Austin Graff is a natural explorer, curious about the world, his country, and even his own city — Washington, DC.
Over the past 14 years, he has chronicled his experiences with photographs, articles and most recently, on Instagram. As he shares small adventures visiting little corners of Washington, DC, with his daughter, he has amassed a large following inspired by their curiosity.
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In May 2026, his new book, “111 Places for Kids in Washington, DC” will be released, highlighting the hidden corners of Washington, DC, that families can discover together.
“There’s always new places to experience,” he says. “Even after intentionally exploring DC for almost 20 years, there are hundreds of places I have yet to visit in the DC area.”
A is for Anacostia
When Graff moved to DC almost 20 years ago after growing up in Kazan – the capital of Tatarstan, Russia’s most Muslim republic – he began cataloging his walks around the city on Instagram. The platform continued to grow as he taught his young daughter the alphabet by exploring DC’s neighborhoods. He called them their “ABC Adventures.”
Before every ABC adventure, Graff researches the neighborhood to understand its history and stories. He dives into community blogs, newspaper articles and social media posts, getting to know the community. Then, he goes out to wander its streets, shop in its stores and experience its culture firsthand.
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His approach to sharing his discoveries online is simple: distill everything down into digestible highlights that anyone can connect with. Pairing his observations with photographs adds richness, inspiring a broader audience to embark on similar adventures.
As his daughter got older, she no longer needed help learning her ABC’s, but her sense of curiosity burned on. Graff was inspired by her constant questions and excitement to create living documents – what has become his new book – that chronicle their adventures and preserve their observations to offer guidance to the families of DC and beyond.
“Children are experiencing this world for the first time and that comes with an innocence that fosters curiosity,” he says. “In the same way, adults should visit places. Ask questions of locals, buck assumptions and deeply listen to others.”
Explore with your family
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After exploring so many parts of the city, Graff, of course, has favorites. River Terrace, along the Anacostia River, is at the top of his list. It’s separated from the bustle of the city, the neighborhood and offers green spaces with trails and parks to make for a relaxing afternoon.
In Mount Pleasant, you can visit the full-scale farmers market that feels like a community gathering full of music, food and friendly faces. You can also wander the neighborhood’s streets of Victorian houses and admire the murals that decorate alley walls. And for your little artists, Graff recommends checking out Studio Kusi to try out a ceramics class.
Across the border in Maryland, the Hyattsville and Riverdale Park neighborhoods are also favorites. With plenty of little free libraries and ice cream shops to wander past, kids will have plenty to explore. And in Virginia, the parks and playgrounds shine. Graff recommends Fort Ward Park where families can see Civil War earthworks, hike on its trails, play on a playground and learn about the first Black one-room schoolhouse post-Civil War.
“My book coming out in March 2026 is really my daughter’s favorite 111 places within Washington, DC, after visiting every 136-plus DC neighborhoods and walking every street and alley with me,” shares Graff. You can check out Graff’s Instagram for adventure ideas, or his website for more information about his upcoming book, neighborhood guides and more.
The eight DC wards might seem intimidating but with Graff’s guide, you can make a big city just a little bit smaller, exploring all the quirky and fun parts of the city that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
