Between studying for midterms and the winter weather discouraging any outdoor activity, you probably haven’t gotten out of the house much recently. However, there’s a quick solution to your days stuck indoors and you probably didn’t realize it was right under your nose. Everyone’s favorite public transport, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (more commonly known as the DC metro), is the answer to all your problems. With six lines and a new purple line underway, the metro can take people all over the DC area, from Alexandria to Bethesda, and their stations are within close proximity to many high schools here in Arlington.

The cost for a metro trip usually ranges from two dollars to six dollars—fairly cheap for getting around fast and efficiently. To help you navigate the endless possibilities of metro accessible spots, here is a list of stations that you should visit.

King St-Old Town Station
Old Town is a historic neighborhood in Alexandria that has some of the cutest townhouses around and a thriving commercial district. It’s home to an incredible art center encompassing 71 total art studios that stretch across three floors. Known as the “Torpedo Factory,” it preserves the important history of Old Town while introducing a wide selection of sculptures, paintings, and prints. This is a bit of a longer walk from the station, but King Street is full of charming stores and houses to explore that are closer to the metro station. One of my favorites, ESP Tea and Coffee, is a cafe covered in eclectic art and has plenty of comfy couches and tables you can doodle on. I also recommend sifting through their extensive record section- they have some rare gems.

Woodley Park- Zoo/Adams Morgan Station
The zoo is situated further north on Connecticut Avenue NW from the Woodley Park station. If you haven’t been to the zoo recently, the new pandas from China are making their debut and are creating a cuteness overload. There are plenty of other cute animals including elephants, orangutans, and a baby wallaby (but you should probably skip the naked mole rat exhibit). Even though it’s winter, don’t let the cold hold you back, because going in the winter means you’ll avoid the crowds and you can always get warm in the tropical section. Food inside the zoo is poorer quality and can get pricey, so to get more bang for your buck, head over to Rose Ave Bakery, located across the street from the metro station. This is a Korean bakery that mixes unique flavors into pastries, and their special passion fruit donut is a hot seller. The always-reliable Lebanese Taverna is also a mere 200 feet from the Woodley Park metro station. Located nearby is the vibrant neighborhood of Adams Morgan, which is famous for its rows of colorful townhouses and is situated close to many highly rated restaurants. This neighborhood is definitely worth taking a quick walk around and embodies DC culture all around.

DC Institutes
There are many museums that are super close to the metro station. Planet Word is a street away from McPherson Square on the silver line and the Building Museum is accessible through Judiciary Square on the red line. Most museums lining the national mall are walkable from the Smithsonian metro stop and most of them are free as well. A lot of museums have been strategically placed near a metro, so if you have a museum you want to go to, it probably has a metro station nearby.

Dupont Circle Station
Across the street from Dupont Circle station on the red line is a unique art exhibit called “Dupont Underground.” It utilizes the abandoned space underground where trolleys used to run and has been transformed into an art hub for locals. It is constantly evolving to showcase different local artists and to build an interaction between culture and the city of DC. While some of the art is more tangible such as murals, other times Dupont Underground has hosted theater companies to perform. It also has workshops where you can create your own masterpiece and get more connected with different artists in the area. Check the website to find out what exhibits are happening when and you can plan accordingly.

Georgia Ave-Petworth
Although not the typical day trip, the Franciscan Monastery could make a great trip. After getting off at Georgia Ave-Petworth station you can take a metro bus, which has a stop 350 feet from the exit. When you board the bus take it until Taylor St NE & 2 St NE and the monastery is a five minute walk from that stop. This is a more extensive trip due to the different layers of travel, but the end result is free tours of the most spectacular gardens. The architecture and gardens are centuries old, as well as their historic greenhouse where locals can come and grow vegetables . There is also an option to do a self paced tour of the gardens which are open from nine a.m. to four p.m. This refreshing scenery is perfect for when you want a peaceful afternoon outside.

With all these places to visit, there is no reason you should be staying home this weekend. The DC metro awaits, ready to take you on your next adventure and turning your boring Saturday into one filled with fun.