Or should I say "lists"...
Because I'm an anal-retentive lawyer, having only one list wasn't good enough. After all, I need to keep track of what I've done versus what I haven't done. Consequently, there are two lists...
So here you go. If you have a suggestion for something to add to the list, please do so in the comments below. (Note that most entries have hyper-links you can click for more information).
Good luck whittling down your own bucket lists!
THE "NEED TO GO THERE, DO THAT"
DMV BUCKET LIST
MUSEUMS
- Newseum
- Koshland Science Museum
- Bureau of Engraving
- Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (scheduled to open fall 2016)
WAR/HISTORICAL/MEMORIAL SITES
- Gunston Hall (George Mason's home)
- Gettysburg
- Fredericksburg Battlefield
- Lorton Prison Workhouse/Arts Center
- Titanic Memorial
- Kahlil Gibran Memorial
- Congressional Cemetery
- Frederick Douglass House
- President Lincoln's Cottage
- Go to the top of the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Virginia
FEDERAL BUILDINGS
RECREATIONAL
- Canoe on Potomac River (out of Riverbend Park)
- 50 States Bike Ride (62-mile bike ride down all named streets in DC)
ART GALLERIES
MUSIC and FESTIVALS
- Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival (April 30, 2016)
- Blues Alley (Georgetown)
THEATERS
- Drag Breakfast at Perry's
- Baseball game at Aberdeen Cal Ripken Experience
- Embassy tour/event (any embassy!). Take advantage of Passport DC during the month of May, which is 31 days of programming by over 70 embassies and over of DC's cultural institutions. You can even do the Around the World Embassy tour during that month, when more than 50 embassies open their doors to the public.
- Research family history at Archives
- Marine Corps Barracks Parade/Procession
- Ride ferris wheel at National Harbor
- DC Ducks Boat Tour
THE "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT"
DMV BUCKET LIST
MUSEUMS
- All of the Smithsonian museums (yes, there's more than one!)
- Holocaust Museum
- Botanic Gardens
- National Arboretum and Capitol Columns
- U.S. Marine Corps Museum near Quantico, Virginia
WAR/HISTORICAL/MEMORIAL SITES
- Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home)
- Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home)
- Montpelier (James Madison's home)
- Manassas Battlefield
- Arlington Cemetery (including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and changing of the Guard; and Kennedy's gravesite)
- U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis
- Ft. McHenry (home of the Star Spangled Banner)
- Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
- Washington, DC WWI Memorial
- Einstein Memorial at the National Academy of Sciences
- Fort Washington Park (Maryland)
- Theodore Roosevelt Island and Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- FDR Memorial
- Air Force Memorial
- Marine Corps Memorial
- National Mall tour (including Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Memorial, and Korean War Memorial)
- Go to the top of the Old Post Office Tower or Washington Monument (I prefer the OldPost Office Tower. The views are better and it's less crowded)
FEDERAL BUILDINGS
- White House Tour
- Library of Congress
- Tour the Supreme Court and hear an oral argument
RECREATIONAL
- Hiking at Shenandoah National Park
- Bike or drive Skyline Drive
- Hike Old Rag Mountain,
- Hike Sugarloaf Mountain
- Luray Caverns
- Natural Bridge
- Great Falls Park
- Turkey Run Park
- Potomac Heritage Trail
- C&O Canal
- Billy Goat Trail
- Run/walk/bike around Hains Point
- Bull Run Occoquan Trail (encompasses three regional parks: Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Fountainhead Regional Park, and Bull Run Regional Park)
- Prince William Forest Park
- Rock Creek Park Trails and Pierce Mill
- Run, walk, or bike the W&OD Trail (bike the entirety to Purcellville and back for 90-miles round trip!)
- Run, walk, or bike the Mt. Vernon Trail (18-miles from start at Roosevelt Island to finish at Mt. Vernon)
- Run, walk, or bike across Woodrow Wilson Bridge
- Wakefield Park trails
SPORTING EVENTS
- Washington Nationals game (baseball)
- Baltimore Orioles game (baseball)
- Washington Redskins game (football)
- Washington Wizards game (basketball)
- Washington Capitals game (hockey)
- DC United game (I've never actually been, but don't really follow soccer much)
ART GALLERIES
MUSIC and FESTIVALS
- Wolf Trap
- 9:30 Club
- Iota Club and Cafe
- Birchmere
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival
- DC VegFest
- Attend a variety of other festivals. Here's a list of all DC-area festivals (including food and film festivals)
THEATERS
- Virginia Wineries
- Exorcism stairs in Georgetown
- Old Town Alexandria
- Watch airplanes take off and land from Gravelly Point
- Jones Point Park and Historic Lighthouse
- Catch the July 4th fireworks over the Washington Monument
- See the White House Christmas Tree
- See the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
- See the cherry blossoms