almost any side street in the charming Georgetown area to find the canal trail. You can stroll, bike or jog along the bank all the way to Cumberland, Maryland, but most people only go as far as Bethesda.
