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There are numerous military bases and posts in the Washington D.C. greater area. Since military families tend to live all over the National Capitol Region, this guide combines the insider favorites for the entire region, including locations in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland. To narrow down your area, just look for the state you live near.
Insider guide to help ease your transition to your new military assignment at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Andrews AFB, Fort Belvoir, and the Pentagon (National Capitol Region). Read on for all the insider tips, favorites, and local gems.
Insider Guide to Churches in the National Capital Region that are military-friendly:
New Song Church, Vienna, VA
New Song is a diverse expression of the family of God, who welcomes their neighbor, who loves each other, and who encourages believers to live the gospel.
McLean Bible Church (locations in Tysons, Arlington, Loudon, Montgomery County, and Prince William)
Mclean Bible Church is a family-centered church with people from all walks of life and over 100 nationalities. You are welcome there no matter what you’ve been through or where you’ve come from.
Immanuel Bible Church, Springfield, VA
IBC is a non-denominational church located in Springfield, Virginia, featuring strong exegetical preaching, blended-contemporary music, and ministries to all ages.
Burke Community Church, Burke, VA
Burke Community Church is a non-denominational church in Burke, Virginia, committed to knowing Jesus Christ and making Him known.
Pillar Woodlawn Church, Alexandria, VA
Pillar Church is part of The Praetorian Project. The Praetorian Project is a family of Gospel-centered churches near military installations worldwide.
New Life Christian Church, Chantilly, VA
New Life is one church in three locations which helps people flourish through service, chuch plants, and recreation. They built the nZone, a sports facility designed to serve the community seven days a week. Everything New Life does centers around creating safe places where people discover God daily.
Cornerstone Church-Bowie, Maryland
Cornerstone is a church that believes in building an authentic community, lifting up Jesus, growing in Him and touching our world. Their focus and passion is to reach people in our community and around the world with the love of Jesus.
Friendship Community Baptist Church, Dunkirk, Maryland
Friendship exists to bring people to Jesus and develop them into fully mature reproducing followers of Jesus.
LifePoint, Reisterstown, Maryland
LifePoint Church is a non-denominational church that helps people find and follow Jesus
LifePoint, Waldorf, Maryland
LifePoint points people to life in Jesus Christ through connecting relationally, growing intentionally, serving radically, and leading spiritually.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church- La Plata, Maryland
Chesapeake Church- Huntingtown, Maryland
Chesapeake Church is a growing community who seeks to reach unchurched people and help them grow into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Fellowship Baptist Church - Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Fellowship Baptist Church is not just people attending church; there is a real fellowship.
Many military families attend this church and are welcome for as long or as short as their military assignment finds them in the DC area.
Insider Guide to Recreation and other Fun things to do in and around the in the National Capitol Region:
Smithsonian Museums
Did you know there are 21 Smithsonian museums in the Washington D.C. area? If you see one a month, you’ll be busy for 2 whole years, just with the Smithsonian museums! Entrance to all Smithsonian museums is free and hours are generally 10 to 5:30 but check each website just to be sure because there are limited exceptions. They are open EVERY day of the year except December 25. To limit crowding, some the museums require timed entry, so be sure to check out the website for the musem or museums you want to visit.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation.
The National Museum of African Art is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation, and study of the arts of Africa. On exhibit are the finest examples of traditional and contemporary art from the entire continent of Africa.
Launch into the history of flight by surrounding yourself with icons of air and space travel. The flagship building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, exhibits aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and other flight-related artifacts. While the museum transforms, half of the building is open with eight new and renovated exhibitions.
Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, VA)
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the museum in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of historically significant air- and spacecraft, along with thousands of small artifacts, are on display in an open, hangar-like setting. Other features of the Center include the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, the Airbus IMAX Theater, and the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, where visitors can watch museum specialists at work restoring artifacts.
Devoted to the scientific, cultural, social, technological, and political development of the United States, the museum traces the American experience from colonial times to the present. The American History Museum’s collection contains more than three million historical objects—including the famed Star-Spangled Banner—and documents that explore the evolution of the American identity.
The National Museum of the American Indian cares for one of the world’s most expansive collections of Native objects, photographs, and media, covering the entire Western Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. The museum’s sweeping curvilinear architecture, its indigenous landscaping, and its exhibitions, all designed in collaboration with tribes and communities, combine to give visitors from around the world the sense and spirit of Native America.
Dynamic rotating exhibitions explore various aspects of urban community life, including modernization, cultural encounters, environmental change, gentrification, employment, and globalization.
