The Smithsonian's National Zoo has animal exhibits featuring approximately 2,000 animals from 400 different species. Admission to the zoo is free of charge, and the zoo is open every day at 10 a.m., closing at 6 p.m. April through October and 4:30 p.m. March through November. See Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, two giant pandas from the China Wildlife Conservation Association as they snack on stalks of bamboo. Children enjoy the Kids' Farm, featuring cows, alpacas and goats, as well as a pizza garden that displays the plants used to make pizza. The zoo features many animals, including prairie dogs, tammar wallabies, Przewalski's horses and an emu, that are housed in their own exhibits.
The United States' capital city is home to festivals and local events throughout the year that are free to attend. In the springtime, enjoy the natural beauty of D.C. at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, D.C.'s largest and most popular celebration of the season, with festivities lasting for two weeks. The D.C. Caribbean Carnival provides a summertime cultural extravaganza with live entertainment from bands playing Caribbean music and a parade. The Smithsonian Folklike Festival runs for two weeks during the Fourth of July holiday in the National Mall. This festival features craftspeople, artists, storytellers and cooks to demonstrate skill and technique. Each year the festival is based on a theme, such as a nation, region or state.
All of the museums in Washington D.C. offer free admission, but some require timed passes for more popular exhibits, available on the day of your visit. Washington, D.C. is home to 14 Smithsonian museums, including the Freer Gallery of Art, established in 1923, and the first Smithsonian Museum of Art. Visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to see powerful videos, clothing and belongings of Jews who perished in concentration camps. The National Museum of Natural History is kid-friendly with a Dinosaurs exhibit and Insect Zoo, but adults will enjoy seeing the 45-karat Hope Diamond, once belonging to Marie Antoinette.
