Discover the foundations of democracy and the nation’s past in Washington. Take some time to explore the many monuments and memorials Washington has to offer, including those honoring political figures such as Abraham Lincoln, civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Vietnam War casualties. You can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience touring the White House if you plan ahead of time. Washington, DC has a rare and wonderful blend of historical sites, political landmarks, and tourist attractions, making it an ideal holiday spot for groups of all sizes and individuals.
However, visitors looking for excitement and entertainment will find their fill in the nation’s capital. Enjoy a game of football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. Visit the Kennedy Center and take in a show. Further, you can spend time at the amazing zoo, or you can try out a variety of international cuisines at various restaurants.
The Five Best Excursions in Washington, D.C.
A Trip to the Center of Power in the Land
Washington, D.C., is one of the world’s most significant urban areas due to the fact that it is the location of the United States Federal Government’s administrative headquarters. Tours of the White House and Capitol Hill required viewing for anyone interested in seeing the inner workings of American politics.
Get a guided tour of the United States!
Washington, DC founded in 1801, and in that time it witnessed the brutality of the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the rise of the Civil Rights movement. Visiting historic sites like the Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will give you a wonderful perspective on the evolution of the United States. If you have any interest in the past at all, a trip to Washington, DC will be a dream.
Museums of International Note
The Washington of today is more than just a political hub. The enormous Smithsonian Institution also makes it a cultural epicenter. The National Air and Space Museum is one of its 19 museums, and it is excellent; however, visitors shouldn’t overlook the fun and quirky Spy Museum or the Newseum, which devoted to the history and future of the newspaper industry.
The finest international cuisine and beverages
Washington’s wonderful cosmopolitan food culture is a direct result of the city’s popularity as a tourist destination. You can eat at fancy Ethiopian restaurants like Dukem, sample Brazilian fare at Texas de Brazil, savor genuine curries at Rasika, or chow down on home-style country cooking at Southern Efficiency. Washington, DC is a great place to find anything.
Outstanding Sporting Events
Washington, DC is also a great destination for sports fans. There is National Football League (NFL) action when the Redskins are in town, as well as MLB action between the Nationals and the Mets, NBA action between the Wizards and the Capitals, and NHL action between the Bruins and the Canadiens.
Things to do in the Nation’s Capital
National Mall, where you can say “Welcome to the United States.”
America’s finest museums, memorials, and monuments can all be found on the National Mall. The main attraction is the Washington Monument, with the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building (where Congress meets) as bookends. Popular attractions in this cultural corridor include the moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National Gallery of Art, which houses an internationally acclaimed collection of artwork.
The Presidential Grounds of the White House
The White House is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks because it has served as the official residence of every U.S. president for the past 200 years. Each day, hundreds of sightseers gather in the gardens surrounding the house to take in the sight. Seeing the secret service agents standing around the house so casually makes one feel as though they’ve stepped onto a movie set.
Smithsonian Institution Building
There are numerous museums and research facilities housed within the Smithsonian, all of which are dedicated to preserving and presenting American history and culture. The Smithsonian Institution Building is a crown jewel of American architecture, and it dominates the National Mall like a fortress. The Air and Space Museum, which houses the world’s first airplane as well as numerous spacecraft, is another popular attraction.
Historic Georgetown
Georgetown, with its quaint 18th and 19th-century homes and cobblestone streets, is a popular tourist destination. Located on the banks of the Potomac River, this district is a tourist hotspot thanks to its abundance of fun things to do on the water, including kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. In Georgetown, everyone can find what they’re looking for.
A National Memorial to the Holocaust in the United States
Since its opening in 1993, the Holocaust Memorial Museum has been able to spread its messages of tolerance and opposition to genocide to countless individuals and communities around the world. The collection and the building itself combine to give guests a chance to think deeply and learn something new. Visitors come from a wide variety of cultures and countries, making each visit to the museum unique.
