The U.S. government shutdown is affecting thousands of federal workers across the Washington, D.C., area, and it’s also leading some popular museums and sites to close temporarily.

But if you're visiting D.C., hosting visitors, or simply want to get out of the house, you have options.

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Some of D.C.'s biggest draws – the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo – will stay open through Saturday, Oct. 11. If the government shutdown continues after that date, the Smithsonian’s 21 museums and the zoo will be closed from Sunday, Oct. 12 onward. The Kennedy Center is set to remain open , including for free performances on the Millennium Stage.

Visitors can still walk around open-air memorials, such as the World War II Memor

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