Visiting Washington, D.C. for Spring Break? Pack These Books to Enrich Your Trip!

Smithsonian Books can help you plan your best D.C. getaway

With beautiful weather and cherry blossom season, you can't beat springtime in the nation's capital. If you're heading to D.C. anytime soon, here are five books you'll want to add to your packing list!

Washington on Foot

This walking tour guide makes touring D.C. more efficient and fun! It features 24 user-friendly maps, tips for taking public transportation, and routes chosen to reduce aimless walking while maximizing sightseeing. Visit D.C.'s most iconic landmarks like the National Mall and experience its lesser-known gems like Dumbarton Oaks or the Mexican Cultural Institute. This guide includes information about the city's history and culture so you can learn along the way.

Official Guide to the Smithsonian

This colorful and illustrated guide is full of all the information you need to have the best time across the Smithsonian's 19 museums and National Zoo. Read up on history, gallery highlights, and practical information on visiting the museums. With so much to do and see, this book makes it easy to plan your best Smithsonian experience.

Smithsonian Book of Paper Airplanes

Visit the planes at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and then fly them yourself—with paper that is! The 16 paper airplane designs in this book are inspired by real planes in the Smithsonian collections, and it'll make visiting them even more entertaining and engaging. The book is filled with aviation facts, the science behind flight, tips and tricks for paper airplanes, and a pilot’s log to track flights as you navigate the city.

Mindful Eye, Playful Eye

Want to experience a D.C. museum like never before? The 101 mindfulness activities in Mindful Eye, Playful Eye encourage you to be present and playful in the museum space. It's a fun way for kids and adults alike to engage with museum objects and each other with a sense of wonder. 

A museum is planning to put on an exhibition about your life. Which single piece of headwear, real or imaginary, would best represent you?

A Guide to Smithsonian Gardens

When people visit the Smithsonian museums, they might not take time to admire the “living museums” around them. The Smithsonian Gardens are a beautiful extension of the institution, and this book will help encourage you to stop and smell the roses as you learn about the amazing history of each outdoor space.

These books and more are available from Smithsonian Books. Visit Smithsonian Books’ website to learn more about its publications and a full list of titles.