Georgetown Glow is free public art with elements to captivate all ages & demographics. It can be…read morepaired with some history or can be enjoyed to captivate your Instagram followers. It is currently in it's fifth year, running from early December to early January. It looks like the installations change every year so there is something new to explore and enjoy. I won't go through every installation that I saw for this reason. There are some really instagramable moments, my favorite in 2018 was definitely Prismatic, but I have a big soft spot for Run Beyond as well. You should definitely plan to get out and explore a lot of the installations, just walking or driving by won't give you the full effect of some of them. Some of them also can't be seen from your vehicle, bundle up and explore! There are also a few that incorporate motion & sound. Here is the biggest "well duh" moment- see these installations after dark. Not during sunset, not at dusk- make sure it is really dark for the full effect. I mean- they are light installations, so maybe that shouldn't even be mentioned. I opted to see Georgetown Glow as part of a tour group (Free Tours by Foot DC) and our tour started almost an hour before sunset so I made a point to revisit the installations we saw early on during the tour- it was definitely worth the trip back to see the earlier installations. I thought taking the walking tour was a great way to see some of the installations and learn more about the history of Georgetown. Our tour guide was excellent, but was definitely a better Georgetown guide vs a Glow guide. She had great historical stories to connect to the themes of the art installations as we walked through Georgetown. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see all of the artwork during this foot tour, but we had plenty of time to explore the ones we did encounter on our tour. I would recommend doing Georgetown Glow both ways, take a tour if that's your thing, but really for the art itself I think you can easily enjoy every installation without the tour aspect and just read the information provided on the website to learn more. It is an outdoor, free, public display so expect that a few of the installations may have technical difficulties. I visited on the second night of the displays and noticed some light vandalism, most likely caused by careless spectators. It didn't take away from the overall effect though. One thing I appreciated is even though this is a December outdoor light exhibit, it wasn't Christmas themed. There is definitely plenty of holiday cheer to enjoy as you explore the city between installations. The art itself focuses on different themes giving you a brief mental break from the holidays.

I've been going to GLOW since the first edition and I just love it! I like some installations…read morebetter than others but it's a great idea and it's nice seeing people walking around at night in the Winter! It would be nice to have shuttle tours for people who can't walk as much. Maybe the Circulator used to do free rides? I can't remember. DC has so many free events and exhibits and GLOW is one of the best.

It is a cute little garden with Barbie's. They change it depending on the theme or holiday or…read moreseason.

This was marked a tourist attraction on Google Maps. After clicking, seeing photos, and Instagram,…read moreI knew this was going to be a must-see. I visited DC before and did all the museums and monuments. I wanted to see other landmarks and attractions, and what better that the Barbie Pond. In a cute neighborhood, you will find an adorable front of home garden with a pond. The barbies were living their best lives! Hands up in the air with boobies out! The other girlies were floating around in the pond, relaxing and enjoying the summer rays. The "pond floats" were so cute being little rings and pineapples. The Ken's were enjoying the sunny weather at well. You can even spot 2 speed boats. What an awesome summer day. I even liked the large sign reading The Magic of Liquid Sunshine. The Barbies change for the different holidays and seasons. I can't wait to keep up with them on Instagram!

The local artist is SO NICE and alludes his love to art. He is known for his "watermelon house" and…read moremural down the alley...

Fun spot to check out if you're in the neighborhood--a humongous mural painted on the side of a…read morehouse. There are more murals down the alley. We met the artist, Wade Wilson! Friendly gentleman.

TL:DR - A oasis in Washington, DC…read more While the phrase "hidden gem," is too often overused, the Tregaron Conservancy is place where that label is completely apropos. Located off Macomb Street in the toney Cleveland Park neighborhood, this is definitely a spot frequented by locals. Walking up to the small gate entrance, it's almost as if this a secret garden of sorts. Make you way up the winding path, and visitors encounter some of the most beautiful green spaces in all of DC. The Tregaron Conservancy and the associated grounds are joint tenants with the adjacent Washington International School (https://tregaron.org/news/washington-international-school-tregaron-conservancys-perfect-partner). Just be aware that while the main sections of the Tregaron are open to the public, the school portion is not. While the Tregaron is not expansive, there are many nice sections. There are benches down by the Lily Pond which I have often enjoyed a coffee and conversations with friends. The remaining grounds are kept pristine with slight hills which are perfect for an afternoon picnic or just sitting to enjoy sunny days. There is also the scenic Klingle Valley trail which winds through the woods and eventually connects up with Rock Creek Park after crossing through busy Connecticut Ave. Good information before you make the trip: https://tregaron.org/planning-your-visit My advice is to take the Metro to the Cleveland Park stop, and make the short 10 minute walk. There are many restaurants and bakeries where you can pop in, get a beverage and pastry to enjoy at the Tregaron. Bonus Tip: If you need to use a restroom, the Cleveland Park Library is at corner of Connecticut Ave and Macomb Street (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleveland-park-library-washington?osq=cleveland+park+library&sort_by=date_desc) There aren't many "attractions" at the Tregaron...but that's really the point. It's a place to escape the concrete jungle that is DC and commue and appreciate nature, at least for a short while. If you are looking for an "in the know" place and want to impress long time DC residents and visitors alike, I highly recommend visiting the Tregaron Conservancy.

