Washington D.C. Travel Guide

Washington, DC is a place unlike any other in the world. Not only is it the capital city of the United States of America, it is a massive tourist spot, containing more than 100 points of interest for people to check out. The best part is that many of these attractions are free.

The District of Columbia (the "DC" part of Washington, DC) is home to more than 15 colleges, including Georgetown, Howard, and my alma mater, The George Washington University. It is no wonder that students flock from everywhere to get an education in this city; History practically oozes out of the cracks in the sidewalks, and there is no where else in the country that gives you so many different resources to use in your studies.

The world-famous Smithsonian Institute, which contains twelve different museums, is located right nearby the National Mall. This collection of museums offers free exhibits to visitors at all of their museums. You can easily spend a full day jumping from museum to museum. Make sure you check out the entertainment section of the American History Museum. It is here you can find the whip and hat used by Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones films, the jacket worn by "The Fonz" on Happy Days, and many more cool items. Then, wander over to the Air and Space Museum to see several of the space vehicles used in NASA space exploration. It's literally out of this world.

When you have had your fill of history, take a stroll over to the Mall and have a picnic. No, this isn't a mall where you find different stores and restaurants. The National Mall is a national park that stretches between the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol. There are plenty of different vendors where you can find some food, or even pick up a souvenir. The best time to go to the Mall is on the Fourth of July. While there are thousands of people there on that day, there is no other experience like it. Groups of people bring barbeques and all sorts of food. There are tons of different vendors, and people from absolutely everywhere. Then, when it gets dark, you will witness the most spectacular fireworks display that you will ever see. Stereo speakers are wired all over the Mall, which pipe patriotic music into the crowd during the display. You will never feel as proud to be an American as you do when you see fireworks exploding over the Washington Monument.

Speaking of monuments, you will never be at a loss to find a monument or memorial honoring someone or something in Washington, DC. It is about a 10 minute walk to the Lincoln Memorial from the Washington Monument, where you can see Honest Abe himself majestically seated in his chair. Take a look at his hands, and you will notice the sign language symbols for "A" and "L", which are his initials. As you walk down the steps, take a right and head into the relatively new Korean War Memorial. This memorial portrays soldiers walking through the battlefield in Korea. The best time to go is at night, when the statues seem to come to life. If you take a left down the steps instead, you can find the Vietnam Memorial, Women's Vietnam Memorial and, of course, the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The Wall offers stations where you can find certain names, and even do a rubbing of a name onto paper. Cross the street behind the Wall (Constitution Avenue) and hook a left to find the awesome Einstein Memorial. You can climb on this bronze statue for some great pics. If you stand in the middle of this memorial and say something to Einstein, you will hear a natural echo.

If sightseeing isn't your thing, don't worry. There are plenty of other things that you can do. You can spend the day at Union Station, where you will find a huge movie theatre, fantastic food court, several restaurants and about 50 different shops. Or you can take the Metro to Foggy Bottom, then have a nice walk into Georgetown, where you can find even more shops and restaurants. Do visit Old Glory for the best BBQ you will ever eat.

Washington, DC isn't just a place for families to visit. Beyond being the biggest center for the history of the United States, it is a place to explore and enjoy. Whether you go for the day or the week, one visit just isn't enough. Every time you go to DC, you will find something new. Regardless of your age, race or gender, DC is a place you must visit at least once in your life.