Washington, DC

Consider “Saturday Morning at the National,” National Theatre’s free performance series designed for the whole family. Shows range from puppet and magic shows to showcases of music and ballet.

Take in a free performance at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage every evening at 6pm.

Watch the National Zoo's conservation efforts first-hand and pay a visit to Tai Shan, only the third panda to be born and thrive in the U.S.

Play pilot in a mock cockpit at America by Air , an exhibition on permanent display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Get out into DC's neighborhoods to learn about history beyond the National Mall by experiencing Cultural Tourism DC's free self-guided walking trails. They are marked with illustrated signs revealing the stories behind Washington's historic neighborhoods.

Browse through the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden to take in art on view and fresh air at the same time. The garden features seating for visitors - so stay for a while to rest and reflect on the works on view.

Maryland

Soak up the sand and the sun in Ocean City. The three-mile boardwalk provides a nice beginning for a stroll along the ocean.

Visit Assateague Island, a 37-mile long barrier island known for its salt marshes, sandy beaches, herd of wild ponies and birds. The Barrier Island visitors center features a nature film, aquarium with hands-on discovery tank and beachcombing exhibit.

Explore the sights, sounds and smells of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, a vibrant waterfront experience in the heart of downtown. In warmer months, enjoy free entertainment at the amphitheater.

 At the Annapolis City Dock, check out the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, which commemorates the arrival of Kunta Kinte, Alex Haley’s ancestor and the main character of Haley’s book Roots.

Canal Place Heritage Area in Cumberland offers lots of fun and free activities. Get a first-hand look at the history of the C&O Canal and America’s early transportation history via hands-on exhibits about life on the canal.

 See exhibitions that range from Old Masters to contemporary art at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown.

Virginia 

Just six miles off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson County is Crabtree Falls, the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi river.

Roller Blade, bicycle, or just people watch along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. During the summer three oceanfront stages offer nightly entertainment.

In Richmond visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts noteworthy collections of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Contemporary American art, French Impressionists and a collection of Fabergé jeweled objects.