Tours & Attractions - Attractions

Just as the thought of Egypt conjures up images of the pyramids, and when people think of Paris visions of the Eiffel Tower typically pop into their heads, Washington, D.C. is chock full of historic buildings, monuments, and landmarks that are symbolic icons of all that America is and strives to be.

It’s virtually impossible to see the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, or any one of the countless other monuments, memorials, and landmarks located in Washington, D.C. and not become enraptured by what each represents, while simultaneously becoming totally captivated by all that Washington, D.C. has to offer to residents and tourists alike.

Some of the world’s most famous buildings, monuments, landmarks, and memorials are located within Washington, D.C., and each is a powerful American icon that people throughout the world can instantly identify. This city truly offers a unique skyline and landscape that when seen firsthand often conjures up strong feelings of pride, happiness, patriotism, and bravery among people who are proud to be American.

This section focuses on some of most well-known landmarks, monuments, memorials, and museums that Washington, D.C. has to offer. You could literally spend months exploring each of these attractions and not have the opportunity to experience everything. So, as a tourist, it’s essential to pace yourself, plan ahead, and then pick and choose what is of most interest to you.

To save both time and money, be sure to take advantage of the public transportation that’s available in order to navigate around the city without getting lost or having to find and pay for parking at each destination. Many of the attractions, monuments, and memorials are located within walking distance from each other, but to see them all will require a lot of walking. The Metro bus and subway system, for example, is an excellent alternative to seeing the entire city on foot. A day pass for the Metro costs just $7.80, and weekly passes start at $26.40. There’s also the D.C. Circulator bus, which makes it easy to travel between popular attractions in the D.C. area quickly and inexpensively.

If you’re visiting D.C. for the first time, consider participating in a formal city tour to provide a firsthand overview of our nation’s capital. There are many different types of formal tours available to help you explore this city using one or more modes of transportation. One particular favorite is a Segway tour of D.C. operated by Capital Segway (www.capitalsegway.com/tours). Details about this and other tours are found later in this chapter.

Regardless of how you see the city and surrounding areas, after reading this section and spending just a little time in the DC area, you’ll quickly discover that you’ll never lack for something to do in Metro Washington. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new monument opens or the Smithsonian Institution hosts a special exhibition.

In addition to what you learn from this chapter, you’ll find details about popular attractions also featured prominently in other chapters. For example, Washington’s major art museums, such as the National Gallery, are described within the Arts chapter. Our Kidstuff chapter details the family-oriented and kid-friendly exhibits and programs at many museums and attractions.

Of course, you can also learn more about the many attractions in the area on the Web, by visiting the city’s official Destination DC site (www.destinationdc.com) or www.washington.org.

Tours & Attractions - Kidstuff

Washington may be filled with politicians, lawyers, and lobbyists, but any parent knows that the capital’s real movers and shakers aren’t even old enough to vote. Endlessly energetic and inquisitive, kids are always ready to leap into action, while moms and dads scramble to arrange safe, educational, and—most of all—fun outings. In this chapter you’ll find dozens of destinations listed under a variety of categories. Whether you’re passing through or planning to stay awhile, you’re sure to find adventures just right for your family.

Tours & Attractions - Day Trips And Weekend Getaways

Many books have been written about daytripping and weekend frolicking in and around the Nation’s Capital—and for good reason. Few areas in the United States can boast of the inexhaustible array of scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational attractions within an honest day’s drive from an urban region as can Washington, D.C.

In this section, we want to take you to some of the most- and lesser-known nearby destinations—places we proudly put on our must-see itinerary for visiting families and relocating friends eager to discover the rich environs and folkways beyond the Beltway.

When we say “beyond the Beltway,” what we really mean is away from the Metro area but close enough to more than justify a day’s outing or a weekend minivacation. What a palette we have to work with! From the ancient, forest-covered Blue Ridge Mountains to the tranquil majesty of the Chesapeake Bay, the world’s largest and most productive estuary, to all those points in between, the storybook quality of the mid-Atlantic countryside and all that it offers is the stuff of inspiration, rejuvenation, and endless repeat visits. It is part of the cultural fabric of being a Washingtonian.

We’ve begun this chapter at the beginning—our colonial roots in Virginia. From there, we travel to Virginia Hunt Country and the Blue Ridge, from West Virginia to Maryland, south to the Maryland antiques mecca of Frederick County. We’ve touched on a few ski resorts, and then, at the opposite end of the meteorological spectrum, the Chesapeake Bay and the Beaches, with special mention of those waterview towns, Baltimore and Annapolis. We’ve also made special mention of the Civil War sites that you’ll find throughout the region, the crossroads of the North and the South. Of course, from time to time we may have meandered beyond our geographic parameters. After all, we couldn’t, in good conscience, omit such special places as the Dolly Sods Wilderness of West Virginia or the Victorian charm of Cape May, New Jersey.

We’ve touched on a few suggestions for overnight stays, and you can assume that rates are per room, per night unless otherwise specified. Also, bed-and-breakfasts include breakfast for two in the room rates, but if other snacks or meals are included, we’ve noted it. Please remember that rates can and do change with time and also with the seasons.

So let’s go, weekend warriors! Put the maps in the glove box, check the fuel gauge, and fasten those seatbelts. It’s time to let your imaginations and frontiers soar.