The capital of the USA is a magnet for tourists wishing both to learn about the nation’s history and to see it being made. There are enough monuments and museums to keep you happy for days on end, but there’s more than just history and politics to the city. Cultural events take place throughout the year, and the various districts where real Washingtonians work, rest and play are all well worth a look.
Things to see and do
• White House - although since 9/ 11 you can no longer take a tour of the presidential residence, it remains an impressive site viewed from the outside and is justifiably still the city’s main attraction.
• Capitol - home to Congress, which if you’re lucky you might be able to visit in session, the Capitol’s Dome is the city’s most prominent landmark.
• Lincoln Memorial - as well as containing a 19ft statue of the Civil War president himself, the Memorial is a historic site in its own right, being the place where Martin Luther King delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech in 1963.
• Smithsonian Institution - it’s not impossible to visit the Smithsonian complex’s 16 museums all in one go, but few have tried it and lived to tell the tale. Highlights include the Air and Space Museum, the American Indian Museum and the National Zoo.
Getting there
International flights to Washington arrive either at Dulles International Airport (25 miles west of the city) or Baltimore-Washington (10 miles south). The more central Ronald Reagan airport is only served by flights from North America. There are shuttles buses running between the airports and Metro stations; taxis and car hire are widely available as well.
Weather and location
Washington’s climate is not that different from the UK’s - the seasons run the same, but the summers are slightly warmer and the winters slightly colder. The city lies to the south-west of Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the District of Columbia is surrounded by the states of Maryland and Virginia.
Top tip
If you’re visiting any of the major attractions in the summer months (March to September), make sure you buy an advance ticket - otherwise you may well find yourself queuing for a very long time indeed. |
