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Washington Semester Program 4801 Mass Ave, NW, 4th Floor Washington, DC 20016 United StatesSights & Sounds of DC Your Adventure Awaits
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Discover the vibrant city of Washington, DC! Immerse yourself in its rich culture and history by visiting world-class museums, galleries, iconic landmarks, and monuments. Savor the diverse culinary scene, catch a show at a historic theater, or take a leisurely stroll through the city's many picturesque parks and neighborhoods.
Museums & Zoos
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Sackler Gallery (art from the continent of Asia)
- Freer Gallery (African art)
- American Indian Museum
- Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Air and Space Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- Hirschhorn Museum
- Natural History Museum
- Renwick Gallery
- National Zoo
Monuments/Memorials
- Lincoln Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Performing Arts
- Kennedy Center Millenium Stage has free performances every night at 6 PM. From ballet to hip hop, the range of offerings is very diverse.
- Wooly Mammoth is an experiential theater that pushes the limits of live theater
- Shakespeare Theater Company
- Blues Alley
- Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot
- Arena Stage focuses on American works from classics to fresh works
- Story District features original true stories told by people like you
- National Theater hosts Broadway shows and musicals
Open Air Markets
- Eastern Market
- Union Market
- Georgetown Flea Market
- Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market
Metro Accessible
- National Portrait Gallery (Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station)
- International Spy Museum (L’Enfant Plaza Metro station)
- The Phillips Collection (Dupont Circle Metro station)
- Dunbarton Oaks (Dupont Circle or Foggy Bottom)
Cultural Festivals
- Around the World Cultural Food Festival (late August)
- DC Jazz Festival (September)
- Latino Festival aka Fiesta DC (September)
- Turkish Festival (September)
- National Christmas Tree Lighting (November)
- Chinese New Year (January/February)
- Annual Flamenco Festival (February at Lisner Auditorium)
- St. Patrick's Day (March)
- Francofonie Cultural Festival (March/April)
- National Cherry Blossom Festival (March/April)
- Cinco de Mayo (May)
- Fiesta Asia (May)
- Passport DC where embassies offer open houses(May)
- Smithsonian Folk Life Festival (June/July)
DC Neighborhoods
- Adams Morgan (between Dupont Circle and Woodley Park Metro stations)
- Bloomingdale (15 minute walk to green line’s Shaw-Howard U Metro station)
- Dupont Circle (on Metro's red line)
- Foggy Bottom (on Metro's orange line)
- Georgetown (15 minute walk from Foggy Bottom Metro station)
- H Street NE (15 minute walk from Union Station Metro station)
- Penn Quarter/Chinatown (on Metro's red line)
- Shaw (on Metro's green line)
- U Street Corridor (on Metro's green and yellow lines)
- Southwest Waterfront (on Metro's green line)
Dining
Eat, eat, eat your way around the world at famous food trucks, local hangouts, and 5-star restaurants
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