Washington DC Travel Guide

Address: 6th and Independence Ave, SW, Washington DC, 20560

Enjoy all things aviation—from the Wright brothers to the Charles Lindbergh to the Apollo missions—at the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum.

Located on the National Mall in Washington DC, this branch of the Smithsonian is thought to be the most visited museum in the world, with roughly nine million visitors each year. On display are mankinds greatest technological achievements: the first airplane ever built as well as the Spirit of St Louis, the moon walk space suits of Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong and the first plane to break the sound barrier, Chuck Yaeger's X-1.

The museum has more interactive exhibits than you'll have time to enjoy in an afternoon, but be sure not to miss the flight simulators on the second floor. The Air and Space Museum also has a rare and valuable meteorite from Mars on display, and a moon rock that is available for visitors to touch.

If you've got an extra day, a supplemental exhibit of aircraft and spacecraft opened at the Dulles airport, about 30 miles outside of the city. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center has the SR-71 Blackbird and the Space Shuttle Enterprise on display.

Information: 202-633-1000

Hours: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm

Admission: Free

No Museum Parking—Public lots nearby

Address: 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002

The main train station in Washington DC was something of an embarrassment before it reopened in 1988 after a massive renovation. Now, the city’s transit hub is modern, clean, and well decorated. The building was originally opened in 1907 to serve as the entrance to the city, and after the renovation it’s once again a proud landmark that serves over 20 million people a year.

The Amtrak national railroad joins the Maryland and Virginia commuter lines on Union Station’s main platforms, and the Washington Metro buses and subway lines go through as well. The location just two short blocks from the United States Capitol building makes it easily accessible even if you aren’t using it for your own transportation, but to be honest, with all the other real sights in the neighborhood this is not worth going out of your way to see.

If you are using it for transportation, you’ll probably be impressed. There are interesting shops along with various restaurants and bars, in addition to a large food court. If you’ve some time to kill, there is a multiplex movie theater attached.

Hours: Always open

Admission: Free, of course

Address: US Capitol Capitol Hill Washington, DC 20515

Unlike the White House, the United States Capitol building is out in the wide open spaces and easy to see from many angles. Completed in 1811 after nearly 20 years of construction, the Neoclassical building serves as the seat of government for both houses of the United States Congress (The US Senate and the House of Representatives).

Conspicuously located on the east end of the National Mall with the Washington Monument facing it on the far west end, The US Capitol is closely bunched with other famous landmarks including the gigantic Smithsonian Institution complex of museums spread out just in front.

And also unlike the White House, the Capitol building is quite easy to visit and tour if you know where to go. Mandated by federal law, guided tours of up to 40 people are given regularly on every day except Sunday. The easiest way to see inside is to obtain a free pass for one of the scheduled public guided tours from the United States Capitol Guides at their kiosk on the southwest corner of the grounds. Passes are given out on a first-come first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. on tours days. Needless to say, lines get long during peak travel season, and security is crazy strict so bring as little with you as you can manage. International visitors are always welcome.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission: Free

Address: Madison Dr, NW & 15th St, NW, Washington, DC 20001

At 555 feet 5 and 1/8 inch tall, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower eclipsed its height in 1889. Standing in the National Mall as a tribute to George Washington, the obelisk took nearly 30 years to build, although construction was interrupted by the Civil War and a lack of funds to complete construction.

As a result of this delay, a difference in shading is visible on the marble, granite, and sandstone on the lower portion—the product of 27 years of aging before the rest of the monument was built.

The Washington Monument stands directly across from the Lincoln Memorial, with its reflection shown in the Lincoln reflecting pool: an 18 inch deep pool over 1/3 of a mile long.

Visitors to the Washington Monument can tour the monument beginning at 9:00 am. The last 15 minute tour leaves at 4:45.

Visitor Information: (202) 426-6841

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Admission: Free, but ticket required; distributed first come first serve beginning at 8:30 am.

Reservations can be made at 1.877.444.6777 or by visiting http://www.reservation.gov For group reservations, call 1.877.559.6777. A $1.50 processing fee per ticket is added to any reservation.For Tourmobile service around Washington call (202)554-5100.

Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006

Regardless of ones feelings about whomever is occupying the place at a given time, the White House is one of Washington DC’s most popular things to see... from a distance. Completed in 1800 and heavily influenced in design by Dublin’s Leinster House, The White House – or Executive Mansion as it’s sometimes called – is one of the best-known buildings in the world, in name at least. It serves as both the residence and principle work place of the current President of the United States.

Visiting the inside of the White House is possible, but not easy. Groups who arrange for a visit in advance with their Congressional representatives and who submit to extensive security and background checks are allowed on organized tours, but the building is closed to the general public. To the surprise of no one, security in and around the area is heavy, but it’s not quite the full-on tanks and cannons military force that some people expect.

The section of Pennsylvania Avenue directly out in front of the White House has been closed to car traffic since 1995, but the building is visible to pedestrians and from tour buses. It’s a very large house, but the fact that it’s set rather far from the street often shocks visitors at how small it looks from that vantage point.

Hours: Always visible from the street out front

Admission: Free, but nearly impossible for most people