25+ Free Things to Do in Washington, D.C. (Updated 2025)
"I enjoyed the National Zoo’s long history (opened in 1889) and its collection of over 1,800 animals across 160 acres — from lemurs to pandas — and appreciated that it was an early pioneer in scientific research; as part of the Smithsonian it’s free but requires a reserved entry pass (up to 4 weeks in advance, with some same-day passes available)." - Matthew Kepnes
