Washington D.C. has more to offer than just the Smithsonian museums and monuments. You’ll find fresh food, arts, and nightlife. Taking in the views from the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument will be a highlight of your morning, which you can follow with a concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the evening. Take advantage of the excellent weather and wander along the Tidal Basin to find thousands of pink cherry blossoms in March and April if you plan to visit Washington.
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1• Watch the Washington Nationals Play an MLB Game
Don’t miss watching the Washington Nationals play an MLB game while in Washington. As a member of the National League (NL) East division, the Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.
2• Lincoln Memorial
One of the many monuments in the District is the Lincoln Memorial, but travelers also enjoy Honest Abe’s larger-than-life size. In addition to the second inaugural address and Gettysburg Address etched into the memorial’s opposing walls, history buffs might enjoy the man of few words’ two other famous speeches. As for architecture and art history buffs, the building’s striking design by Henry Bacon, with 38 Doric columns, 36 of which represent the states in the Union at Lincoln’s death, will be a delight.
3• Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (or “the Wall,” as it is commonly known) is one of the most stirring war memorials. It is a long black granite wall with the names of over 58,000 Americans who died during the Vietnam War engraved on it.
Many recent visitors to the site said the experience was heartbreaking but thought-provoking and powerful, adding that one cannot help but cry as they read the names on the wall. The soldiers’ names are arranged by the date of death, not alphabetically, if you’re looking for a specific person. Visiting during the day when there is enough sunlight and using the attraction’s name books are other recommendations.
4• The Tidal Basin
Visit D.C.’s Tidal Basin if you’ve never been before, a 2-mile-long pond that was once connected to the Potomac River. The pond serves as the backdrop for some of D.C.’s best-loved sites. Spring brings a burst of color to the Tidal Basin when cherry blossom trees (gifts from Tokyo) bloom into cotton candy-colored tufts.
Many recent visitors recommended paddling around the basin instead of following the path. A two-passenger paddle boat costs $18 per hour, and a four-passenger paddle boat costs $30 per hour, starting March 15. Paddle boats are available every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the Maine Avenue dock from March 15 through to October 9.
5• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
With millions of visitors every year, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is home to a wide range of renowned airplanes, including Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega 5B, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis and the Wright brothers’ 1903 Wright Flyer. An IMAX theater, an Einstein Planetarium, and a flight simulator are among the exhibits. Secondly, parents beware: there are three levels to the gift shop, so prepare for children’s pleas.
6• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
If you want to experience the sobering atrocities of the Holocaust during World War II, you should be in the right frame of mind. An identification card will be issued to you when you enter the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with the name and personal information of a Holocaust witness; you’ll receive updates as you walk through exhibits, such as Hitler’s rise to power, anti-Semitic propaganda, and horrors of the Final Solution.
7• National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is a must-see for any art connoisseur. In the East Building (think: Henri Matisse and Mark Rothko), and in the West Building (think: Sandro Botticelli to Claude Monet), this museum holds its more modern works. You can easily spend all afternoon at this gallery; pace yourself and stop by one of the five bars and cafes for coffee, gelato or lunch.
8• John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—built in honor of America’s beloved president—is highly recommended by many travelers. There are also a number of theater and musical performances throughout the year at the Kennedy Center, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and the Washington National Opera.
9• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Even though this museum is primarily geared towards families, past visitors said it has something for everyone. On weekends, holidays, and during the busy summer season, the property can get quite crowded, so if you want to avoid crowds, consider coming on a weekday or in the offseason.
10• Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture honors the United States’ slave roots through bronze-colored latticework that replicates the three-tiered crowns found in Yoruban art from West Africa. A fedora once worn by Michael Jackson and photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are among the more than 36,000 African American artifacts on display inside.
Conclusion
Traveling in Washington, USA is full of things to do, but it’s hard to include all of them in one article. Nevertheless, we’ve managed to include a few things you must do while visiting. We would appreciate it if you could let us know if we have missed other things to do when visiting Washington.
