# United States National Arboretum: National Capitol Columns & Conifer Garden Family Winter Walk > Place to go for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Grounds open daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; National Bonsai & Penjing Museum open daily 10:00… - Dates: Tue, Dec 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: United States National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 - Ages: All ages; paved roads and Meadow trails are fully stroller-accessible; sprawling lawns provide ample space for active toddlers - Price: Free admission and free on-site parking at all arboretum lots - Schedule: Grounds open daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; National Bonsai & Penjing Museum open daily 10:00 AM–4:00 PM; Closed Christmas Day Dec 25 - Organizer: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Agricultural Research Service - Official page: https://www.usna.usda.gov - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/united-states-national-arboretum-national-capitol-columns-and-conifer--listing-108eeb5df3b012725d1ddc04 ## About Spanning 451 peaceful acres in Northeast DC, the United States National Arboretum is one of the capital's most majestic and under-the-radar family winter excursions. The centerpiece of the arboretum is the iconic National Capitol Columns—22 Corinthian sandstone columns salvaged from the U.S. Capitol’s 1828 East Portico—standing dramatically on a wide meadow against crisp winter skies, providing an unforgettable backdrop for family photographs. Families will particularly enjoy exploring the Gotelli Conifer Collection, regarded as one of the finest dwarf and specimen evergreen collections in North America, showcasing vivid winter needles in shades of blue, copper, and gold. Miles of paved roadways and trails are completely stroller-friendly, and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum pavilion offers protected viewing of winter trees. Plentiful free parking is available throughout the grounds. ## Similar picks in Washington, DC - [Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/meadowlark-s-winter-walk-of-lights--listing-260b5adf081e80ce055c9e66) — Nov 11 – Jan 3 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna · All ages · From $19 · checked Nov 4. Nestled across the rolling hills of Vienna, Virginia, Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights is one of Northern Virginia's most enchanting family holiday traditions. 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