• Explore Washington DC in the winter.The Mall Washington DC image by Reza Baktar from Fotolia.com
  
  Always popular with tourists, Washington DC has plenty of activities and attractions to offer at any time of the year. Whether you're in the city for a few days or live nearby, you can find something to entertain both adults and children during the winter months. You can even enjoy special holiday events in Washington DC around Christmas and New Year.
  
  

Museums

• The nation's capital is well known for its many museums, which are best visited in winter when they are less crowded. The National Air and Space Museum is home to the original Spirit of St Louis and the Apollo 11 command module, and catalogs the history of American flight and space travel from the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle. The National Museum of Natural History features interactive exhibits and an IMAX theater, showing nature movies that will keep children entertained.
  
  National Air and Space Museum
  
  National Mall
  
  Washington, DC 20560
  
  202-633-1000
  
  www.nasm.si.edu
  
  National Museum of Natural History
  
  Constitution Avenue
  
  Washington, DC 20560
  
  202-633-1000
  
  www.mnh.si.edu
  
  

Skate Outdoors

• Every winter a temporary ice rink is set up in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on the National Mall. Open every day from November to mid-March, the rink offers you the chance to skate in the heart of the city, surrounded by greenery and sculptures by world-famous artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg. On Friday and Saturday, you can skate until 11 p.m. and enjoy the view as the city lights up.
  
  National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
  
  7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW
  
  Washington, DC 20560
  
  (202) 737-4215
  
  www.nga.gov
  
  

Cheer On The Redskins

• Washington DC's football team, the Redskins, play home games throughout the winter at their stadium, FedEx Field. Public transportation takes you close to the ground just outside the city and most home games are on Sunday afternoons. You can check the website for schedule and ticket details. If you are not lucky enough to be in town when the Redskins are playing, you can still take a stadium tour any time of the year.
  
  FedExField
  
  1600 FedEx Way
  
  Landover , MD 20785
  
  301-276-6050
  
  www.redskins.com
  
  

Celebrate the Holidays

• The National Christmas Tree is lit every year in a special ceremony held on the Ellipse, a park near the White House. The lighting ceremony itself is ticketed, but the tree is lit every evening over the holiday period and also features a festive display and musical performances. Each year, every state provides one decoration for the tree which is in place until New Year's Day.
  
  Ellipse near The White House
  
  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  
  Washington, DC 20500