Top Places to See in Washington, D.C.

A great list of things to do when you visit Washington, D.C.

  1. Visit the Capital Building
  2. Visit The White House (be sure to make a reservation, as it is required)
  3. Visit the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
  4. Visit the Library of Congress which contains 145 million items including The Gutenberg and Mainz Bibles (PDF)
  5. Don't miss seeing The Wall, which is The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
  6. See the National WWII Memorial which opened in 2004
  7. Go check out the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  8. Visit the Lincoln Memorial and see the Reflecting Pool
  9. Look at the Washington Monument
  10. Visit the Interactive Museum of News: The Newseum
  11. Tour the place where Lincoln was assassinated, Ford's Theatre
  12. Relax in Constitution Gardens (the National Mall)
  13. Check out the National Building Museum and learn about architecture and construction
  14. See some hockey or basketball at the Verizon Center
  15. Visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  16. If you like gardens, don't miss the United States Botanic Garden
  17. Take a tour of the U.S. Supreme Court
  18. Visit the Smithsonian American History Museum (scheduled to re open fall 2008)
  19. Explore your world at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
  20. Explore flight at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
  21. Check out the Smithsonian Castle, the first building of the Smithsonian (with information about all museums)
  22. Tour the National Museum of African Art
  23. View fine paintings and art at the National Gallery of Art
  24. Visit the National Museum of the American Indian
  25. Go to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park
  26. Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial (southeast of the Lincoln Memorial)
  27. Go walking in Georgetown, the capital's historic waterfront
  28. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a waterway with a long history during the Civil War
  29. Catch a concert, opera, or symphony at the Kennedy Center
  30. Great Falls Park has beautiful views (15 miles from the capital)
  31. Tour Mount Vernon where George Washington lived and see beautiful views of the Potamic
  32. Just across the Potamic is Old Town Alexandria, VA
  33. The National Archives displays the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence
  34. Visit the Washington DC National Cathedral
  35. The first ever espionage museum is the Spy Museum
  36. See the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
  37. See great art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
  38. Visit Arlington National Cemetery (America's largest burial ground, J.F.K.'s memorial, and Tomb of The Unknown)
  39. The National Aquarium is the nation's oldest aquarium
  40. Don't miss the National Zoo (free) which has over 2,000 animals including pandas
  41. Learn all about the postal service at the National Postal Museum
  42. Check out The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
  43. Make an appointment to see the Department of State Visitor Center and National Museum of American Diplomacy
  44. Cool down by visiting one of the Smithsonian's three IMAX theaters!
  45. If you are looking for an outdoor hike, check out the Theodore Roosevelt Island (88.5-acre park on the Potamic)
  46. Learn about African American's role in the U.S. Civil War at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
  47. See the World War I memorial at District of Columbia War Memorial
  48. See the George Mason Memorial (he was a founding father)
  49. See the Iwo Jima Memorial near Arlington National Cemetary (see photos)
  50. Relax along the Potamic River in a beautiful setting at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove
  51. Visit the new Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial (near FDR Memorial)
  52. Honor fallen officers at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
  53. Don't miss the new National Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
  54. See the United States Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon (on the grounds of Fort Myer)
  55. Visit the The Naval Heritage Center and the U.S. Navy Memorial (right next to each other) to learn about the U.S. Navy's history



Things to do when you visit Washington, D.C.

 

There is so much to do in Washington, D.C. that you could spend weeks here, and not spend a dime except for meals, car, and lodging. Don't believe me? It may surprise you to learn that The Smithsonian is absolutely free, along with The White House tour, the U.S. Capital, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and most national mouments.

 

Getting around: You're going to do a lot of walking, but you can minimize by planning ahead. Use the Metro routes to get around the city quickly, and then walk from there. You can also consider renting a vehicle, or sign up for Zipcar (available in D.C., and not an endorsement).

 

 

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