Start the day with us at the Smithsonian National Zoo, where we’ll visit Bao Qing and Bao Li, the beloved giant pandas recently come from China.

The Zoo is free to enter and great for a relaxed morning walk. We’ll plan to meet in the morning (exact time to be shared closer to the day), spend some time with the pandas, and enjoy the early fall weather together before heading out for lunch.

After lunch, head to the National Mall area and select one or two of these attractions:

Planet Word Museum A beautiful, interactive museum dedicated to language!

Día de los Muertos (Nat’l Museum of the American Indian)

National Gallery of Art

Library of Congress – Rubenstein Treasures Gallery

National Museum of African American History and Culture

If you’re traveling with kids, there’s also a special Mount Vernon trick-or-treat event on Saturday, October 25

We’ll be keeping things easy during the day before the celebration dinner in the evening, but we still want to make sure our out-of-town friends have a lovely time in D.C.

Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy the day at your own pace: