City Guide
The Perfect Hotel Near Arlington Cemetery & Downtown DC Attractions
Find just the DC you came to see - from the White House to the Monuments and the Mall to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery – at the Holiday Inn® Arlington at Ballston. The Ballston Metro station is just a three-block walk from the hotel, making it a snap for you to find your way around the city like a true DC local. This is a convenient, low-cost way to explore the nation’s capital’s neighborhoods, famous attractions, and hidden gems.
You can also take advantage of our complimentary shuttle, which will zip you anywhere within a mile of the hotel.
- Online Tourist Reference Guides
- Calendar of Events in Arlington VA and Washington DC area
- Music, Theaters, and Nightclubs
- Free To Do
- Maps
Online Tourist Reference Guides
We have compiled a few of our favorite guides and resources to help you plan your next visit. Should you require more information, simply ask at the front desk – our welcoming staff is always happy to provide suggestions.
- The Washington Post’s Going Out Guide – find a weekly chat archive and information about upcoming events.
- The Washingtonian – which also has a neighborhood guide for Wilson Boulevard.
- TBD.com – a hyperlocal network of the area’s best bloggers.
- Frommers – one of our favorite sources for travel content.
- Living Social – check here for deep-discount coupons
Music, Theaters, and Nightclubs
- Artisphere
- The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
- Signature Theatre
- Blues Alley
- The Birchmere
- Wolf Trap
- Arena Stage
- The Capitol Steps
Free Performances
Free Performances and Shows in Washington DC
The Kennedy Center hosts free performances every day at 6 PM on the Millennium Stage. Also, every September, the Prelude Festival kicks off the Kennedy Center's fall performance schedule with many free events. Choral and church groups perform at the National Cathedral, often at no charge.
Summertime is the season for free concerts. Folk, pop, and rock bands perform gratis on Monday and Thursday nights atop Fort Reno park. You can also hear free jazz in the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden Fridays in summer. The Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park hosts free performances by the Shakespeare Theatre Company and free concerts throughout the spring and summer.
Performances of military music take place around the city. From June through August, the U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Marine Band, and U.S. Army Band take turns playing free concerts on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol weekdays at 8 PM. You can also see the U.S. Marine Band every Friday night from May through August during the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks. The event features music and precision marching.
Washington is a city of festivals, many of which are free to the public (food and souvenirs cost extra). When the weather turns warms, check the National Mall lawn and Pennsylvania Avenue for music and dance performances, concerts, talks, cooking demonstrations, parades, and more. For a complete list of annual events, visit the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation at www.washington.org.
TICKETPLACE sells half-price tickets to Washington's theater and music events. If you're visiting in late October, reserve your seats early for D.C.'s Free Night of Theater.
Almost every day of the year, the Politics and Prose independent bookstore on Connecticut Avenue invites fiction and nonfiction authors to the store for book readings, talks, and Q&A sessions. It's a great chance to meet the faces behind the names on the New York Times Bestsellers' List.
Finally, if it's free flicks you're after, the Screen on the Green film festival shows movie classics for free on a giant screen on the National Mall. Screenings take place Monday nights in July and August.
Monuments, Museums, and the Mall
Specials and Packages at the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston