First, you must make plans with one of the Congressional representatives of your state, at least a month in advance of your chosen date.  You don’t have to wait that long, though—especially prepared groups can make plans up to six months in advance.  Before you finalize a date, talk it over with everyone in your group, which must be ten people or more.  While this might seem like a large number, it’s a great way to plan a trip together with the extended family that you haven’t seen since that last Thanksgiving dinner.  Otherwise, you can add a request to be matched up with another small group in your proposal.

Once your date has been chosen, you have to go through the security process.  Every member of the group must be cleared by the U.S. Secret Service—that means even children and old Aunt Hattie.  If the person is under fourteen, clearance can be gained simply by listing the name and birth.  Everybody who is over fourteen must list this information along with their social security number and citizenship.  If you don’t include this information in your initial request, it must be received by the ticket office at least five business days before the tour.

Once you’re past all that, you’ve done the hardest part, but there’s still one more thing to consider: packing.  If you have any prohibited items on you, you won’t be allowed to enter, and there are no storage areas around the White House.  Besides obvious items like guns, knives, and other weapons, leave home personal grooming items, pens and needles, cameras and recorders, and any bags, backpacks, or purses.

• The Library of Congress is more than just the largest library in the world.  It regularly features rotating exhibits like “Hope for America: Performers, Politics and Pop Culture” which looks at the role Bob Hope played in American political history.  In addition, the amazing architecture and art collection of the Library is always on display.
• The United States Botanic Garden is a gorgeous piece of history dating back to 1816.  Today, the Garden not only houses over 26,000 plants in a variety of categories, but also promotes sustainability and environmental concerns.  Taking a journey through the gardens after visiting some of the more popular areas is a perfect way to reconnect with nature.
• Gravelly Point is located right across the Potomac and is a popular sightseeing spot for airplane aficionados.  It’s just north of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and visitors can also see an exhibit of flight curiosities in the Exhibit Hall of Terminal A.  However, the real thrill is standing at the end of the runway and feeling the rush as planes launch and come in for landings.
• The Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown was founded in the 19^th century and provides a beautiful example of that era’s Romantic movement in Architecture.  Visitors can see graves dating back to the Civil War and some even earlier.  Founder William Wilson Corcoran wanted the Cemetery to be a respectful and popular site for visitors and family members alike, and his wishes have survived up to the present day.

First, a bike co-op in Alexandria called Velocity is hoping to provide future skills and self-esteem to area teens by teaching them the skills of bike repair.  Volunteer Christian Myers grew up with too much time on his hands and a penchant for getting into trouble until he saw the change a mentor could make in a young person’s life.  He worked as a bike messenger in D.C. for 12 years before forming Velocity to pass his skills on to others.  Teens learn all the details of crankshafts and pedals as they work to build their own cycle, which they then keep.  Velocity also offers courses such as bicycle maintenance classes for suggested donations of $30.  Interested readers can also donate online at the velocity website.

Another new development is the unveiling of the first children’s emergency room in Washington, D.C.  Although the center doesn’t open officially until September, the company behind Children’s National Medical Center has been dedicated to helping children for 140 years.  D.C. Committee on Health Chairman David Catania was instrumental in the development of the hospital, remembering his own youth as a meningitis patient.  On July 17, the El Zol Spanish radio station will be broadcasting live and interviewing patients at the hospital, helping to raise even more awareness about this already exciting event.  If you’re interested in donating online, you can find the form here.

The Rock and Roll Hotel is a unique venue on H Street that combines the thrill of live music with the comfort of private hotel rooms.  Visitors can rent out their themed rooms for the evening for parties and other events.  The Hotel prides itself on being 15 minutes from everything, so its easy for hoppers to start at another club and make their way over.  Some notable groups appearing later in the year include Deer Tick, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh fame.

Black Cat is an all-ages club, although it still follows the D.C. Curfew law.  The venue opened in 1993 in an effort to revitalize the live music scene in DC, and also helped the U Street Corridor to recover after a period of urban decline.  The Red Room Bar is a no-cover area of the club where you can always find music, movies, or poetry going on.  Legends Cap’n Jazz are playing a sold-out show on the 23^rd.

The 9:30 Club is a historic spot that’s been around in various guises since the 1970s, when it hosted a variety of New Wave and punk groups.  With a capacity of 1200 people, the venue caters to both local and major touring groups like Bob Dylan and Radiohead.  NPR’s program All Songs Considered broadcasts live concerts from the club by hit groups like Animal Collective and Neko Case.

At the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, visitors can witness the last natural marsh in D.C.  War veteran Walter Shaw started the water gardens in the late 1800s, using wild water lilies from his home state of Maine.  Today, the Gardens house a delicate system of plants and animals, including butterflies and beavers, that make it a popular spot for an afternoon stroll.

The C & O (Chesapeake & Ohio) Canal is a shipping route leading to the Potomac.  At 185 miles long, though, it’s still an impressive tourist attraction, and it’s not uncommon to see people biking alongside the banks.  Just make a detour to see this site during your trip to Georgetown.

For more historically-minded visitors, the National Archives are free and open, featuring all the important government documents of our country.  Among the three billion records is the original Declaration of Independence.  Genealogists can also use the text and microfilm records to look into their family histories.  The only cost is for making copies of the documents.

Family-friendly theater lovers will want to start their weekend off at the National Theatre with Saturday Morning at the National, a free series which has been going on since 1984.  The new season kicks off on September 19 with magician Damian Hart, followed by snake expert Michael Shwedick and his scaly friends on September 26.

If you’re in the area on the second Thursday of the month, check out free jazz at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in their “Take Five!” series, with refreshments available at the museum café.  This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to D.C. freebies.  See what else you can find on your own.