America’s Final Resting Place: Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is a 624-acre memorial to the American military dead. The cemetery established on land previously used as Robert E. Lee’s family home, Arlington House, during the Civil War. The Hemicycle, Memorial Drive, and Arlington Memorial Bridge are all part of the historic district that makes up Arlington National Cemetery, which is part of the landmark.
Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, as well as funerals and memorials, are held at the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, which also located in this neighborhood. The graves of John F. Further, Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Moreover, Kennedy are among the most visited areas of the cemetery. Senator John Glenn, the first American in space, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, as are astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee, who perished in the Apollo 1 Command Module fire flash in 1967.
The Marine Corps Memorial at Iwo Jima
The Iwo Jima Memorial, or United States Marine Corps War Memorial, was established in 1954. This memorial honors all United States Marines killed in action since 1775. The memorial was inspired by a photograph taken in 1945 by Associated Press war correspondent Joe Rosenthal, which showed six Marines hoisting the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Further, Sculptor Felix de Weldon and architect Horace W. Peaslee were given permission and funding to create the memorial in 1947. The bronze monument moreover rests atop a base made of black granite from a quarry in Lönsboda, Sweden, and bears inscriptions honoring every major Marine Corps battle. The American flag further has flown over the memorial since President John F. Kennedy made that proclamation in 1961.
Fort McHenry: A Historic American Icon
Built-in the form of a star along the coast, Fort McHenry further saw action during the War of 1812. The fort, which has been a National Monument and Historic Shrine since 1939, displays a miniature of the original 15-star, 15-stripe American flag. After the British bombed the fort in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner there. Further, water Taxis depart from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to take visitors to the national landmark, which hosts a Fourth of July celebration with cannon firings and a performance by the Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
National Memorial at the Pentagon: Gone But Not Forgotten
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, created by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, is an outdoor monument commemorating the lives of the 184 people who lost theirs in the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001. The memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2008, and includes a wall that gradually increases in height from three inches to seventy-one inches, representing the ages of the youngest and oldest victims of the terrorist attack, and benches set over reflecting pools that face the southern façade of the Pentagon and bear the names of the victims.
What to Eat in the Nation’s Capital
Delicious cuisine from all over the world can be found in Washington, DC’s many restaurants. Visit Georgetown or the East End, where restaurants like Kinship and Minibar serve up gourmet dishes from celebrity chefs for upwards of $60 per person. Try the tapas at Jaleo, Ethiopian cuisine at Dukem in Shaw, or El Chalan, the best Peruvian restaurant in the city, for a more wallet-friendly meal. There are restaurants in Washington, DC that cater to every imaginable palate. You can budget $15-25 for a moderate meal.
Directions to the Nation’s Capital.
Plane
There are two airport terminals from which visitors can enter the nation’s capital. Ronald Reagan National Airport, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of the city center, is a major hub for domestic flights. Take the 15-minute Yellow or Blue MetroRail service into the city center for the most convenient access. The 13F and 13G buses cost $1.75 and travel to the East End of Washington.
Dulles International Airport, located 26 miles outside the city, is yet another option. The Silver Line Express Bus will take you to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station for $5. Then, head to the East End via the MetroRail system. The trip typically takes an hour. The alternative is to take Metrobus 5A, which costs $7 but takes about the same amount of time.
Train
Union Station, near Capitol Hill, is Washington’s primary Amtrak hub. Connections to other major cities, such as Richmond, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, are convenient thanks to trains like the Cardinal, Crescent, and Carolinian that stop in the city. Additionally, cities like Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Baltimore can be reached via regional rail.
Car
The Baltimore Parkway links the nation’s capital with Baltimore, while Interstate 95 serves drivers coming from the north or south. Connecting with I-81 is convenient for travelers coming from the south and west, while drivers leaving Chicago should take I-65 to I-70.
