Washington DC

Travelers who are visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time will be impressed by their initial sight of the city. Many of the famous buildings in Washington can be viewed from the air as planes descend towards the city.

Finding flights into Washington, D.C. is easy. There are three airports within 35 miles of the city. Public transportation is available to Washington from all three airports. The closest airport is Reagan National Airport. Passengers can take a Metro train from the airport into the city. Dulles International Airport is approximately 26 miles from Washington, D.C. in Chantilly, Virginia. Bus service is available from Dulles to Washington. The Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is approximately 33 miles from Washington, D.C. Travelers can take a regional commuter train from BWI to the Metro station in New Carrollton, Maryland.

There are numerous places to stay in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. Accommodations range from inexpensive motels to luxury hotels. Visitors who stay outside the city can take the Metro into Washington to go sightseeing. Many popular tourist destinations are close to Metro stations. The Metro can be very crowded during rush hour.

The Washington area has numerous national monuments, museums and tourist attractions. Some of these are the White House, the Washington Monument, the museums at the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington Cemetery and the National Zoo. There is no charge to visit these places and they are all within walking distance of Metro stations. Requests to tour the White House must be submitted through a Member of Congress. Tickets are required to visit the Washington Monument. These can be purchased shortly before a planned visit or reserved ahead of time. There is a small fee if tickets are reserved ahead of time. Some of the museums at the Smithsonian are the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum.

It is not possible to see everything there is to see in Washington in one visit. Bus tours that take tourists to the major attractions in the city are available. Some of these only take a few hours.

Visiting the nation’s capital is an unforgettable experience.

Travelling to Washington, DC, is an experience that showcases some of the most majestic accomplishments of the United States. The area is, of course, the capital city of the US and is known for a plethora of famous landmarks, museums and the White House. All of the most well known landmarks are located closely together, fitted along the National Mall. In addition, Washington DC is a bustling city with restaurants and night life that people seek out.

Most visitors to DC want to see the historical landmarks, such as the Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument, The Jefferson Memorial, The Capital Building or the White House. All of these are located closely to each other, but visitors should be aware that even though they are all within walking distance of each other, the walk is a pretty good hike.

The nightlife and dining around Dupont Circle is another stop for travelers to check out, and with plenty of ways to get around the city, a trip to DC is sure to be easy to fill with things to see and do.

With so many things to see in the Nation's Capital, it is a great idea to start your DC visit with an orientation on a sightseeing bus or trolley. Check out the Old Town Trolley Company's narrated tours, or climb aboard the DC Ducks, and get an overview of the city's most celebrated sights. Most routes include stops at popular attractions like the National Zoo and Washington National Cathedral.

While in DC, you will want to see all the famous monuments, museums and historic sites. A great place to start your exploration is on the National Mall, an open-area National Park with great views of the many museums of the Smithsonian, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building. One of the most popular places for tourists, the mall is also the site of many demonstrations and protests.

Seeing the White House may be tempting, but you will need to make reservations in advance through your Congressional representative. If you want to tour the U.S. Capitol Building, plan on arriving early and waiting in line, or try to arrange for an advance ticket with your Congressman.

Be sure to visit the Washington Monument. Dedicated in 1884 in honor of our nation's first President and designed to resemble an Egyptian obelisk, the monument stands over 555 feet tall and offers splendid views for many miles outside of the city. The Lincoln Memorial, resembling a Greek temple that showcases an enormous marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, educates visitors with the inspiring words of our 16th President.

One could spend several days exploring the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. Begin with the most popular museum, the National Air and Space Museum, which earns high marks with kids of all ages, primarily because of the spacecraft, real moon rocks and flight simulators. The National Museum of Natural History includes dinosaurs, dazzling jewels, and life-like animals shown in their natural habitats.

Art lovers will enjoy the National Gallery of Art, with numerous paintings, and sculptures that date back to the middle Ages, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art with its world renowned collection of works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and John Singer Sargent. Also, do not miss the National Portrait Gallery's collection of works that depict distinguished American Presidents, politicians and celebrities.

Another popular stop is the National Archives, where the original U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence are on display, among many other documents that follow the history of our nation.

By evening, DC's theatre scene thrives, with dozens of professional theatres showing over 350 productions each year. Institutions like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts coexist with lesser known theatres like the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, satisfying all range of theatrical tastes.

For a taste of downtown DC dining, head over to the new flagship restaurant of culinary genius Michel Richard. His new Georgetown restaurant, Citronelle has been recognized by Gourmet Magazine, and offers the chef's artistic interpretations of classic American cuisine. Or, for a taste of DC 'power-dining' check out the well known hotspots, The Palm and The Occidental.

Whether you are spending a day or a week in Washington DC, chances are you will run out of time before you run out of ways to spend it!