Washington DC HotelsWe lived just outside Washington, D.C. when I was a kid. One of my favorite memories was going into DC on the weekends and making our way through the Smithsonian. We would take our time and it might take us several trips just to get through one of the museums. I still love visiting the city and taking my kids. George Washington himself chose the location for the city that bears his name, and which serves as the seat of government for the United States of America. Over the course of 200 years, Washington, D.C. has grown with the nation, and it now represents the very best of America. From its majestic monuments to its incomparable museums, from the Mall to the steps of the Capitol, Washington offers visitors one-of-a-kind attractions. The offices of the various government agencies take up most of the space of the city, and most offer free tours to the public. The White House also offers free tours to the public, and the lines can sometimes stretch around the block to visit "the people's house." Just outside of the city, the National Zoo houses thousands of animals on 163 acres of park. Among its residents are two giant pandas given to the United States as gifts from the People's Republic of China. Across the river in Arlington, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands amidst the somber majesty of Arlington National Cemetery, where John and Robert Kennedy are also buried. The majestic Capitol building stands at the center of the city, allowing unobstructed views of the city's most famous attractions. The giant open space of the Mall is marked off by the various museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest cluster of museums in the world. The National Air and Space Museum celebrates the nation's achievements in flight and space exploration, from the Wright brothers first biplane to the Apollo moon mission and beyond. Visitors also line up for the Natural History museum to learn about the sciences and to view the famous Hope Diamond. The Smithsonian Institution also includes the world-famous Sackler, Freer and Hirshhorn galleries. Art lovers should also appreciate the nearby National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of American Art. Looking past the mall, the Washington monument stands 505 feet above the city. It was the tallest man made structure in America from its completion until the early 1900's. Behind this monument is the reflecting pool and the trio of memorials dedicated to remembering President Lincoln and the wounded and killed of the Vietnam and Korean conflicts. New to the area of the tidal basin, and facing the Jefferson Memorial, a memorial to Franklin Roosevelt lies on the Potomac River. Not far from there, the new National Holocaust Museum hosts millions of visitors each year. Washington has many other distractions from politics. Washington's theatre life is thriving; it is second only to New York in number of theatre seats. The National Symphony and other musical companies play full schedules. As a temporary home to diplomats from around the world, Washington's restaurant offerings are the finest and most diverse around. The beauty and grandeur of the nation's capital continue to captivate the millions of American and foreign tourists who visit Washington, D.C. each year. Things to DoUnion Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE (202) 371-9441 Dazzling visitors with its granite walls, marble floors, 96 foot-high gold-leafed ceiling, and bronze grilles, Union Station endures as a classical landmark. As a restored beaux-arts train station, Union Station has been divided up into a series of levels and mezzanines that house 130 shops, restaurants and a movie theater complex.
National Gallery of Art Constitution Ave, NW Washington Phone: (202) 737-4215 Cost: Free Hours: Mon.-Sat 10:00 am - 5:00pm, Sun 11:00 am - 6:00 pm; Closed December 25, January 1 Floors of green and gray marble, columns of Tuscan, walls of Italian limestone and Italian travertine all make up the West Building of the National Gallery of Art. Designed by John Russel Pope, it contains Western European and American art, spanning between the periods of 13th and 20th century. Highlights include Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, the only da Vinci painting in the Western hemisphere, collection of Italian paintings and sculptures, French Impressionist, and special exhibitions. Literally thousands of breathtaking canvases and sculptures are housed in this original building. The East building, designed by I.M. Pei, exhibits twentieth -century art within its angular architecture. Designed as a group of triangles, the East Building showcases free films, lectures, and concerts. One of the world's top ten art museums.
Arlington National Cemetery Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge, Arlington Cost: Free Once the estate of Robert E. Lee, the beautiful landscape that now comprises Arlington National Cemetery is a testament to the service rendered to our nation by its citizens.
National Air and Space Museum Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW (202) 357-2700 As a member of the Smithsonian complex, it houses a wide assortment of aerodynamic treasures. The museum exhibits the history of aviation and the space age; presenting the history of flight from the earliest yearning and attempts to fly, to World War II rockets, to modern space probes. The politics, physics, and art linked to man's dream of flying are explored within the 23 additional galleries. This museum presents visitors with the hands-on opportunities to design aircrafts, and inspect a model of Skylab. For a cosmic experience visit the Albert Einstein's Planetarium located within the museum. Projected onto a towering five-story high screen the Langley Theater features Imax films on air and space travel. Visiting the Langley Theater means glide through the sky on everything from a hot air balloon to a fighter jet.
National Museum of Natural History 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Washington Phone: (202) 357-2700 Cost: Free Hours: Daily 10:00 am- 5:30 pm; Closed December 25 Get into the spirit of exploration, and take a tour of 575 million years of history! The National Museum of Natural History encompasses everything from dinosaurs, diamonds and dioramas; this massive museum is filled with 118 million items. Exhibits cover the entire spectrum of the life sciences, minerals, botanicals, and zoological and geological materials. The Dinosaur Hall, exhibits on the evolution of human fossils, live Insect Zoo, bird displays, plants, rocks, and gems. The Sea Life Hall contains live marine life, plus a living coral reef. The Discovery Room is a big hit with children, of every age, with its hands-on activities and exhibits. Children can explore everything from the texture of an elephant tusk to an arrowhead. Plus, the Natural History Museum's costume room allows children to try on costumes from around the world. On your visit, remebber to also check out the Johnson IMAX 2D/3D Theater.
National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue Phone: (202) 357-2700 Cost: Free Hours: Daily 10:00 am - 5:30 pm For the enjoyment of children, the Museum of American History presents the Hands On History Room, Hands On Science Center, Lemelson Center, and the ABC's of American History. In the Hands On History Room, history is placed directly in the hands of children. At this exhibit they will be able to participate in activities such as sending a message by telegraph, and riding on a highwheel bicycle. Children can unravel some of the mysteries of science in the Hands On Scioence Center. It is here where young "Experimenters" can examine DNA, measure distances with a laser, discover the chemical propertioes of common houshold items, measure radioactive hotspots, explore magnetisism, and much more. The Lemelson Center develops programs targeted to expand the study and exploration of invention and innovation among children. The museum fills its rooms with the affluence of American history; Ranging from George Washington's false teeth to the Star-Spangled Banner, this museum showcaes cultural and technological developments of the US. The machine exhibit, located on the ground floor, showcases such objects as railroad locomotives to atom smashers. In contrast the second floor displays people in their home-life, relationships, and community life. As a whole the museum's various floors and galleries, depicts all aspects of the American history.
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