Bus
From New York, bus tickets to Washington, DC can be had for as little as $10 on companies like Greyhound, Megabus, BoltBus, BestBus, Vamoose Bus, Peter Pan, and Tripper Bus. Union Station serves as the final stop for the vast majority of bus routes.
A place to sleep in the Nation’s Capital.
“The West End” To the west of the White House is the West End, which is home to many upmarket hotels and tourist spots. The area is known for K Street, a hub for political lobbyists, and Foggy Bottom, which is home to international organizations like the International Monetary Fund. If you’re visiting Washington, DC, and want to be close to the White House and other popular tourist destinations, such as the National Geographic Museum and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the West End is the best place to stay.
Where to Live in Washington, D.C.
Locale de l’Est – On the other side of the White House is the equally posh East End. Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the National Air and Space Museum, Ford’s Theater (Lincoln’s assassination site), and the fascinating International Spy Museum are just a few of the many attractions in the area.
University of Georgetown Georgetown, Washington, D.C., stands out from the rest of the city, perhaps because it is so much older than the rest of the city and is, therefore, more established historically (some buildings date back to the 1750s).
It’s a convenient starting point for excursions to Downtown’s many sights, and it boasts some of its own unique attractions, such as the lovely gardens at Tudor Place, the City Tavern Club (18th century), and the opportunity to enjoy live music performed by candlelight on Dumbarton Street.
Locations of hotels that are worth a visit
- National Gaylord Resort & Convention Center
- The Washington Plaza Hotel
- Hotel Hamilton, Washington, DC
- Yotel Washington, DC
- The Sofitel Washington, DC—Lafayette Square
- The Westin Washington, National Harbor
Learn the Ins and Outs of Getting Around
Transportation Services in the District of Columbia
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority runs the city’s public transportation system, which includes MetroRail, MetroBuses, and circulator buses that run between the city’s major tourist destinations and only cost a single dollar to ride. The underground system is usually the most convenient way to get around. Off-peak tickets cost $1.75 and peak tickets cost $2.15, but you can save a lot of money by purchasing a day pass or a weekly pass. It is important for tourists to know that in order to ride the Metro in the Washington, DC area, they will need to purchase a SmartTrip Card, which can be done at any of the Metro stations.
Car
Washington, DC is not the kind of place where you want to rent a car (unless you are staying in an outlying suburb). Because it’s inconvenient to have to park in a different spot every time you visit one of the major attractions, which are all clustered together in one area. Washington is a difficult city to drive in because of the heavy traffic, especially during rush hour.
Washington, D.C.’s High Cost of Living.
Commercial Areas
Some areas of the nation’s capital are fantastic for browsing boutiques and craft markets for one-of-a-kind clothing and other goods, despite the city’s generally negative reputation in this regard. Boutiques like Lettie Gooch in Shaw and the fantastic Violet and Ella-Rue in Georgetown are great options for female shoppers. Potomac Mills, located in the nearby city of Woodbridge, is an enormous conventional mall with two hundred or more stores, some of which are widely recognized brands like the LEGO Store and Aldo Shoes.
Pantry Stuff and Other
Giant, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway are just a few of the major supermarket chains with locations in the nation’s capital. On the other hand, every Saturday and Sunday, the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill is open for business, making it the perfect place to pick up some locally grown produce and artisanal treats. If you want to buy a dozen eggs or a pound of potatoes, you’ll have to shell out about $3.70 or $1.90, respectively, which is quite pricey compared to the rest of the country.
When is the ideal time to visit the nation’s capital?
Cherry blossoms in bloom around Chaoshan Lake and the Washington Monument usher in the city’s peak tourist season in the spring. Washington is at its most picturesque during this time of year. There are four distinct seasons in Washington, and the weather in the spring and fall is especially pleasant. The weather is ideal for sightseeing, with temperatures averaging between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. However, the summers are extremely warm, with average highs well above 35 degrees Celsius, and the winters are bitterly cold, with occasional blizzards.