Air & Space Museum

As a NASA enthusiast, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s incredible to see nearly all of the Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury mission capsules on display, along with a massive Saturn V rocket engine—cleverly positioned with mirrors so you can truly grasp its enormous scale. They also feature an actual Apollo capsule, and if you look closely, you can spot the damage from Apollo 13 and learn how the crew managed to return safely to Earth. The museum is packed with aircraft as well, including iconic planes like the Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis, plus interactive exhibits that explain the science of flight. It’s an amazing destination for any air and space lover, and a must-visit for anyone—young or old—interested in exploring America’s aerospace heritage. One especially cool highlight is the Space Shuttle Discovery, now part of the museum’s collection. It’s housed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, near Dulles Airport, where they have the hangar space to showcase larger artifacts. Admission is free, and it’s absolutely worth the extra trip outside of D.C. (Check out our review by clicking the Virginia button.) 

600 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC (202) 633-1000