Here is our list of the best company outing ideas in Washington DC.
Company outing ideas in Washington DC are team building activities that your workforce can partake in the DC metro area. Examples of these outings include Hullabaloo Rage Room and a cruise of the Potomac River. The purpose of these activities is to foster team bonding, relieve work-related stress, and increase workplace productivity.
These ideas are examples of team bonding activities, executive retreat ideas, small-group team building, and ways to have fun at work with employees. The list contains indoor team building inspiration and outdoor team building ideas.
These gatherings are similar to corporate event ideas in DC and DC team building events.
This list includes:
- group outing ideas for adults in Washington DC
- team building outings in Washington DC
- work team outings in Washington DC
- corporate outings in Washington DC
Here we go!
List of company outing ideas in Washington DC
From watching a show with The Magic Duel to touring the White House, here is a list of our best company outing ideas in Washington DC.
1. The Great Guac Off (Top Pick)
Your team can experience the incredible popularity of The Great Guac Off, a top-rated team building activity cherished by renowned companies like Amazon, HelloFresh, and YouTube.
Event planners will love this all-inclusive package, which features:
- 90 minutes with an entertaining teambuilding.com host
- co-host(s) for smooth event management and clean-up
- mini-games and competitions for maximum team engagement
- guacamole ingredients and chips for dipping
- fun and memorable group photo ops
- dedicated event-planning support
Rest assured, with a 100% happiness guarantee, The Great Guac Off will leave your team raving about the experience.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
2. National Mall Photo Hunt (Popular)
A National Mall Photo Scavenger Hunt is a great way to get groups out and exploring DC. This experience leads groups around some of the most historical landmarks in DC, with plenty of time for get-to-know you conversations in between tasks.
What to expect:
- 90-minutes of engaged, interactive fun
- hosts to give instructions and help
- fascinating information about highlighted landmarks
- opportunity for group bonding and photos
- sightseeing at some of the city’s most famous spots
- group photos and memory-worthy experiences
This experience is an ideal way to explore the city while getting bonding time with team members.
Learn more about National Mall Photo Scavenger Hunt.
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3. Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts (Staff Favorite)
The fun things to do in Washington DC as a group include playing a scavenger hunt with Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts. The hosts will lead you and your colleagues through a fun adventure around the National Portrait Gallery. Your experience will last 90 minutes.
The experience includes:
- admission into the museum
- an engaging host to oversee the experience
- captivating stories about key pieces
- fun interactions with exhibits
- group games and challenges
Museum Hack experiences are beloved by companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Deloitte.
Learn more about Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts.
4. The Magic Duel
The Magic Duel combines comedy and magic for a fun and interactive live show! Mark Phillips and Ryan Phillips spend 90 minutes battling through jokes, illusions, and audience participation. The show is at the Mayflower Hotel, which features a lobby bar called the Edgar. You can order drinks and bring them to the show. If you are interested in hiring the duo, then they can come to any venue to entertain your team!
Learn more about The Magic Duel.
5. SpyGuide
James Bond fans will love going on a spy-themed tour with SpyGuide! A CIA vet founded this firm to bring guests on tours inspired by real-world experiences.
Here are a few of the available tours:
- Georgetown Spy Tour: Covers the role Georgetown residents played in WWII
- Embassy Row Spy Tour: Discusses conspiracy, cover-ups, and suspicious deaths
- Capitol Hill Spy Tour: A tour of the neighborhood covering rumors of espionage
- Secret Stories of Arlington National Cemetery: A tour of the cemetery’s most famous residents, such as JFK
Intelligence experts lead each outing, making these experiences educational and fun.
Learn more about SpyGuide.
6. Room 808
Teams on a budget will love spending time at Room 808! This comedy venue often offers free or low-cost shows. You and your team will get to enjoy comedians from Netflix, Comedy, and HBO. The venue does not serve food or drinks, but you are welcome to bring in your own. Along with comedians, Room 808 hosts the city’s best jazz musicians. Whether you are looking for a laugh or to enjoy some music, Room 808 is a great place!
Learn more about Room 808.
7. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens
DC is full of incredible museums, and Hillwood Estate is no exception. The 25-acre estate was the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post and became a public institution in 1977. The museum has six featured rooms, including the entry hall, a bedroom suite, and the second-floor library. Much of the house showcases Post’s amazing decorations.
The second floor is also home to a Russian art gallery, which contains many religious artifacts. The gardens are vast and include a greenhouse, a Japanese garden, and a putting green. Plants bloom during every season, so you can always enjoy the gardens.
You can follow an audio tour or go on a docent-led outing. Additionally, the museum often holds events, such as seasonal events and lectures.
Learn more about the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens.
8. Capitol City Circus School
A more unique team outing is visiting a circus school! At Capitol City, you can get some exercise while learning circus tricks.
Here are some classes you can take:
- Flying trapeze: Lessons on flying through the air and working with a partner
- Silks: Info on climbing, dropping, and inverting on silk fabrics
- Juggling: Instruction on juggling positions and how to use props
- Trampoline: Courses on flipping, somersaulting, and twisting
If you enjoy these single classes, then you can also sign up for more in-depth workshops. Plus, the school offers corporate event packages for team building!
Learn more about Capitol City Circus School.
9. The Chocolate House
You can add a sweet treat to your team outing by visiting The Chocolate House! This tasting room and shop has over 400 unique chocolates to try. Artisanal chocolates come from around the world and feature unique flavors like s’mores, fennel, and panettone. You can buy individual bars or snag truffle gift boxes and bar bundles. For a team outing, you can book a private tasting session to enjoy bonbons or chocolate bars. If you are looking for great client gifts, then The Chocolate House also offers amazing packages.
Learn more about The Chocolate House.
10. Common Good City Farm
Volunteering activities will teach your team the importance of being part of a community. Common Good City Farm is an organization that uses urban farming to create an informed, vibrant, and well-nourished community. By emphasizing sustainable urban agriculture and intensive vegetable production, Common Good City Farm has offered the community over ten tons of fresh produce.
Your team can volunteer at this organization and partake in farm tasks such as planting, weeding, harvesting, and composting. Teams will also learn about the food system and sustainable agriculture practices. Volunteer activities at Common Good City Farm are best for small teams since the organization hosts groups of up to 15 attendees.
Learn more about Common Good City Farm
11. The White House
A visit to the White House can be one of the most memorable corporate outings in Washington DC for your team. Your team will tour the public rooms in the East Wing, the China Room, the State Dining Room, and get a view of the White House Rose Garden. However, the tour requires prior planning. You can start by submitting your team’s info at least 21 days before the scheduled date. All White House tours are also free, making it an excellent addition to your free team building activities in Washington DC. Be sure to remind all attendees to carry a valid ID and foreign nationals to have their passports.
Learn more about The White House.
12. Hullabaloo Rage Room
Work stress and frustrations can get in the way of your team’s productivity. Rather than suppressing stress, you can offer your workforce an avenue to let out any frustrations in a fun way. Hullabaloo Rage Room offers an outlet where participants will break and smash inanimate objects in a safe zone. If you are looking for an affordable rage room price, then the BYOB package is your best bet.
Learn more about Hullabaloo Rage Room.
13. Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a 1,700-acre parkland that you can use for an afternoon team visit. As a thriving host for native species, Rock Creek Park is a space of tranquillity and peace. The wooden and serene trails can offer teams a wide array of activities.
Examples:
- Horse riding at Rock Creek Park Horse Center
- Boat riding at Thompson Boat Center
- Play Tennis at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center
- Play golf at Park Golf Course
- Watch a show at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre
- Indoor stargazing
You can also plan a team hike or a picnic and enjoy the serene park environment. Some sites at the park have picnic tables and barbeques.
Learn more about Rock Creek Park.
14. Audi Field
Perfect for any team of soccer fans, Audi Field is a soccer-specific stadium with seating for 20,000 people. Teams can cheer on matches by DC United, Washington Spirit, or the NSWL. Audi Field also offers catering services with dishes such as chicken wings tossed in special sauce or half-smoked sausages. You can go a step further and treat your team with the premier seats that come with wine, beer, and all you can eat. You may even enjoy special discounts if you have many attendees.
