Explore the US Botanic Garden

About

Quick facts: Over 4,000 species of plants thrive across 446 acres, making it one of North America's most diverse living plant collections. The conservatory's 1894 iron-and-glass greenhouse was modeled after London's Crystal Palace and shelters a 50-foot waterfall inside a tropical rainforest environment.

Highlights: A dedicated pollination garden lets you watch native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds work in real time, with identification charts posted so you can name every pollinator you see. The rare corpse lily (Amorphophallus titanum) has bloomed here multiple times, drawing crowds who wait hours to catch a whiff of its infamous rotting-flesh scent before it fades in just 48 hours.

Insider tips

• Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes, the trails stretch over a mile through different ecosystems.
• Skip the weekend crowds by visiting on Tuesday or Wednesday when school groups are less common.
• The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum on the grounds is easy to overlook but holds trees over 400 years old.
• Photography is best in the early morning light when the conservatory's glass roof casts patterned shadows on the tropical plants.

More attractions in Washington

National Mall

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

United States Capitol

Lincoln Memorial