First, the Smithsonian (always free entry)...the highlight of any tour...it's mind boggling! Pick your areas of interest and go there rather than walking aimlessly around. I headed directly for the WWI aviation displays as this is of interest to me. My son peeled off in another direction to see a special Star Wars exhibit.
Then we went to see the displays of original colonial relics and documents such as the Declaration....plus other historic documents and photographs throughout our country's history. Most educational, uplifting and inspiring!
I read somewhere it would take 7 whole days and evenings to take in the entire Smithsonian.
The next day was the National Gallery of Art (it's really an emotional experience to see originals by the world's greatest masters of art)....then to lunch at a great restaurant (can't remember the name) where senators and such eat....then to brief stops at the modern art museum, Arlington Cemetery (where we caught the changing of the guard), thence to The Wall, the WWII memorial (unique), then back to the hotel. Next morning we were on the way home, I to Florida, my son to Illinois.
Everyone should visit our nation's capitol at least once in a lifetime. It's an awesome experience. I can't recommend it enough!
Leni
Hello Lenni,
My family and I visited Washington D.C. about six years ago.
We also visited the National Archives building. As one who worked on merchant ships and who is interested in naval history, I found the radar plots of the Japanese planes coming to Pearl Harbor most interesting. The plot showed where the planes were coming from and going. But radar was so new and nobody was really trained in its use and the officer in charge simply thought it was the squadron of bombers coming in from California.
Agree 100%. So many great museums, monuments and most all are free. The art museum has history of United States in form of marvelous paintings. Gen Robert E Lee’s mansion is impressive and has great views of the city. Arlington cemetery is mind boggling huge. But the place which made most impression on my mind was Mt Vernon, which is George Washington’s estate. It is preserved to look like during his time. It is right on banks of the river (Patomac?) with it’s own family cemetery and housing for 250 slaves. And the White House of course.