David M. Brown Planetarium has strived hard in educating the students and the community of Arlington about the constellations, planets and the solar system. Located in a dome-shaped structure, this place is equipped with many advanced technical facilities which help and educate the students about the celestial bodies and the mysteries of the universe. The planetarium also organizes many educational shows and events for all.
For the adventurous souls, Carderock Recreation Area entices with exhilarating rock climbing routes and hiking trails along with biking paths flanked by verdant greenery. Sprawling over 100 acres of land area, the expansive park makes for an exciting and reinvigorating retreat, featuring a picnic pavilion nestled amid towering trees. Here, you can unwind with loved ones as you bask in the beauty and serenity of your surrounding vistas. Additionally, you can indulge in activities like fishing or rise to the challenge of scaling steep cliffs which form an integral part of Carderock's mesmerizing landscape.
One of two Smithsonian museums that feature Asian art, the Freer Gallery houses more than 26000 works from all points of the Asian continent, including China, Japan, Korea and India. These works include Asian porcelains, Japanese screens and Islamic art. The works of American artists influenced by Asia are also featured. The most spectacular of these is James McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room, designed for a British shipping magnate and moved to the United States from London in 1904. The Sackler Gallery is interconnected with this gallery via underground exhibition space and houses an impressive collection of Chinese paintings, ceramics and jades.
From El Greco's "The Visitation" to Byzantine and pre-Columbian artworks, jewelry and mosaics, Dumbarton Oaks is filled with elegant treasures. Built in 1801, the estate achieved its height of glory in the wealthy 1920s when it served as the high-society showpiece of Robert Bliss and his heiress wife, Mildred. The gardens occupy 10 acres above Georgetown and include terraced lawns, winding footpaths and elaborate fountains.
The Rock Creek Park contains a beautiful wild forest and serves as an oasis for city residents and tourists. Founded in 1890, the Rock Creek Park is a stunning haven for both people and wildlife. It features a multitude of attractions within which include picnic areas, winding trails and bike paths, a nature center, a public golf course, tennis courts, and stables. Rock Creek Parkway runs alongside the meandering creek. During winter, the park transforms into a popular spot for sledding and other outdoor winter activities.
The gorgeous United States Botanic Garden presents botanical variety, from the desert to the tropics, along a series of calm and gently meandering paths. A particular waterfall and garden display the flora of the dinosaur age. Seasonal displays include Christmas greens and poinsettias in December and January, chrysanthemums in autumn, and blooming flowers at Easter. Additionally, within the beautiful expanse of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), the National Garden was inaugurated in October 2006 and includes the carefully designed Butterfly Garden.