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Within City Walls (Clicking on red colored text will link to more info or videos or official sites)
The White House
The only building in the world that is simultaneously the home of a head of state, the executive office of a head of state, and is regularly open to the public for tours. The White House isn’t simply a home to First Families or meeting space for world leaders, it’s also known as ‘The People’s House,’. Public tours of the White House are available. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress. If you are a foreign citizen please contact your embassy in DC for assistance. |
National Mall
At the heart of our nation's capital, an open-area national park in downtown DC, the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to iconic structures and rich history. Each year, millions of people visit here to recreate, to commemorate presidential legacies, to honor our nation's veterans, to make their voices heard, and to celebrate our nation's commitment to freedom and equality. Whether you want to enjoy the sights, exercise outdoors, or expand your mind, our park has something for you! |
US Capitol
The US Capitol houses the legislative branch of the American government. The Senate occupies the building's north wing and the House of representatives is housed in the south wing. The Capitol is located on top of a hill, now known as the capitol hill, on the east side of the National Mall. Self-guided tours to the US Capitol are not allowed anymore, but you can still take a free guided tour. The neo-classical building's size is impressive: it is 751ft/229m long and 350ft/107m wide and the 19ft tall statue. |
National Archives Buidling
The Rotunda of the National Archives Building displays the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Located half-way between the White House and the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue. It occupies two full city blocks. The National Archives Building has 72 Corinthian columns that are each 53 feet high, 5 feet 8 inches in diameter, and weigh 95 tons. Large sculptures, representing the Future, the Past, Heritage, and Guardianship sit on pedestals near the entrances |
Washington Monument
The most prominent structure in Washington, D.C. it's a unit of National Mall and Memorial Parks. The 555 foot, 5-1/8" marble obelisk honors the nation's founding father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory, and then became the nation's first president under the Constitution. It is both the world's tallest stone structure & obelisk. The monument was damaged during the Virginia earthquake of 2011; it remains closed to the public while the structure is assessed and repaired. |
Lincoln Memorial
"In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States-the Great Emancipator and preserver of the nation during the Civil War-sits immortalized in marble. As an enduring symbol of freedom, the Lincoln Memorial attracts anyone who seeks inspiration and hope. Located at the western end of the National Mall. Open 24 hours a day, daily. Entrance is free. |
FDR Memorial
"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is a presidential memorial dedicated to the memory of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and to the era he represents. For the memorial's designer, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, the memorial site represents the capstone of a distinguished career, partly because the landscape architect had fond memories of Roosevelt, and partly because of the sheer difficulty of the task. |
The King's Memorial
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a world with equality for all. Today, his dream lives on at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC. Now open to the public, the newest memorial on the National Mall is the first to honor a non-president and the first to honor a man of color. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 30-foot statue of Dr. King. His likeness is carved into the Stone of Hope, which emerges powerfully from two large boulders representing the Mountain of Despair |
Rock Creek Park
A huge green space more than twice the size of Central Park that stretches north into Maryland, is also a great place to explore, and offers a glimpse into the District’s idyllic past. A gem in the nation's capital. It offers visitors an opportunity to reflect and soothe their spirits through the beauty of nature. Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and the ebb and flow of Rock Creek emanate the delicate aura of the forest. Rock Creek Park has the only planetarium in the National Park System. |
Kenilworth Park
Nestled near the banks of the Anacostia River, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens preserves a plethora of rare waterlilies and lotuses in the cultivated ponds near the river. The park also contains the Kenilworth Marsh, the only remaining tidal marsh (wetland) in Washington, D.C. and an adjacent recreational area. There are the historic ponds, the wetland that surround the ponds, and field areas. Mornings are the best time for viewing open summer flowers. Water lilies and lotus take center stage. |
Great Falls Park
At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park, Virginia has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the Nation's Capital. River Bend County Park is another gathering area in Great Falls, as is the Village Green, which hosts community celebrations |
Meridian Hill Park
Located in northwest D.C. Meridian Hill Park was designated as America's 1st National Historic Landmark in 1994 during the Earth Day Ceremony by President Clinton, as an outstanding accomplishment of early 20th-century Neoclassicist park design in the United States. Meridian Hill Park is unique in that it served as a laboratory for experimenting with a new medium of construction, concrete aggregate. It is a 12 acre site situated on an almost perfect north-south axis |
Shenandoah Mountains
The home of Skyline Drive and endless natural beauty. Here you can leave it all behind unplugging from the everyday and reconnecting with the outdoors. Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is your escape to recreation and re-creation. Cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, quiet wooded hollows, plan a hike, a meander along Skyline Drive, or a picnic with the family. 200,000 acres of protected lands are haven to deer, songbirds, the night sky, |
Tidal Basin
Tidal Basin is a man made inlet, a part of West Potomac Park and a favorite area for tourists to enjoy a stroll. One of the most magnificent sights of the occurs during spring, the famous cherry trees are in bloom. This awesome sight, which prompts a huge festival each year, is the result of some 3,000 cherry trees that were a gift from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki. A lot of memorials and monuments surround the area. Renting a paddle boat is a great way to enjoy the amazing sights of this area. |
National Arboretum
A 446 acre facility filled with trees, plants and flowers, a must visit hidden treasure. You can walk, bicycle or drive on the many winding roads in the National Arboretum. There is an area with picnic tables. The koi fish pond will amuse young and old, particularly as the fish make their way to the water surface in search of food. The Bonsai garden along with the original columns from the US Capitol, renovated in 1958, are also highlights of a visit the National Arboretum. Also the hands-on children's garden. |
Theodore Roosevelt Island
One of Theodore Roosevelt’s greatest legacies was his dedication to conservation. Today, this island stands as a fitting memorial to the outdoorsman, naturalist, and visionary who was our 26th President. The Island has several gentle nature trails and boardwalk that allow visitors to escape from the urban environment and view wildlife in the forest and swamp. Visitors can learn about the natural environment, rich history of Island and the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt while viewing the Memorial Plaza. |
Smithsonian Museums
The world's largest museum and research complex includes 19 museums, galleries and the National Zoological Park. World class museums with a variety of exhibits ranging from insects and meteorites to locomotives and spacecraft. Admission to all of the Smithsonian museums is free. Visitors enjoy examining more than 137 million objects, works of art and specimens as well as participating in guided tours, hands on activities. You can not see everything in one visit, so plan your visit to the Smithsonian. |
National Gallery of Art
It houses one of the finest collections in the world illustrating major achievements in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present, including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas and the largest mobile ever created by Alexander Calder. and also one of the largest art museums in the world. In the summer you should bring a picnic and take in some free outdoor jazz at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Campus includes the 6.1-acre Sculpture Garden. |
Hirshhorn Museum
A museum displaying the art of our time in a cylindrical building and adjoining plaza and sunken sculpture garden at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Highlights include in-depth collection of modern masters and works by emerging artists; cutting edge films; sculptures by Rodin, Matisse, and Moore on the plaza and in the garden. Constructed 14 feet aboveground on sculptured supports, the doughnut-shaped concrete-and-granite building stands 82 feet high and measures 231 feet. |
National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian’s NPG tells the history through individuals who have shaped its culture. through various art forms. On view are works recently acquired by the museum, including paintings of Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Adolph Ochs; a bronze of Ethel Waters; photographs of Marjorie Merriweather Post, Mary Pickford, and Muhammad Ali; and prints of George Washington and Samuel Adams. Something for every kind of art lover, a unique center courtyard, and a gift shop stocked full of good stocking stuffers. |
John F. Kennedy Center
It's the city's premier performance venue, providing approximately 3,000 performances per year. The Kennedy Center is the home to the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera, Washington Ballet and American Film Institute. Performances include theatre, musicals, dance, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, & folk music; youth and family programs and multi-media shows. Free daily performances are held on the Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer. Purchase tickets in advance. |
Wolftrap Farm Park
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts hosts a wide range of concerts including pop, country, folk and blues, orchestra, dance, opera. Wolf Trap holds performances and offers educational programs all year long in indoor and outdoor venues. Filene Center is a 7,000-seat concert pavilion that is ideal for summer concerts. Outdoor concerts are featured in the summer and indoor performances are held the rest of the year. The park is located in Vienna 20 minutes from Washington, DC. |
Mount Vernon
