Leave 9:00 AM - : Use L'Enfant Plaza (Blue/Orange/Silver/Yellow/Green lines) for the morning start.
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Arrive right at opening to avoid the heaviest peak security lines.
- 10:00 AM – Entrance: Enter via the Independence Ave SW entrance.
- 10:15 AM – Milestone Galleries: Head directly to the center to see the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, and the Apollo 11 Columbia Command Module.
- 11:30 AM – Destination Space: Explore The Planets gallery to view interactive solar system displays and actual Mars Rover replicas.
- 12:30 PM – Commercial Flight: Stroll through the America by Air atrium to trace the evolution of commercial aviation.
🍔 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Lunch Break
- Option A (Casual): Grab a quick bite at the Mars Cafe located inside the Air and Space Museum.
- Option B (Scenic Walk): Cross Jefferson Drive and walk across the National Mall lawn toward the National Gallery of Art. Dine at the Cascade Café (located in the underground concourse between the NGA buildings) which features a rotating seasonal menu and views of a cascading waterfall tunnel.
🖼️ 2:15 PM – 4:00 PM | National Gallery of Art – West Building
Enter the majestic Neoclassical building designed by John Russell Pope.
- 2:15 PM – The Masterpiece: Head straight to the West Building's main floor to view Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de' Benci—the only painting by da Vinci on public display in the Americas.
- 3:00 PM – Impressionism: Explore the adjacent French galleries to view Claude Monet’s Woman with a Parasol and Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait.
- 3:45 PM – American History: Take a quick loop past Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of George Washington.
⚡ 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | National Gallery of Art – East Building
Walk through the Multiverse light tunnel, an iconic moving walkway installation featuring 41,000 LED lights that connects the two buildings.
- 4:10 PM – Modern Atrium: Enter I.M. Pei’s geometric masterpiece and look up to admire Alexander Calder's massive, 76-foot-long kinetic mobile.
- 4:30 PM – 20th-Century Masterworks: View highlights like Pablo Picasso's Family of Saltimbanques and Andy Warhol's pop art collections.
- 4:50 PM – Rooftop Terrace: Take the elevator to the roof for stunning architectural photos and views of the U.S. Capitol dome.
🌳 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Relax at the Sculpture Garden
- The Giant Rooster: Exit the West Building towards 7th Street to enter the open-air National Gallery Sculpture Garden.
- Final Stop: Walk around the central fountain, view the monumental colorful pop art installations, and relax with an iced drink from the Pavilion Café.
Head to the Archives-Navy Memorial Metro Station (Green/Yellow lines) for the evening exit.