#1. Enjoy Live Music at the National Gallery of Art

Get swept away by live music with the National Gallery of Art’s free concerts throughout the fall. Performances usually take place in the West Garden Court, but may also occur in the East Building Auditorium. Speaking of the East Building, make sure to explore newly renovated galleries, a rooftop sculpture garden and rotating exhibitions.

#2. Take a Trip to the National Zoo

Celebrate fall’s crisp temperatures by spending the day watching animals at the National Zoo. Big cats, giant pandas, red pandas, Asian elephants, apes, exotic birds…you can explore a range of species in one afternoon. Admission to the zoo is free.

#3. Visit the U.S. National Arboretum

Take in the harvest hues on one of the many trails at the U.S. National Arboretum, a 446-acre oasis that provides scenic recluse from DC’s streets for free. While there, make sure to experience the majestic pillars from the original U.S. Capitol, commonly known as the “Capitol Columns.” The Arboretum also features magnificently manicured gardens and rare plants.

#4. Celebrate Oktoberfest at a DC Beer Garden

Can’t make it to Munich this year? Visitors to the District can still raise a stein of beer and take in the brew-centric vibes at these beer gardens in and around the city. So join DC’s buzzworthy beer community (which includes some great breweries to check out) and experience the best open-air beer gardens offering suds, snacks and convivial settings for downing a cold one al fresco.

#5. Root, Root, Root for DC’s Home Teams

Fall is the best time to be a sports fan in the nation’s capital. The Nationals are perennial baseball postseason contenders, the NFL season revs to life, and the championship hopes for the Wizards and Capitals are renewed once more as the NBA and NHL seasons return.

For more places to ride and things to do in DC this fall, check out www.washington.org.