Famous 5: Playing Hooky in D.C.

We’ve all been there – that random, gorgeous, sunny day when you wake up knowing work can do without you and you’re in need of a little hooky fun. But instead of being slobtastic, why not enjoy the fun the DC region offers?! Here’s my top picks for hooky playdates by theme, because there is just that much to do in the Nation’s Capitol!

1. Culture – duh, the National Mall. With 2 miles of monuments and museums stretching from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, you will not be bored. Bonus: take a break from the heat with a viewing of one of the latest IMAX films or check out the greenery at the U.S. Botanic Garden.

2. Booze – bar crawl anyone? If you can convince your buddies to play hooky with you, why not enjoy some day drinking? Between Dupont, Capitol Hill, Chinatown/Penn Quarter, and Adams Morgan, you’ve got a playground in each area of the city to pony up to your bar of choice and rock out your afternoon. Or, for the perfect sunny day, hit the SW or Georgetown waterfront and enjoy ‘ritas by the water. Cantina Marina is my personal fave!

3. Outdoors – if you want to beat the heat, take a drive to Great Falls or Shenandoah to go hiking, or better yet – tubing! Or use the day to visit Mount Vernon or one of the awesome vineyards in VA.  If you are carless, visit the National Zoo or one DC’s parks (I love Hains Point), or take a boat cruise on the Potomac.

4. Movies – with the cinemas at E and K Streets and Chinatown, there are plenty of theatres for your indie or mainstream movie selections. Grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy!

5. Shopping – take a stroll through all the shops in Georgetown or metro out to Alexandria for a walk down King Street. If you’d prefer to stay indoors, the Pentagon City mall is quite lovely or for a true adventure, head out to Tysons Corner for the best shopping in the DC area.

FamousDC thanks Nightlife Correspondent @BlairDC for sharing her favorite hooky spots.