"The US Capital~" Top 5 Page for this destination Washington by tracylacie

Washington Travel Guide: 88 reviews and 242 photos

Tons of free things to do~!

I moved to the DC area only 6 months ago and since then have made a few trips into the center of the Capital. There are many wonderful monuments to explore and the Smithsonian is a 5 day experience to see all it has to offer ....and both are free!! Yes, Free! I have seen the monuments up close and the most moving by far was the Lincoln Monument. It stands larger than life and depicts the 16th President with such grandeur that it is amazing. Another wonderful monument is the Franklin D. Roosevelt ....it is beautiful: man made waterfalls and wonderful quotes etched into the walls...it is the furthest from the Capital Mall but worth the trip.

The Jefferson Monument

Jefferson Monument with Paddlers in the Tidal Pool

The Jefferson Monument is, by far, the most picturesque. It sits at the end of the Tidal Pool with cherry trees lining the pool. (It is best to visit in late March when the cherry blossoms are blooming!) You can rent a paddle boat and paddle around the tidal pool for a view of the monument from the water. The walk from the Washington Monument is not long but not for those with young children or disabilities. There are tour buses that run between all the major monuments and have a hop on hop off fee of about $20 US a day.

The Smithsonian

Natural History Museum Rotunda

The Smithsonian Institute is the largest museum in the entire world. It was founded by an endowment from a British man by the name of James Smithson. It consists of 14 museums within the city and a few outside of the city. There is an Air and Space museum at Dulles Airport and there is a nature center in Leesburg, VA. The ones located directly on the Mall between the Capital Building and the Washington Monument include The Air and Space Museum..a must see for anyone intersted in air/space travel and children seem to really like this one! The Museum of Natural History: this is my favorite...has the dinos and the ancient sea creatures....not to mention the ROCKS....you know...every girls best friend...precious gems....and wow are those things HUGE! The one that impressed me most was not the Hope Diamond but the 22,000 carat Topaz....it was incredible.

Pros and Cons

Pros:There are tons of FREE things to do....
Cons:You have to walk for miles to see them all
In a nutshell:Worth the visit but will take days to see it all!!

Last visit to Washington: Apr 2006
Intro Updated Jun 5, 2006
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Reviews (14)

Tidal pool paddling Off The Beaten Path (2)

This is a fun activity for families or couples. Rental is along the east side of the Tidal Pool/Basin. Rental for the... more travel advice

A hint of the Cherry Blossoms. - Washington

Cherry Blossom Festival Things to Do (3)

The Cherry Blossoms blooming is a must see in DC. In 2007 the celebration is commemorating 95 years since the gift of... more travel advice

Tons of FREE things to do! Things to Do (3)

There are numerous things to do in Washington, DC that are completely FREE! The best way to get a list is to use a... more travel advice

Arlington Cemetery Off The Beaten Path (2)

Arlington Cemetery is a regular stop on most of the tours. It is a moving expeience to see all the crosses and realize... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (1)
Restuarants in the Museums!
Hotels (2)
See All Dulles Courtyard Marriott
Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Watch for Pickpockets

Comments (5)

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iaint Sep 1, 2008 at 10:44 PM

DC has good memories. Put Fife on your itinerary next time you're in Scotland.
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Lhenne1 Mar 13, 2008 at 10:40 AM

I completely agree about the overpriced museum food. Grabbing some frozen lemonade as a treat on the mall on a hot July day is a favorite of mine :). Picnicing and people-watching is so fun!
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rubbersoul75 Nov 6, 2006 at 8:18 AM

Thanks for the greetings- Yes, tons of free things to do. I used to have to "kill time" every saturday for a few hours when we lived int he area. Loved the access to the museums & monuments. Your info and pics are the top quality! ciao from Italy
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olja1234 Jul 20, 2006 at 9:26 AM

Lots of informations in your page. Thanks for sharing.
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gilabrand Jul 13, 2006 at 12:48 AM

I just came back from DC. How do you stand those muggy summers?