The Archives of American Art is the world’s largest and most widely used resource dedicated to collecting and preserving the papers and primary records of the visual arts in America.
The Arts and Industries Building (AIB) is the Smithsonian’s second oldest building and a national hub for creative exchange between ideas and objects from our past and our future. AIB opened in 1881 as the country’s first U.S. National Museum, an architectural icon in the heart of the National Mall. Its soaring halls introduced millions of Americans to wonders about to change the world—Edison’s lightbulb, the first telephone, Apollo rockets.
Over the years, AIB was the origin and incubator for almost every other Smithsonian museum, debuting everything from dinosaurs to rocket ships. Never fully renovated, the building closed completely in 2004 due to structural concerns before reopening in 2021 with the landmark FUTURES exhibition.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art includes the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The Freer Gallery houses one of the premier collections of Asian art, with objects dating from Neolithic times to the early 20th century, as well as the world's most important collection of works by James McNeill Whistler.
The Hirshhorn features international modern and contemporary art in the celebrated Gordon Bunshaft-designed cylindrical building, adjoining plaza, and sunken sculpture garden. The museum is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time.
Founded in 1889, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to more than 2,100 animals representing almost 400 different species.
The world's most popular natural history museum is dedicated to understanding the natural world and our place in it. Delve into the fascinating story of our planet, from its fiery beginnings through billions of years of transformation, and explore life on Earth through exhibitions and activities, collection objects and research that happens in the lab and in the field. The museum is larger than 18 football fields and is home to the largest natural history collection in the world.
With visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery introduces you to the people who have shaped the country—poets, presidents, actors, activists, visionaries, villains...and everyone in between. Its collection weaves together story and biography from pre-colonial times to the present to tell the American story.
Located in the historic D.C. City Post Office next to the restored Union Station, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum showcases the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world—including postal stationery, vehicles used to transport the mail, mailboxes, meters, cards and letters, and postal materials that predate the use of stamps. Visitors can walk along a Colonial post road, ride with the mail in a stagecoach, browse through a small town post office from the 1920s, receive free stamps to start a collection and more.
Branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum dedicated to exhibiting American contemporary craft, celebrating makers taking both innovative and time-honored approaches to their work. The Renwick Gallery is located steps from the White House in the heart of historic federal Washington. This National Historic Landmark was designed by architect James Renwick Jr. in 1858 and was the first building in the United States built specifically to be an art museum.
Named after the Smithsonian's 8th Secretary, the underground building's copper domed entrance is on Jefferson Drive between the "Castle" and the Freer Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art. The Ripley Center houses the Smithsonian Associates and the Discovery Theater and connects underground to the African Art Museum and the Sackler Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art includes the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The Sackler Gallery features both permanent and temporary exhibitions from ancient times to the present. The museum is home to an incomparable collection of art, including some of the most important ancient Chinese jades and bronzes in the world. In addition to the exhibitions on display, the galleries feature innovative programming for visitors of all ages, such as lectures, concerts, films, and podcasts that enhance and extend the visit.
Completed in 1855, the Castle is the Smithsonian signature building. The Castle closed Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, for its first major renovation in more than 50 years. But even when the Castle is closed, you can plan your Smithsonian visit at our Virtual Visitor Center and explore the Castle online.
The many gardens that surround the Smithsonian museums are a “museum without walls.” All have been designed to complement the museums they border and to enhance the overall museum experience of learning, appreciation, and enjoyment. See the map of all Smithsonian Gardens.
Free daily guided tours of the Kennedy Center Campus are given by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers, showcasing the historic events that led up to the establishment of the national cultural center that is also our nation's living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
The President is delighted to welcome members of the public to tour the White House. Public tour requests are scheduled through your Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Constituents may reach your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator through the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at www.congress.gov/members.
The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tours begin every 10 minutes until 3:20 p.m. All tours are led by our professional tour guides and visit the Crypt, the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. The tour does not include the Senate and House Galleries. The tour route is subject to change.
Reservations are recommended, but not required. Visit the schedule a tour page to select a day/time for a reservation. Same day passes may be available. Visitors without reservations are encouraged to arrive at the Capitol Visitor Center as early in the day as possible, but no later than 2:30 p.m., to obtain passes.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. The mortally wounded president was carried across the street to Petersen's boarding house, where he remained alive but unconscious through the night. On April 15, 1865, President Lincoln died in the Petersen House. First opened to the public in 1968, Ford's Theatre National Historic Site protects the Theatre and Petersen House, houses a museum about the assassination, and is a working theater.
