We have collected the top 20 things to do in Washington
As the capital of the United States, Washington enjoys great popularity as a tourist destination. It’s the political hub of the nation as the Congress, the Supreme Court and the Presidency are all located here. It’s frequently visited by people from all over the world, to see the big attraction like the White House, but these are not the only places you should see. So, we have collected the top 20 best places to visit and things to do in Washington.
- White House
Obviously, the most well known attraction in the city is the White House, the residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It’s an iconic symbol of the United States.The big building and its grounds is usually off-limits without prior arrangement, and even the tours which you have to book in advance can be cancelled last minute due to urgent things. Nevertheless, the White House and all its parts are beautiful and a must-see on the list of things to do in Washington if you come here.
2. Washington Monument
When it was completed at the end of the 19th century, the Washington Monument was the talles building in the world. It isn’t so nowadays of course, but it’s still a memorable and iconic part of the city and the United States itself. It’s named after George Washington, first president of the nation. The monument is a large obelisk of marble and granite, standing in the middle of National Mall park. Visitors can go up the obelisk to enjoy a great view of the city for free and can check the many levels that are used as a museum.
3. National Mall
The National Mall is a lengthy national park of the city, which connects the most iconic buildings of the city, like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House and so on. People like to come here to just take a break and stroll around the gardens of the park. Be sure to come here if you want to enjoy a little part of nature between the many attractions of the city.
4. Tidal Basin
The Tidal Basin is a large pond near the National Mall, and serves as a great place for recreation. It is highly advised that you visit this place during spring, as the many cherry blossom trees (sakuras) dedicated to the city by Tokyo bloom that time of the year, and they are a spectacular sight. Having a picnic under them is a good choice. Visitors may also rent paddle boats to go around the lake.
5. Lincoln Memorial
This giant sculpture of Abraham Lincoln is a popular tourist attraction in Washington. The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated to him thanks to his large role in the history of the United States. Parts of his speech are engraved into the walls of the memorial structure. Martin Luther King, Jr. also delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech here, which is commemorated with an inscription at the steps where he stood.
6. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
As one of the most moving memorials, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or as commonly known “The Wall” is dedicated to the fallen soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. The names of all these soldiers are incsribed on the walls. A memorial statue dedicated to the women who served in the war (mainly as nurses) was also added near this.
7. National World War II Memorial
Located at the National Mall, the National World War II Memorial is, just like its name suggests, a memorial dedicated to those who died during World War II. The memorial consists of 56 granite pillars, walls with inscription of the states and the memorable symbol of the “Kilroy was here” engraving, a reflecting pool in the middle. A wall with 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war can also be found here. The message infront of this says “Here we mark the price of freedom”.
8. National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is a large art gallery with two main wings. The East wing has modern works of art, while the West wing has older works, like Botticelli and Monet. This way, people can decide which to see if they only like a particular part of the history of art. The design of both buildings reflect the style they represent.
9. National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum is dedicated to the history of American aircrafts and extensive space programs. There are many exhibitions with countless old planes and other kinds of aircrafts, both old and new. You can find a planetarium, an IMAX theatre and a flight simulator here as well. People interested in these should definitely visit this museum.
10. National Museum of Natural History
Next on the list of national museums is the National Museum of Natural History. It is of course dedicated to the history of nature and the research related to this field. More than 126 million artifacts are on display in this giant building. Popular exhibitions include the opportunity to feed tarantulas, see giant replicas of whales, and a wing dedicated to the history of human origin, tracing back 6 million years with life-size models.
11. Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the world, and is a very popular one at that. The cathedral surrounded by gardens provides a beautiful scenery, which should be appreciated by both religious and non-religious people. One of the most popular and famous parts of the cathedral is its numerous normal and not-so-normal gargoyles and grotesques found on it. The most recognizable one of these is a grotesque in the shape of the iconic helmet of Darth Vader from Star Wars. A guided tour is also available, showing all of these to the visitors.
12. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a very powerful and moving museum dedicated to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The museum many not be for everybody, as it can be quite disturbing for those who do not have a strong stomach. Visitors are given the identification card and name of an actual person who has been through these. You move through the exhibits, like Hitler’s rise to power, anti-Semitic propaganda, the horrors of the Final Solution, and each time the guides will give you updates on your person’s well-being. This might be too much for some, but it is still recommended, as it is a powerful way to show the horrors of the Holocaust.
13. National Zoo
While not as famous as the one in Central Park of New York, the National Zoo of Washington is a popular tourist attraction for those coming to the city. It’s one of the oldest zoos in the United States and all kinds of exotic animals can be viewed here. Both adults and kids like to come here to see the pandas, especially the youngest one who was born only a few years ago.
14. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a center where many different kinds of performances are held during the whole year. These include opera, ballet, theatrical peformances, jazz, orchestral peformances and many more. The National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Ballet and the Washington National Opera are all available here, and there is also free peformances on the Millennium Stage.
15. National Archives
The National Archives is, just like its name suggests, an archive where many important and old documents relating to the founding of the nation and its history are stored. You can find such documents here as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, one of the surviving copies of the Magna Carta and the Emancipation Proclamation. This is mainly advised for either tourists from the US or those interested in the history of the nation.
16. International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum is kind of counterintuitive, as it tries to shed light on the roles of spies throughout history, whose job is always unseen, behind veils of shadows. The exhibition consists of many both real and fictious spy gadgets and artifacts, and you can learn about many older and newer stories about spies in an interactive manner.
17. Congressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Congress members, Washington mayors, Civil War veterans, diplomats and even architects. There are of course others buried here as well, but it was kind of a custom for these people to be buried here, if the Congress was still in session.
18. Sergeant Stubby
Sergeant Stubby was a dog that soldiers snuck onboard during World War I. He was allowed to stay, which became very useful, as he helped in 17 major battles. He heard incoming missiles and mustard gas attacks before the soldiers, he could find wounded soldiers on the battlefield and he once found a German spy hiding in the bushes. For these acts, he recieved medals and the title of Sergeant. He was also sometimes injured, but fortunately he survived these. He even met Presidents once he came back and later became kind of a popularity. His remains were used in a taxidermy of him, now found with his medals as well.
19. Library of Congress
The Library of Congress if found in three buildings and houses about 21 million books, manuscripts, sound recordings, maps and photographs. For this, the libary holds the title of the “largest library in the world.” Checking most of them is not allowed unless you are researcher or have the authority to do so, but the buildings are still worth checking out, especially the Thomas Jefferson Building, the main one.
20. United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the official building which houses the United States Congress. It is near the National Mall and is the main building for the legislative branch of the US Government. The building is beautiful both inside and outside, and is a must-see among the things to do in Washington, so definitely check it out.