With the recent addition of the new museum and education center, Mount Vernon is now a full day excursion. Explore the state of the art galleries and theaters, visit the 500-acre estate of George Washington and his family, tour the 14 room mansion that is beautifully restored and furnished with original objects dating back to the 1740's. Be sure to plan enough time to tour the outbuildings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, smokehouse, coach house and stables. The estate is located in Northern Virginia. |
Old Town Alexandria
A quaint historic town just on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s riverfront was an important colonial port during the colonial, revolutionary and Civil War periods. Today Old Town Alexandria is a revitalized waterfront with cobblestone streets, colonial houses and churches, museums, shops and restaurants. Variety of tours available including cruises on the Potomac River, horse drawn carriage rides, ghost tours, and historic walking tours |
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian maintains largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It is also a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. The Museum has two display facilities. The National Mall building has hundreds of artifacts on display including the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that visitors can touch. |
Lincoln's Cottage
Located on a picturesque hilltop in Washington, DC, President Lincoln's Cottage is the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln's presidency aside from the White House. During the Civil War, President Lincoln and his family resided here. The Signature Cottage Tour, an innovative small group tour in which a professional guide uses "historical voices" and images through multimedia technology to bring the stories of Abraham Lincoln and his family to life. |
Hillwood Estate & Gardens
Marjorie Merriweather Post bought Hillwood in 1955 and soon decided her home would be a museum that would inspire and educate the public. When she left her northwest Washington, D.C. estate, she endowed the country with comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia, a distinguished 18th-century French decorative art collection, and twenty-five acres of serene landscaped gardens and natural woodlands for all to enjoy. The Gardens, enhance the Hillwood experience |
Flea Market
If you're one of those people that can spend hours and hours at flea/farmer's market, then it's a safe bet you'll like Eastern Market, The historic craft and farmer's market complex in Southeast on Capitol Hill. The produce for the most part is high quality and decently priced. Ofcourse there is the usual overpriced handcrafts and hippie skirts or dresses. The Market Lunch is known for its crab cakes and blueberry pancakes. On weekends, the Farmers Market at Eastern Market moves outdoors. |
C & O Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal is one of the most intact and impressive survivals of the American canal-building era. The C&O Canal is unique in that it remains virtually unbroken. The Washington DC region is lucky to have this wonderful historic park that offers a quick relief from hectic city life. Take the whole family for a walk and learn about the historic C & O Canal, explore the region's bike trails or spend a few hours kayaking and enjoying the breathtaking scenery or take a bot ride. |
Glen Echo Park
A National Park for the Arts in Glen Echo, Maryland. Established as a Chautauqua retreat in 1891 it was a premier amusement park until 1971. Now a vibrant arts and humanities center managed by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. The Park presents year round activities in dance, theater, visual arts and environmental education. Most popular activities are weekly dances in the Spanish Ballroom. The antique Dentzel carousel (dating back to 1921) is open May through September. |
Botonical Gardens
You'll have to stop your mesmerized child (and maybe even yourself) from reaching for a take-home souvenir: the flora here is so varied and exotic that you have to impress on your kids that it should stay where it is so that everyone can enjoy it. Steeped in history, rich with tradition, the USBG is a living plant museum that informs visitors about the importance, and often irreplaceable value, of plants to the well-being of humans and to earth's fragile ecosystems. |
National Zoo
The 163-acre zoological park set within the Rock Creek National Park, features more than 400 different species of animals. Part of the Smithsonian, admission is free. Among some of the favorites are giant pandas, other bears, lions, giraffes, tigers, monkeys, sea lions, and much more. Check out the daily programs like animal training, feeding demonstrations, and keeper talks. Be sure to visit the newest exhibits: The Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail and The Elephant Trails. |
International Spy Museum
Dedicated to espionage providing a global perspective on an all but invisible profession. Features largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Many of these objects are being seen by the public for the first time. These artifacts illuminate the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions as well as help bring to life strategies and techniques behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in world history. Educating us about espionage. |
Newseum
A 7 level, 250000 sq.ft. museum of news, where 5 centuries of news history meets technology. The galleries and theaters will immerse you in the world’s greatest news stories, the people, the places and the times. The Newseum's 15 major galleries and 15 theaters will immerse you in the world's greatest news stories. The Newseum's Berlin Wall Gallery includes the largest display of sections of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. One of Washington's most popular attractions. |
