A vacation in Washington, D.C., inspires, educates and entertains. The nation’s capital brims with famous monuments and buildings, world-class museums, interesting neighborhoods and much more. The most challenging part of a Washington vacation may be deciding how to fit it all in.
Many visitors start at the National Mall, the grand expanse of lawn that’s surrounded by many of Washington’s most famous sites, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Building. The capital’s museums are also a top draw. The Smithsonian’s 12 museums, including the Air & Space Museum and the Natural History Museum, all have free admission, including the National Zoo. A tour of the White House is restricted to groups of 10 and must be arranged in advance of your visit by contacting your district’s U.S. Congressional office. Many who travel to Washington enjoy exploring its eclectic neighborhoods, including Georgetown, Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle, where restaurants and bars abound.
The Washington area is served by three major airports. The most convenient is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just across the Potomac River from the heart of Washington. Since Washington is a great city for walking, and parking is often hard to find, many visitors get around via Metrorail, the convenient and safe train system. For more information on Washington travel, log on to www.washington.org, the Washington, D.C. Convention & Tourism Corporation’s website.