| Why
travel to Washington DC [District of Columbia]?
As the capital of the USA historic Washington is home to varied, iconic American buildings and monuments including the White House and differing, magnificent memorials; the world's largest museum complex containing some of the country's finest museums [almost all free]; plenty of classic US urban life action with vibrant arts and culture scenes both day and night; and a mass of outdoor activities such as hikes, river cruises, or just strolling the city's airy parks and gardens.
The city offers excellent public transportation, especially the subway system, but the centre is compact enough to walk almost everywhere and the sights are well marked as a walking tour. In fact Washington was recently voted the US's most pedestrian-friendly city by the Brookings Institute.
Downside:
Washington has earned itself a reputation as one of the most dangerous cities
in the USA, though if you stick to the tourist areas and hours, you'll be
in elite company with few criminal concerns.
When
to travel Washington DC:
Best: April [for spectacular cherry blossoms], May-June and September.
OK: March, October-November
Worst: July- Aug, can be unbearably hot and humid and Dec-Feb, bitterly cold with a chance of snow.
Length
of stay not incl. flights:
Minimum: 1 day for the White House
plus Capitol Hill sights. Recommended: 3-5 days for sights plus
selective museum visits.
The White House, Washington DC.
Main attractions:
White House*** Located at Lafayette Square, the White House is the most famous building
in the US, home to many presidents and yet you may be able to take a tour.
Tours can be reserved through your Member of Congress or Senator if you are American, or the US Ambassador in your home country if not. Your request can be made up to six months in advance, but there are no guarantees and actually these days it seems nearly impossible to get in even for Americans.
Nearby are the Old Executive Office Building [White House staff], Treasury
Building, Octagon House, and Daughters of the American Revolution
Museum.
National Mall and Memorial Parks*** the
vast swathes of green grass from Capitol Hill to the river are fringed by great museums
such as National Gallery of Art [100,000 paintings, sculptures and graphic arts including Leonardo da Vinci]; the American History Museum [displaying the heritage of the USA], the Natural History Museum [one of the country's most popular museums housing more than 125 million specimens of all kinds of nature including the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond, the world's largest African bush elephant, and dinosaurs]; enormous collections of varied interest at the globally acclaimed Smithsonian Institute [the world’s largest museum and research complex].
Then in the central area you can see monuments to American dead, including presidents: the Washington Monument - a huge obelisk;
the Lincoln Memorial - a Greek style temple; the Jefferson Memorial - dome; FDR Memorial - president Roosevelt carved in stone; Vietnam
Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, World War II Memorial.
The United States Capitol, where congressmen [legislators] exercise their rights to bear pens.
Capitol Hill*** Washington's landmark
Capitol overlooks the splendid Supreme Court and massive Library
of Congress. It is located east of the National Mall. Other sights here are Union Station and the National Postal Museum.
Federal Triangle** Between the Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue is a bureaucratic sink tank with FBI headquarters, the National Archives, the Old Post Office for
terrific views across the city and finally Ford's Theater, where Abraham Lincoln was shot.
National Zoological Park*, one of the most popular and kid-friendly of the Smithsonian's museums, this is houses 2,000 animals including a giant panda.
Georgetown, Washington DC.
Georgetown**, situated along the Potomac River waterfront northwest of Washington, is the city's oldest area with some well-preserved 18th century buildings; it's favoured for its odd little shops and boutiques, atmospheric cafes, bars and restaurants. This characterful district was once the residence of the young senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his wife Jackie before they moved to the White House in 1961.
Adams Morgan**, D.C.'s funkiest district run by community of artists, Adams Morgan is renowned for its striking display of arts, colourful murals, world cuisine restaurants and as a primo party-animal destination on weekends.
Try the 'Adams Morgan Heritage trail' self-guided walk. This is a short walk from Dupont Circle.
Beware, crime still remains a problem in this neighbourhood.
Dupont Circle**, is a lively and cosmopolitan district with magnificent historic mansions, foreign embassies and many art galleries/ museums such as The Phillips Collection and National Geographic Society's Museum at Explorers Hall.
Biking beside the Potomac River, Washington DC.
Other attractions:
Walks and hikes, jogging and cycling: The city enjoys over 200,000 acres of parkland, jogging trails and biking routes [ranging from 4km National Mall sidewalk to 73km Washington & Old Dominion trail [W & OD]. It's also well worth trying unique walks such as the 2-hour guided 'Moonlight hikes' on weekends after a full moon.
Water activities: there are a number of water activities available along the Potomac River [including lessons] such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.
The Jefferson Memorial and Washington's famous cherry blossoms.
Jefferson, the White House and the Washington Monument are major
attractions in DC's National Mall - which is a park, not a shopping centre.
Main
Festivals and Celebrations:
- Mar-Apr,
National Cherry Blossom Festival. This is Washington's best-known annual event, lasting two weeks, with the blossoming of more than 3,700 Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, Hains Point and the Washington Monument. Events including fireworks, concerts, art exhibitions and sports. A grand parade features floats, marching bands, dancers, celebrity guests, and more.
- 4th July, Independence Day. No better place to be on that day than in Washington, D.C.
The celebrations include a parade down Constitution Avenue followed at night by spectacular fireworks at the Washington Monument.
- Early December, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. The president lights the tree at the northern end of the Ellipse, with orchestral and choral music, following 4-week Pageant of Peace, a holiday celebration full of free events such as musical performances.
Art culture, entertainment:
High quality live music in Jazz and Blues venues, especially in Adams Morgan and
Shaw districts; Chamber Symphony Orchestras and Opera at the Kennedy
Centre; also museums, parks and the zoo offer free concerts.
Abraham Lincoln, ex-president, friend of slaves, assassinated 1865.
Short
Trips:
Mt Vernon National Historic Site, Virginia** the 18thC estate of George Washington, with house, gardens, farm
and his tomb.
Arlington, Virginia* Arlington National Cemetery
around Lee's Arlington House is spiked with thousands of military graves, as
well as being the burial place of J F Kennedy and his family.
The Pentagon*, headquarters of the US Department of Defence, is also located in Arlington. All guided tours are free and are available on weekdays to schools, educational organizations and other approved groups, by reservation only.
Maryland Parks offer plenty of nature activities such as Great Falls National Park's challenging 7-km trail tracing the Potomac River; the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal [C & O Canal] National Historic Park with original canal structures attracting more than 3 million visitors every year. Its canal and towpath trail for walking, biking and boating extends 188 miles [300 kms] from Georgetown in Washington DC to Cumberland, Maryland.
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