National Geographic Museum
Enjoy a wide variety of changing exhibitions that reflect the richness and diversity of our world at the National Geographic Museum, a high-tech exhibit hall. Exhibits explore nature and human cultures of all over the world through spectacular photography and interactive displays. The National Geographic Museum rotates its exhibits on a regular basis. When you visit the National Geographic Museum, don’t forget to spend time at the Store. View a map of National Geographic headquarters. |
Children's Museum
Bringing your environmentally obsessed child to this unique museum and nature center at Discovery Creek is a must. They'll love seeing conservation and ecology lessons they learned in school get put into action. You can also hike to a creek to learn how water cycles from the ground to the air and back again. Teens will enjoy it too, and are often impressed to find that some of the museum's volunteer staff are their age. Offers a wide range of outdoor nature experiences. |
Totem
A Cirque Du Soleil Show, Totem traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. Show in on at the Plateau, National Harbor. Inspired by many founding myths, it illustrates, through visual, acrobatic language, evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend it explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential. Forget reality and let this magical world full of spectacular acts enchant you |
National Aquarium
The Washington, DC Aquarium, officially known as the National Aquarium, is home to more than 200 species including shark, eel, gators, the dreaded invasive snakehead fish and a baby loggerhead turtle. The venue offers a 45 minute introduction of America's Aquatic Treasures. The facility occupies approximately 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. A typical visit takes approximately 45 minutes. The National Aquarium is located one block from the Washington Monument. See a Virtual Tour. |
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Woodies Building is an interactive attraction that brings historical figures and events to life through wax figures that visitors can touch, see and hear. Whether you want to brush elbows with the Presidents or mingle with the stars, See all 44 US Presidents in an interactive chronological journey through American history. Step into the glitz and glam of the Hollywood elite, iconic sports stars and musicians. Metro: Red Line, Exit Metro Center. 11th & G Streets. |
Water Country
Just 2 hours from DC in Williamsburg, VA. There are eight different major rides. You can get wet and scream in a four-person raft on Big Daddy Falls or Aquazoid; a three-person inner tube on Meltdown; a two-person tube on Wild Thang or Malibu Pipeline; a solo tube on Jet Scream; a toboggan on Rampage; or a racing mat on Nitro Racer. There are tons of body surfing water slides too, plus a giant wave pool and the slow-moving Lazy River. Check out the acrobatic dive show five times a day. |
Kings Dominion
A 1.5 hr drive offers more roller coasters than any other, and a full water park for the hot days of summer to boot. 14 coasters, Flight of Fear & Volcano, launch you to full speed right out of the gate, without lift hill, Flight of Fear does it indoors, and Volcano does it with riders dangling beneath the track. Anaconda plunges straight through surface of lake into an underwater tunnel, while the Avalanche rolls you down an open pipe, free of any rails. Also 3 wooden, a floorless, a standing coaster, and more. |
Sig Flags America
In Bowie, MD, this is probably the best for small children. oung kids will enjoy riding on a swing carousel, sliding down waterslides, driving bumper cars, climbing around the Looney Tunes Prop Warehouse, hopping nearly two stories on Sylvester’s Pounce and Bounce, or riding a full-sized locomotive around the park. There are also plenty of tame rides and roller coasters for those just getting a taste for adrenaline, and a giant wave pool to cool off. Grown ups can try one of six full-tilt roller coasters, |
Busch Gardens
It's a 2 hr drive at Busch Gardens, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The amusement park is best known for its six huge roller coasters, headlined by the Griffon, the world’s tallest dive coaster, thrilling riders with a stomach-churning, 90-degree downward drop. Other coasters include the Big Bad Wolf, among the first suspended roller coasters, and perpetual favorite Loch Ness Monster, known for its interlocking double loops. In one day at the park, you can hit them all. |
Hersheypark
It's a 2.5 hr drive to Hershey, PA. It has 11 different roller coasters, including the popular Sidewinder, which takes you out in one direction and then whips you back over the same course in reverse, and two different wooden coasters. Bring your swimsuit so you can shoot down the high-speed water slides, play in the half-acre wave pool, or raft on the slow current of the Intracoastal Waterway. When you’re done with the water rides, check out free Hershey’s Chocolate World, next door. |
Crime Museum
Provides America's most thorough and comprehensive study in a museum environment of the development and evolution of crime and punishment. Five unique and distinct galleries burrow deep into the studies of criminal intent, criminal profiles, issues associated with crime, the prison system, victims, crime prevention, forensic science, law enforcement, the Judiciary Branch and more! 3 floors, 25,000 sq. feet and over 1000 interactive exhibits. |
Medieval Times