The Museum of the Bible aims to be among the most technologically advanced and engaging museums in the world. Showcasing rare artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history, the museum offers visitors an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible and its ongoing impact on the world around us.
Mt. Vernon Trail (hiking and biking)
The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from George Washington's Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The trail links Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria, to Arlington County and major Potomac River bridge crossings into the District of Columbia. The Mount Vernon Trail is a popular recreation resource and critical regional transportation connection. The trail hosts over one million pedestrians and bicyclists annually. During peak periods, the trail north of Alexandria is one of the most heavily used multi-use trails in the country. The National Park Service originally constructed the Mount Vernon Trail in the 1970s and 1980s.
Old Town Alexandria (walking tours, shopping, dining, historic, Torpedo Art Factory
Various Ferries on Potomac
National Harbor is your waterfront getaway where you can capitalize on it all. From distinctive dining experiences to Instagram worthy views from the Capital Wheel, National Harbor is one-of-a-kind destination filled with possibilities.
Be sure to check out the passing of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is a monument dedicated to the services of the unknown soldier and to the common memories of all soldiers killed in war. This tomb stands for the many soldiers who died in war with their remains being unidentified. The single tomb contains the body of one such unidentified solider.
At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the Nation's Capital. This park is accessible from both the Maryland and Virginia sides.
Wolf Trap Outdoor Performing Arts Center (Virginia)
Georgetown, D.C.
Georgetown is a lot of things to a lot of people. Cobblestone streets and cupcake tours. Waterfront picnics and political watering holes. Canal history and charming boutiques. Founded in 1751, 40 years before the nation’s capital, DC’s original neighborhood has a storied history—but half the fun is writing your own.
A visit to Washington DC is a journey through American history. Visiting the monuments and memorials helps bring the passion of our forefathers, leaders, and visionaries to life. Luckily, you can visit any of them anytime and for free. Many of them are located near each other in the National Mall, making your travels easy and convenient.
These memorials include:
· Washington Monument
· Lincoln Memorial
· Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
· WWII Memorial
· WWI Memorial
· Korean War Memorial
· Vietnam War Memorial
Insider Guide to Recreation and Other Fun Things to Do around the National Capitol Region that are within 1.5 to 3 hours drive:
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, Architect of the Bill of Rights, and the 4thPresident of the United States. As a monument to James Madison and the Enslaved Community, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education, Montpelier engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison’s most powerful idea: government by the people. Montpelier is a place where we can learn how our Constitution affects our everyday lives. It’s a site that brings its legacy of slavery out of the past and under the lens of our current understanding of the world we all inhabit.
Guests visiting the estate can view Washington’s Mansion and many other original structures. The historic footprint also includes the tomb of George and Martha Washington and a memorial dedicated to the enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate. Interpretive spaces such as the Farm and George Washington's Gristmill & Distillery provide a rich understanding of Washington's enterprising and profitable business ventures. Mount Vernon is the former plantation estate and burial location of George Washington, the American Revolutionary War general and the first President of the United States, his wife Martha and 20 other Washington family members. The current estate—which is open to visitors—includes a mansion, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery and gristmill, plus a museum and education center. Mount Vernon is located along the Potomac River and is beautifully scenic.
Harper’s Ferry National Historic Area (West Virginia)
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. Discover miles of trail in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields.
868 Estate Wineries – offers live music on the weekends
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore.
Maryland Science Center (Baltimore)
The Maryland Science Center has something for visitors of all ages, from the tiniest tots to grown-ups. Head to the Inner Harbor to explore the three floors of interactive exhibits designed to feed your imagination and invite you to have fun. Learn about some of the can’t-miss stops at the Science Center and how to make the most of your visit.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum (Baltimore)
Port Discovery provides unique opportunities and high-quality experiences that make play accessible, educational, and fun for all.
King’s Dominion and Soak City, Virginia (Amusement Park)
The Great Country Farms, pick your own farms in Bluemont, Virginia
Calvert Marine Museum (Chesapeake)
At the Calvert Marine Museum pre-history, natural history, and maritime heritage come together to tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. This is a family-friendly museum that offers live animals, fossils, interactive exhibits, daily activities, and a furnished cottage-style lighthouse - something for every age. We look forward to sharing this very special place with you.
Programming across Colonial Williamsburg draws guests directly into the action. On any given day, visitors may engage in conversation with a diverse array of well-researched, costumed historic interpreters — from Revolutionary thought leader James Madison to the first-known ordained Black Baptist preacher Gowan Pamphlet; from Martha Washington, the first First Lady, to Oconostota, a Cherokee leader. Guests can ask questions and inspect the work products of dozens of expert artisans at our Historic Trades shops and sites. And at our theaters, people encounter unique perspectives on stage, where performers often involve their audiences directly in their art.