The Tregaron Conservancy is a beautiful hidden gem for a short walk in a natural setting right…read moreinside the city. I'm amazing by how much of an escape it feels like as it's tucked on a very small land area. It may not be a tourist destination to make a trip out for, but I am so grateful to have this local spot. The area could be walked through very quickly, but I have also spent hours sitting by the pond and birdwatching or just enjoying nature. The park can be tricky to find, I access it from Klingle Valley Trail. Note - this is the Conservancy which is an outdoor park. I believe the "Estate" is now the Washington International School building and is not open to the public.

Fun area to stop by while you are already out and about. The murals are beautiful and perfect for a…read morequick photoshoot. Highly recommend!

Great spot to see several pieces of street art/murals in DC, with a couple coffee shops, cocktail…read morebars, shops, and restaurants on site. All types of art from artists of all walks of life. LGBTQ art, art focusing on Black musicians, grittier art like what you might see on the Lower East Side of NYC. Researching online, doesn't seem like the art changes very often (some of the art seems to have been there for over five years), but still worth a visit. Plus you could make an outing of it, with a meal and cocktails or coffee. Very instagrammable.

This is a piece by Larry Kirkland who made it in 2020. It was inspired by the artist's collection…read moreof historic celestial maps by Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed. It is located in a very nice plaza area located in a neutral ground space between The Clark Apartments (S Clark Street) and The Sur Apartments (S Ball Street). There is metered street parking available of the streets that the piece is sandwiched by. The site is popular among people from the surrounding apartments walking their dogs. The piece consists of 5 Blue in the Night granite slabs engraved with images from Kirkland's maps. The slabs vary in size from about 7 to 3 feet tall. Many people find it comparable to another of Kirkland's pieces titled Wonder Wander. In addition to the blocks, you will find a semi-circle bench around the slabs that are engraved with elements from land and sea to connect us to the natural world on earth. It is a nice installation that is well organized and very clean. I do find the engravings to be very busy though. It may be because I am just not a star gazer. I really wonder what a person that is into astronomy thinks about it? The engravings are very detailed and probably took a bit of time to complete. Kirkland was very meticulous ion making this piece. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

We could have done without. There's no sign and you can not see it from the road but once you pass…read morethe zoo, it'll be on your right hand side. A white fence is road side.

This was a fun stop on our 19 hour road trip! It is only about 5 minutes off the highway so it was…read moreeasy to find and hop back right on the road after. Was also nice to get out, stretch our legs and let the dog do his thang. Makes for some good photo ops, and you could probably fool some people! Haha There looked like some hiking told nearby too if you have time to kill. I'd take friends here if I go that way again on a road trip!

I like the graffiti cliffs for a multitude of reasons. My main reasoning is it allows me to get an…read moreescape from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being right in the middle of it. Additionally, it offers a great view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the Potomac. It is one of those experiences in the city that takes you away while still being present. A couple of downsides to this area is that it can be a bit sketchy and you're best to watch your back when you come up here. On the flip side, they're there for the same purpose that you are - to chill. You leave them alone and you will be left alone. It is easy to access for the most part. Just take the stairs up from the parking below by the kayaks and you'll find yourself on the C & O Trail. Wear good shoes. You will be better off than wearing sandals.

If you want to see some American Graffiti, this is where you come. Jimmy Cliff and Cliff Richard…read more(ew) like it here too, hence it's named the Graffiti Cliffs. I didn't even know the Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown even existed (even) until my most recent visit, which is weird because I know everything, lol, and I used to live around here. But it's a must visit. I love it. The views are amazing and the graffiti on all of the cliffs and things around here is awesome. The sometimes strict local police let everything go here, so it's basically just a free artistic place. It's sort of like a tolerance zone for prostitution, but instead, it's art. Although Barbi and I consider some forms of prostitution to be art, too, especially when we do it. So Graffiti. Not as much fun as prostitution but it might be better to look at depending on who the client is. I mean artist. However, I learned that just a few weeks after I visited here, they closed it off. Not even for Coronavirus, but before Corona. Hopefully it'll be opened up again as soon as Coronavirus is over. It better be.