Step back in time with epic battles, jousting tournaments, royal feasts, knights and romance at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, family dinner theater featuring staged medieval style games, sword fighting, and jousting performed by a cast of 75 actors and 20 horses. Most locations are housed in a replica 11th-century castle. Featured in The Cable Guy, and Garden State and episodes of TV shows such as Hell's Kitchen, Celebrity Apprentice. |
Mystery Dinner Playhouse
The laughs abound in this "must do" fun filled evening for the whole family! Dinner is served to you at your table by a zany cast of characters who all the while are providing clues to help you solve the evening's crime. You'll be given bribe money to entice the "suspects" to give you better clues. We're a whodunit of a good time! We are Arlington's smash Mystery Dinner Theater!Audience members solve a hilarious comedy mystery while enjoying a four course dinner. |
Wine Tasting Tour
Taste the fine varieties of wine crafted in the beautiful vineyards of Northern Virginia! Enjoy hours of relaxed touring to local vineyards in a luxury minibus. If you discover a favorite new flavor, most vineyards offer price discounts on purchases, so you can share or add to your wine collection. Some of the wineries you can visit are Mediterranean Cellars, Grey Ghost Vineyards, Unicorn Winery, and Narmada Winery. Purchase gourmet specialties |
Monuments & Memorials Tour
A great way to see all of the Monuments and Memorials is start at the White House and continue through National Mall, along Reflecting Pool, around Tidal Basin, and eventually end at US Capitol Building and Supreme Court. This tour will take you through many significant eras in the history, including the Revolutionary War, Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II, past several memories to inspiring presidents such as Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Jefferson, past branches of government. |
The Exorcist
You'll be out of breath by the time you reach the top of these iconic stone stairs. All 97 of them. The narrow and steeply pitched stone stairwell are famous as The Exorcist Steps. Remember the spooky stairwell, where a Jesuit priest fell to his death in the 1973 movie is really worth a quick visit, if only to be able to say you've done it. So, head toward Key Bridge on M Street NW. You can find the red brick "Exorcist" house a few steps away at 3600 Prospect St. |
Night at the Museum
In the movie Battle of the Smithsonian, history literally comes to life. Now it’s your turn. Follow in Larry’s footsteps and watch history happen right here in the nation’s capital. See the sites that play a starring role in the movie and spot the characters that come to life when you take the Tour. The nighttime fun isn’t only at the museums. Just like Larry, you can run around (or bike or ride or walk) around the National Mall and see DC when it’s all lit up at night. |
Screen on the Green
A favorite Washington, DC summer tradition. Bring a blanket to the National Mall on a warm night and watch a classic film on a gigantic movie screen. Films are shown on Monday nights beginning at dusk, around 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. People start to claim their spots on the lawn as early as 5 p.m. Movies play except in extreme weather and there are no rain days. The closest Metro stations are Archives Navy Memorial, Smithsonian and L'Enfant Plaza. |
Below are popular side trips from the city (Clicking on red colored text will link to more info or videos or official sites)
Maryland
Wide variety of attractions with its landscape extending from the seashore to the mountains to urban areas. In one day you can enjoy wonderful scenery and outdoor activities as well as visit museums, historic sites and cultural events. For the gambling enthusiast, on offer is the largest gaming facility with 4,750 slot and electric table games, including black jack, roulette, craps and poker. On the eastern Shore lies Ocean Downs Racetrack offers night racing and draws big audiences for harness racing in the U.S. Ride the Six Flags. Enjoy the beautiful Annapolis. |
Northern Virginia
It offers a wide variety of attractions including monuments, museums, parks and much more. More than 250,000 American servicemen as well as many famous Americans are buried at the 612 acre national cemetery, located just across the Potomac River from the nation's capital. Arlington National Cemetery is Northern Virginia's most popular attraction and one of the area's "must sees.". Visit George Washington's family mansion, the outbuildings, the gardens and the new museum and learn about the life of America's first president and his family. |
Baltimore
Baltimore is one of the major seaports in the US and there are many things to do. Top attractions include the Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Fort McHenry, Fells Point. Opened in 1870, Pimlico is the country’s second oldest racetrack and serves as the annual host of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown and one of the premiere sporting events in the United States. Pimlico features a one-mile oval track, a 7/8-mile turf course and fixed seating for approximately 15,000 spectators. |
Colonial Williamsburg
Step back in time and visit Colonial Williamsburg, world’s largest living history museum, encompassing 301-acres of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings. Learn about the history of colonial America in an interactive setting. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780. Bring your family this summer, and make this vacation one for the history books. Check out the latest coaster, spy on fellow patriots, and walk where the colonists took their first steps. Enjoy the Busch Gardens Discovery Amusement Park. |