A nice thing about having house guests is they help you rediscover your immediate world, sometimes by mistake. A recent excursion to the National Zoo was a bust, so our guests suggested a trip to the U.S. Botanic Garden, one of my favorite area attractions that I hadn’t thought of mentioning. It was a beautiful day and lots of people had journeyed to the District to make the most of the not-winter weather, so I expected to battle crowds similar to those we had encountered trying to get to the zoo. As it happened, everyone was either at the zoo — or on the National Mall — so lucky us.
The garden, though filled with people, wasn’t packed, and we enjoyed a leisurely visit that proved far more enjoyable than an afternoon spent crowded around a smelly cage hoping for a glimpse of a bear that sleeps 20 hours a day. No, the specimens we saw that Saturday were very much alive and thriving, and the garden’s many exhibits provided something for everyone. For me, the orchids were the stars of the show, far more striking than my phone’s camera shots can show here.
If you’re in Washington and find yourself with a free afternoon to spend far from the maddening crowds, try enjoying a quiet bit of Eden at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Where in the world: 100 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20001
On Google Maps: Here
Where on the Web: USBG.gov
Admission: Free
Phone: 202.225.8333
Conservatory hours: 10 a.m – 5 p.m.,
including weekends and holidays
National Garden hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bartholdi Park hours: Dawn to dusk,
including weekends and holidays
Visitor’s advisory: Eat before you go or pack a lunch. There are no dining options at the gardens.
On Yelp: Here
On Gowalla: Here
On foursquare: Here
Filed under: flowers, gardens, Northern Virginia, Washington Tagged: botanic gardens, dc, flowers, gardens, maryland, northern virginia, South, virginia, washington
