Arlington's Cultural Venues II (Self Guided), Arlington

The Arlington Planetarium, located downtown, was built in the 1960s to promote education in science and astronomy in the city. Also including a science museum, it is open for public multimedia programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After the performance, guests can gaze at the night sky through its high-powered telescope.

Regal Cinemas, a nationwide chain of movie theaters and the country’s largest, features RealD Digital 3D to enhance the movie-going experience. Screening the latest major motion pictures, the Regal Premium Experience will definitely change your outlook on the usual movie night.

The Arlington Arts Center, also known as AAC is a private nonprofit contemporary visual arts center based in Arlington and established in 1974. Housed since 1976 in the historic Maury School, it presents artworks from regional artists in the mid-Atlantic states.

The center is composed of exhibitions, educational programs and subsidized studio spaces and wants to increase awareness and appreciation of, and involvement in, the visual arts in Arlington County VA and the region. At 17,000 square feet, the facility includes 9 exhibitions galleries, working studios for 13 artists and 2 classrooms and is one of the largest non-federal venues for contemporary art in the Washington metropolitan area. The AAC organizes around 12 exhibitions a year. The AAC offers classes for adults, teens and children to help the beginners or the professional to improve their artistic skills.

The Church at Clarendon, built in the 1950s in the New England Georgian style, is popular among locals. Currently, the congregation meets at First Baptist Ballston due to the building's deteriorating condition. This stunning architecture is an historic landmark that should definitely not be missed.

AMC Theaters, located in downtown Arlington, is a popular attraction, being the second largest chain of movie theaters in the United Sates. Offering entertainment for all ages, you can watch the latest blockbusters and premieres and enjoy a unique movie-going experience.

Fort C. F. Smith was a small fort constructed by the Union Army as part of the defense of Washington, D.C. during the American Civil War.

The new post was constructed by Union troops in early 1863 and named for Charles Ferguson Smith. The fortification extended the line of Arlington forts to the Potomac River. Along with Forts Strong, Morton, and Woodbury, it functioned as part of the outer perimeter of defenses that protected the Aqueduct Bridge of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The fort consisted of lunettes facing south and west and two bastions to the north to protect it from attack up the ravines from the Potomac. The fort was entered from the east by a road that crossed Spout Run and proceeded up the hill to Fort Strong. To provide clear lines of fire for Fort C.F. Smith and adjacent forts, all of the trees for miles around were cut down. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.