Local Favorite
Our Take
The Conservatory is truly stunning, with two courtyard gardens and ten garden rooms all under glass. Escape the bustle of DC and stroll through the Orchid Room, the Worlds Deserts Room, a rare and endangered plant display, a butterfly garden, a children’s garden, and a three-acre National Garden that showcases plants from all over our country. The gardens are open 365 days year and, like all the Smithsonian museums, admission is free. The hours vary according to day and season, plus the gardens are periodically closed for government events, so make sure you check online before visiting.