Franciscan Monastery, a century-old monastery is one of Washington DC's hidden delights. The garden, set on a hillside and reached by winding paths, is full of big trees and places to sit quietly among the flowers and small outdoor shrines. The public is allowed to view the upper church's full-scale replicas of Holy Land shrines. In the lower church, visitors will find a replica of the Roman catacombs, which can only be seen on scheduled tours. Guided tours last about 45 minutes.
Part of the United States Botanical Gardens, Bartholdi Park is named after famous French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi who is best known for designing the Statue of Liberty. Bartholdi also created other famous monuments such as the neo-classical fountain situated in the center of the park. Detailed and exquisitely-designed gardens surround the majestic fountain as it stands between two walking paths. The fountain was one of the first monuments in the country that used gas lamps to illuminate the structure at night which caused it to become a popular attraction for many visitors. Since its creation in 1932, the structure has be restored multiple times to ensure its quality and the park was named after the sculptor in 1985. The park is open dusk til dawn daily.
This charming farm complex consists of a lovely historic house. Influenced by the Greek Revival architectural style, this house overlooks the Potomac River. The view of the river is indeed one of the most beautiful highlights of the estate. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which makes it a must visit when in town.
Dranesville Tavern was built around 1850 and is located in Dranesville, Virginia. The building has a Greek Revival style of architecture. It is a wagon type of tavern and was moved from its original location and is now located near Herndon. It was added to National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1972.