Touring Washington D.C

With the myriad of travel options that exist today, it is next to impossible to choose a destination in some cases. If history interests you, modern politics is your thing, or authentic shopping suits your personality, Washington, D.C. is the place for you. Most of the free world is governed by the decisions made within this ten square mile swarm that we ever so affectionately call the nation's capital. Here are some helpful hints and general advice that I have discovered on my recent trips.

Your trip begins before you step off your doorstep, so make sure you prepare adequately. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, you might want to bring a light jacket or coat because evenings tend to be cooler and you will wish you had it. Be sure to bring a good pair of arch supporting shoes, as you will likely be walking a great deal. It is to your advantage to use the D.C. Metro subway system and avoid bringing a car into the city at all costs. Parking is expensive, hard to find, and often further away from attractions than you would be if you just took the metro. Bring some small bills, as the ticket machines will only give up to $5 in change.

The amount of time you have planned to stay in the city will really dictate what you should concentrate on to get the maximum benefit from your visit. I always highly suggest the classic monument tour (either by foot or with a tour company) if you haven't seen these sites before. The monuments are the icons of D.C. and you would not be well served to miss them. Additionally, they are free to the public. If walking long distances was not your idea of a great trip, you can take the Tourmobile shuttles around to various D.C. sites and monuments. Nevertheless, do not skip out on this opportunity.

More free attractions that I would highly recommend are the Smithsonian Institutions. However, if you are limited by time, I would certainly suggest keeping the quantity of your visits lower so the quality of your experience is greater. You would be much better off spending 2 hours in one museum that you find particularly interesting than spending 20-30 minutes in a number of them. The Air and Space museum is wonderful, and I highly recommend it.

As you likely know, D.C. is setup into quadrants with the main fairways running at diagonals to circles, squares, or neighborhood centers. One of the more notable of these circles is DuPont Circle. Easily accessible by all Metro transit systems, this area offers some eclectic shopping, ethnic dining, and a decent park.

I also highly recommend the Georgetown neighborhood that is most noted for the distinguished Georgetown University and the M street shopping scene. The cobblestone and brick streets of the neighborhood are lines with century old homes and buildings that maintain the character of the day. Boutique and brand shopping opportunities are everywhere. You can either walk to Georgetown from the Rosslyn Metro Station or take the Georgetown Connector bus from either a blue or red line station for an additional $1.50. If you are visiting in the warmer months, I highly recommend the short walk from Rosslyn as you will get to cross the Potomac over the famous Key Bridge named for the author of our national anthem.

For those who are interested in visiting congress (either the house or senate) be aware that you must either get (free) tickets from your congressman by simply going to their nearby offices across the street or enter with a capital tour group which often fills up quickly. An ounce of planning goes a long way here. Obviously, both here and throughout the city, be prepared to go through never ending security.

I hope this sparks your interest in the city and you are inspired to check out the nation's power city!