Spoiled for choice here in terms of free museums, galleries and zoos.
When you’ve seen it all, what do you still go back to see?
Definitely not DC but the shuttle out in the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum is always impressive to see.
Technically not a Smithsonian, but I love the free guided tours at the National Gallery of Art.
i don’t live in dc anymore but when i did, i had a favorite painting in the national gallery, a renoir of a young dancer. she calmed me when times were rough. i’d sit with her for a while, then grab a bite in the underground food court next to the waterfall. i’d roam the huge shop, see something i liked, go up and see the real thing, then go back to her for a bit. a whole day occupied for the price of a sandwich.
when i’m back in town, as i was last year, i save one day for this routine.