Things to do in Washington
Visitors to Washington DC should expect a "steady diet of museums and monuments", Lonely Planet claims, with the city home to an abundance of official landmarks. Culture vultures are also well catered for, as the city seemingly opens a museum for anything that stays still long enough to put in a glass case.
Wandering around the city, travellers are presented with a "patriotic combination of history and histrionics", with the sightline dominated by iconic landmarks such as the Capitol, Pentagon and White House.
Capitol Hill marks the spiritual and geographical heart of the city, topped by the imposing Capitol building. The centre of US government and a key player in the city's history, a visit to Capitol is essential. Guided tours are available, taking in the old Supreme Court chamber and Statuary Hall among others and finishing in the crypt, which now houses and exhibition on the building's history. Statuory Hall is filled with statues and the intention was to have a likeness of two distinguished citizens from each state. However, the floor wasn't strong enough to support this much weight, so some states have been sold short.
Another essential sight is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, better known as the White House. This iconic 132-room mansion has been home to every president since John Adams and rumour has it that some are still around: Lincoln's ghost is alleged to haunt his old study, with President Truman being among those claiming to have seen it.
In the days before mass tourism, the incumbent president would often pop out to meet visitors. Nowadays people are lucky enough to even get into the White House and shouldn't hold out much hope of meeting anyone important. Tours have to be booked a considerable length of time in advance and are limited to ten people. The White House visitor centre might be a better bet for those seeking their political fix, serving as a museum and information point.
The Lincoln Memorial is an imposing sight in the city and is something of a focal point for many visitors. Designed to celebrate the ideals of freedom, tolerance and charity, the monument has become more than just a memorial to Lincoln. Martin Luther King preached the cause of civil rights from its steps and it is still held to represent the nobility of American politics.
Lincoln fans can also visit the Ford's Theatre, where he was assassinated. A memorial flag is permanently on display in his box, which has become something of a shrine to the Great Emancipator.
The Smithsonian Institution is one of Washington DC's leading attractions, welcoming scores of visitors. More than 150-years-old, the part-museum complex, part-research institute is home to 16 museums. More than 140 million pieces of art, specimens and artefacts are held by the institute and the collection is so vast that only one per cent of it can ever be displayed at a time.
Arlington National Cemetery is also a popular tourist destination. The 612-acre cemetery houses 245,000 graves and is the final resting place for thousands of military personnel. Most people visit the cemetery to see John F Kennedy's grave, which is marked with eternal flames.
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Things to Do
