21 Most Unusual Non-Touristy Things to Do in Washington, DC
![The DC Rollergirls is just one of many quirky things to see in the city](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gettyimages-104795338-e1625571206869.webp)
It might conjure images of the White House, National Mall and the US Capitol Building, but the capital city of America also has a quirky side. From circus skills with Trapeze School New York to ghost tours in Lafayette Park, these are the more unusual things to do in Washington DC.
With its chequered history and powerhouse status, it’s perhaps no surprise that America’s administrative heart has more than its fair share of out-of-the-ordinary activities – and that doesn’t include the politics. Sate your curiosity at museums dedicated to double agents or medical specimens, catch a lesser-known sports game, hear of the city’s hauntings or even fly on a trapeze.
Get spooked on the Ghosts of Lafayette Park Tour
Park
Betrayals, conspiracies and assassinations have made this city fertile ground for rumors of hauntings. Several ghost-tour companies reveal this side of DC, the creepiest of which is the Ghosts of Lafayette Park Tour. Guides dressed in Victorian costumes lead you by lantern-light around Lafayette Park, passing the White House, the Hay-Adams hotel and St John’s Church, as they recount the twisted tales that earned this area its ghoulish reputation.
Fly through the air with Trapeze School New York
School
You don’t have to run away and join a circus to try out the flying trapeze. Trapeze School New York (TSNY) has a Washington DC branch, where anyone can sign up for training sessions in big-top skills. Other options include trampolining, silks (hanging acrobatically from fabric) and the Spanish Web aerial apparatus. If you’re not one for heights, there are tricks to be learnt back down on terra firma, such as juggling and balancing.
Get to a DC Divas tackle football game
Sports Center
The DC Divas have made a name for themselves by earning three national titles in women’s professional tackle football and achieving more victories than any other franchise in sport. Their home games are held at the state-of-the-art St James Sports Complex, around a 20-minute drive from the center of DC. Tickets are a fraction of the price of men’s football and the athleticism of the players will leave you exhilarated.
Cheer for the lightening-fast DC Rollergirls
Stadium
An amateur, not-for-profit sport it may be, but crowds descend in their thousands to watch the DC Rollergirls do their thing. Roller derby is a contact sport with plenty of action, where the skate-wearing teams whip around a flat track at breakneck speed, and points are gained by lapping members of the opposing team. Check out the DC Armory and Dulles SportsPlex for tickets.
Ride through Rock Creek Park on horseback
Bridge, Park, Zoo
![Person riding a red and brown horse reflecting the autumn colours of the forrest in the background, Rock Creek Park, Washington](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/henry-deng-ie9icr1imcc-unsplash-1.webp)
Sleuth around the International Spy Museum
Museum
![International Spy Museum, Washington](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/yohan-marion-1xt5yyado7m-unsplash.webp)
See the specimens of the National Museum of Health and Medicine
Museum
Witness legal dealings at the US Supreme Court
Building
Find your way out of Escape Room Live
Amusement Park
Few escape rooms live up to the sheer creativity of Washington’s DC’s version. Part-Crystal Maze and part-Trivial Pursuit, Escape Room Live is an immersive, live-action game geared up towards groups. You’ll find it in two locations, historic Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria, with the former offering eerie rooms such as the Curse of the Mummy, and the latter going for character themes such as Sherlock Holmes. Both have Hollywood-level set design and lighting.
Go underground to see Christian catacombs
Church
Built at the turn of the 20th century, these mini catacombs may not match up to the subterranean tombs of Europe, but their Dan Brown-esque atmosphere makes for a fascinating experience. The complex is located beneath the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, and although most of the tombs are fake, there is a real skeleton on display. The chilling legend is that these bones belong to a seven- or eight-year-old child, a second-century Italian martyr.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Museum
History on Foot
Architectural Landmark
Tudor Place
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
National Capitol Columns
![National Capitol Columns in Washington, DC](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/national-capitol-columns-in-washington-dc.webp)
Nellie's Sports Bar
Bar, Pub, American, Pub Grub
Landmark E Street Cinema
Movie Theater
![Discover movies by classic and new directors](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1979765.webp)
Brewmaster's Castle (Heurich House Museum)
Museum, Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark
What a grand place to grab a brew. Built in the 1890s by brewer Christian Heurich as a personal palace in D.C., this gothic Victorian home contains an eclipsing tower growing out of the three-story abode and elaborate stone arches. After his death at age 102 (his beer must have been the elixir of life), the two first floors and his brewing business were preserved, hosting beer events like Oktoberfest and tastings. Recommended by Nicole Hampton
Washington National Cathedral
Cathedral
Graffiti Cliffs
Natural Feature
Make sure to bring your phone because these cliffs are every Instagrammers dream. Not only do they offer a view of the Potomac River and the cityscape, but the hidden cove of cliffs that start to take on words and colors is the ever-changing local secret, as people come to add their own impressions onto other artworks. It’s a quiet place people come to reflect, read, hang out, and take a few selfies. Recommended by Nicole Hampton
Riggs Library
Library
Church of Two Worlds
Church
Looking for somewhere to stay? Book into one of the best hotels near the National Mall with Culture Trip.