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The nation's capital on the cheap

BY NANCY BENAC | The Associated Press

August 17, 2008

There are so many free and cheap things to do in Washington that the biggest challenge is carving out enough time to take advantage of them. Many museums, monuments and other institutions - from the zoo to the botanic garden - that are run by the federal government, charge no admission. But even if you've been here, done that 15 times over, the capital is packed with new and overlooked attractions:

SITES

The National Mall (nps.gov /nama) at the Smithsonian Metro stop has enough free offerings to fill a D.C. vacation on its own. The monuments are, well, monumental. Try taking them in by night for a new perspective. The hush of the evening, and the smaller crowds will enhance the experience. If you want to go to the top of the Washington Monument, the same-day allotment of free tickets gets snapped up early, so pay the $1.50 a ticket fee to order them in advance at recreation.gov or 877-444- 6777. The free Smithsonian museums (si.edu/museums) have something for every interest.

FOR KIDS

The National Zoo (national zoo.si.edu) is free, and the Asia Trail offers great panda viewing. Take Metro's Red Line to the Cleveland Park stop - not the zoo stop. (If you get off at the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan stop, you've got to walk uphill to the zoo). The zoo is by no means the only big attraction for little ones in Washington. Check out the Muppets exhibit, "Jim Henson's Fantastic World," at the Smithsonian's International Gallery (sites.si.edu/henson) through Oct. 5. The "Building Zone" gallery at the National Building Museum (free, nbm.org) allows kids ages 2-6 to play with blocks, toy trucks and tools.

PEOPLE-WATCH

Check out the competitive chess players who congregate at Dupont Circle. Tryst, a coffeehouse-bar (2459 18th St. NW, trystdc.com), has terrific people-watching and dessert in the heart of happening Adams Morgan. Watch the Ultimate Frisbee Players on the National Mall Saturday afternoons (ultimatefrisbee.meetup.com/30).

CONCERTS

In summer, free military concerts abound. The Washington Post's Weekend section details weekly particulars.

Every Friday in the summer and into the fall, there are free, outdoor jazz concerts at the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden, an unbeatable setting (nga.gov /programs/jazz).

For a jaw-dropping display of military pageantry, attend the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks, offered on Friday nights in the summer (Eighth and I streets, Eastern Market Metro stop, marine-corps-video-evening-parade .com). Tickets, which are free, are booked months in advance, but you can line up to snag unclaimed seats that are released at 8:10 p.m. It's unforgettable.

CHEAP EATS

Have lunch at Naan and More, offering fast Indian fare at three locations around town (naan-and-beyond.com).

Catch dinner at La Loma on Capitol Hill (316 Massachusetts Ave. NE, near the Union Station Metro stop) - a stone's throw from the Senate - for cheap, quick and good Mexican food. It has a great patio, where even senators have been known to dine on the fly.

CHEAP SEATS

The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center (kennedy-center.org) offers a free concert every night at 6 p.m. No tickets required. Take in a ballgame at the new Nationals Park in southeast D.C. Take the Navy Yard metro station or park free at RFK Stadium and take a shuttle bus. There are $5 same-day grandstand seats. Or pay $14 for a hot dog, soft drink and a seat in the upper right field terrace (washington .nationals.mlb.com).