Learn more about Audi Field.
15. Eastern Market
A farmers market visit is among the most immersive team building outings in Washington DC. Being the oldest food market still running, Eastern Market serves its original function as a public market. Your team will have an opportunity to meet vendors, taste specialties grown and produced in the Washington DC area, and even take some produce home. Depending on the season, you can expect to find a variety of locally grown fruit, cheese selections, artisanal bread, meats, vegetables, and fresh flowers. You will also find handmade arts and crafts such as wood carving, jewelry, hair accessories, and pottery.
Since the Eastern Market visit is a free team event, you can give teams $50 to $100 to spend in the market. Let attendees opt between trying out foods in the market or doing their grocery shopping. You can also do a short scavenger hunt and offer incentives to the winning participants.
Learn more about Eastern Market.
16. The Anthem
Attending musical events is among the best group outing ideas for adults in Washington DC that you can use to promote team bonding. The Anthem is a music venue and an auditorium that can accommodate 2,500 to 6,000 attendees. The 57,000-square-foot venue offers a wide array of musical events from talented and well-known performers.
The Anthem features an acoustically advanced city hall that hosts internationally celebrated artists and local performers. And with the comfortable seating, variety of food and drinks, and movable stage and backdrop, expect your workforce to have the time of their lives. Be sure to select an event that most participants want to attend, or let your team choose their concert of choice.
Learn more about The Anthem.
17. United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden may be one of the most underrated places in Washington DC. However, being one of the oldest botanic gardens in Northern America, a tour of the botanic garden is educational and relaxing. The United States Botanic Garden is home to the National Garden, and the serene Bartholdi Park is home to a variety of plant life. With some species rare and endangered, the botanic garden visit is a one-on-a-lifetime memory that you can use to show the importance and diversity of flora. You will also teach your team the different cultural, ecological, therapeutic, and economic benefits of plant life.
The United States Botanic Garden is open every day throughout the year and does not have an admission fee. This idea is perfect for teams looking to add events to their list of free team building outings in Washington DC.
Learn more about United States Botanic Garden.
18. Eden Center
If you are a food lover, you will enjoy the trip to Eden Center. Being one of the major hotspots for food lovers in Washington DC, Eden Center attracts crowds of locals and tourists. The center is the biggest Asian mall in the United States East Coast. You will enjoy over 130 dining establishments and shops that primarily provide Asian cuisine. Your team can also try a variety of Vietnamese goods, such as bakery items and stir-fried dishes.
If you want to create a more interactive experience, then carry out mall scavenger hunts at the mall. Teams can compete to get specific accessories, traditional herbal remedies, clothing, and foods.
Learn more about Eden Center.
19. Capital River Cruises
As a major defining topography in Washington DC, a Potomac River team cruise is a great team building idea. A cruise along the Potomac River, the fourth largest river along the East Coast of the US, offers teams plenty of chances to socialize and see many monuments in Washington DC. For instance, teams may catch views of the John F. Kennedy Centre, the Washington Monument, and the Georgetown waterfront. You can also engage your team in other work team outings in Washington DC, such as paddling, Whitewater rafting, boat races, kayaking, and surfing.
Check out Capital River Cruises.
20. The Capital Wheel
If you want your workforce to catch an amazing view of Washington DC, then The Capital Wheel is the perfect team building idea. Participants will soar 180 feet above the Potomac River and get views of DC, Virginia, and Maryland. In addition, guests can catch a view of the Washington Monument, the National Harbor, and the Masonic Temple of Alexandria.
The Capital Wheel provides climate-controlled and comfortable gondolas that accommodate up to eight people. A VIP experience is also available.
Learn more about The Capital Wheel.
Conclusion
Washington DC boasts of numerous activities and fun places that teams can visit. From fostering team bonding to boosting workers’ productivity and improving relations, team outing ideas are worthwhile investments. Depending on your budget, you can alternate between free and paid team building activities in the area.
Next, check out these lists of team building happy hour ideas and company outings in NYC.
Grace He