Annapolis, MD
Annapolis is a historic city known for its charming waterfront, colonial architecture, and as the home of the United States Naval Academy. With a vibrant arts scene, bustling shops, and delicious seafood, it offers a blend of rich history and contemporary culture.
Gettysburg is a historic town best known for the pivotal Civil War battle fought in 1863, which marked a turning point in the conflict. Today, it attracts visitors with its well-preserved battlefield, numerous monuments, and the insightful Gettysburg National Military Park Museum.
Insider Guide to Annual Events to Look Forward to in and around the National Capitol Region:
Christmas Carol performed live at Ford’s Theatre
Charles County Fair, MD September
Holidays at the National Harbor
Independence Day and Memorial Day Celebrations on the National Mall
4th of July Fireworks and Freedom Fest at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
Military Band Concert Series (free concerts on the steps of the Capitol during the summer)
Insider Guide to Interesting Shops in and around the National Capitol Region:
Tanger Outlets, National Harbor, MD
Tyson’s Corner Center is huge, high-end mall
Insider Guide Restaurants in and around the National Capitol Region:
Coastal Flats (Various locations)
Delia’s Brick Oven Pizza, Springfield, VA
El Paso Mexican restaurant in Springfield, VA
Capital Grill $$$$ (anniversary or very special occasion)
Mike's American Grill (Springfield)
Mission BBQ (Alexandria)
Rice and Spice Thai Cuisine (Alexandria)
Euro Bistro (Herndon)
Texas Jacks BBQ (Arlington)
El Papi’s Street Tacos (Maryland)
Super Eastern, (several locations in Maryland)
Iron Gate, DC
Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Alexandra
Redrocks Old Town Bistro
Bollywood Marsala Indian
Insider Guide to Hairdressers in and around the National Capitol Region:
Sara Cox, Sara4Style, Alexandria, VA 22310 703.258.2139
Positive Image Salon, Springfield, VA
Side Street Hair Design, Springfield, VA
Tangled Salon and Spa- Chesapeake Beach
Tina’s Trends- La Plata
Michelangelo’s -Huntingtown. MD
Simply Bliss Salon and Spa, King George, VA
The G Cut Barbershop, Crofton, MD
Insider Guide to Veterinarians in and around the National Capitol Region:
Colonial Animal Hospital, Springfield, VA
Companion Animal Clinic (Fairfax Station, VA)
Pet Lover's Animal Hospital (Fairfax, VA)
VCA Commonwealth Animal Hospital (Fairfax, VA)
Bennet Creek Animal Hospital (Clarksburg, MD)
Indian Head Animal Hospital- Fort Washington
Potomac Animal Wellness Services (Indian Head)
Insider Guide to Dog/Cat Boarding/Pet Sitters in and around the National Capitol Region:
Kloud K9 Boarding
Top Tier Professional Pet Service
Insider Guide to Dentists in and around the National Capitol Region:
West Springfield Dental Arts, Springfield, VA
Dr. Denis Brito, Woodbridge, VA
Dr. Franciso T. Carlos at Dupont Dental
Pinefield Dental, Waldorf, VA
Gentle Family Dentistry – Dunkirk Dentistry
Peterson and Reddy, Waldorf, VA
Witter Dental, Upper Marlboro, MD
Nova Dental Partners (Woodbridge, Alexandria, Fairfax, VA)
What’s the best part about living around the National Capitol Region?
Lots of military veterans and military-friendly activities. The Spring and Autumn seasons are colorful. Friends and family will want to come visit. There are lots of opportunities and things to do and see and see for a day trip or within a couple hours. The area offers lots of diversity; you will meet people from all over the world. DC offers access to so many great free attractions.
What’s the most challenging part about living around the National Capital Region?
Traffic is the number one concern. This traffic causes some to exhibit some road rage (or you might be tempted to do so yourself). Try your best to avoid rush hour traffic. The cost of living is high. The tense political environment can be challenging. Since it is such a populated place, crowds can be frequent. You might also feel like you experience less customer service since it is such a populated area. Many people commute and live far from the base so the military/service member community is more challenging to develop than in most other military installations.
Thanks to Kim Baker, Emily Hunter, and Keith Morgan for help in creating this comprehensive guide to the huge area, which includes the Pentagon, Andrew’s Air Force Base, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, and Fort Belvoir.
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