Arlington National Cemetery, for example, honors more than 285,000 including John F. Kennedy, boxer Joe Louis and the Tomb of the Unknowns. The black granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 Americans, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial portraying one of the most well-known incidents of World War II, and the Pentagon Memorial offering a tribute to the events of Sept. 11, 2001 are each worthy of the trip.
Images we all remember from those grade school history textbooks come alive when visiting Washington, D.C. You will not soon forget standing beneath the 19-foot marble statue of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln; or gazing upon D.C.'s most prominent structure, the Washington Monument; or reading the engraved words that adorn the marble rotunda of the Jefferson Memorial.
Washington is home to our nation's Capitol building, the Pentagon, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, and perhaps the most famous address of all - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
But there is far more to Washington than what you might imagine. For example, did you know that the extraordinary Smithsonian Institution includes 19 museums and art galleries, most of which call D.C. home, including the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, and the Natural History Museum? OK, maybe you knew that already, but did you know that the Smithsonian also operates the National Zoological Park in D.C.? Some 2,000 animals (a quarter of which are endangered) call this national zoo home. And the best part is that admission to the park is free.
One museum you may not have known about is that the National Museum of Crime & Punishment, located in downtown Washington, is the next best thing to starring in an episode of CSI. Through a series of exhibits including a crime scene lab, a high-speed police-chase simulator, an FBI shooting range (simulated, of course), and hundred of artifacts documenting the nation's elaborate history of criminals and crime fighters, this highly interactive museum explores the science and technology behind solving crimes.
Prepare to meet dangerous pirates, gun-slinging outlaws, and slick mobsters on your way to the crime scene lab. There you will explore forensic science techniques from blood analysis to ballistics. Though some parts of the museum are not exactly kid-friendly, the museum makes navigating a family through the exhibits fun and safe for all visitors.
D.C. is also home to The International Spy Museum, where visitors experience a covert tour of the world of espionage. After you adopt your very own cover identity, you will encounter exhibits that explore more than 50 years of spy technology and unfold a cast of characters you only thought you knew.
Explore the history and significance of news and media at the 250,000-square-foot Newseum. Play the role of reporter in the NBC News interactive newsroom - one of Newseum's 14 permanent exhibits - and experience the world's most historic newscasts in one of the 15 theaters built into the museum.
When visiting D.C., don't miss the U.S. Navy Museum, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, or the Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare materials.
Outdoor adventures are plentiful around the D.C. area in the form of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The parkway consists of many trails, parks and historic sites that construct a greenway to the nation's capitol. Walk the trails and boardwalks of Theodore Roosevelt Island, experience pre-Revolutionary War farm life at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, and see the mighty Potomac River crash through Mather Gorge at Great Falls Park.
The tranquil sights and sounds of Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens make a perfect setting for yoga, while the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, following the Potomac's Virginia's shoreline, is a favorite among cyclists, and a reflective jaunt through Rock Creek Park will serve you well. For a real treat, take a moonlight hike through the National Arboretum, sail the Potomac with the help of the Washington Sailing Marina, or set out on a professionally guided tour of the city with Bike and Roll.
When the sun sets in D.C., the nightlife really just begins to heat up. The area is filled with jazz clubs like the Bohemian Caverns, established more than 85 years ago; unique eateries like Marvin, serving home cooked classics in a Belgian café setting; and inspiring ambiance of places like Busboys & Poets, a self-proclaimed "community gathering place" offering a mix of food, books and distinctive events.
Red Palace offers live music and Vaudeville shows amidst a New Orleans-style atmosphere and unique sideshow strangeness. Red Palace also serves a long list of crafted beers and tasty burgers and sandwiches. If beer is your fancy, try The Brickseller Saloon boasting the world's largest collection of beers and serving over 5,000 varieties since it opened in 1957. And for wine aficionados there is no place better than wine bars like Proof, Sonoma or Veritas.
For memorable accommodations, Washington is at the top of the list. Embassy Circle Guest House, for starters, is located in one of D.C.'s most renowned downtown neighborhoods - Dupont Circle. Embassy Circle offers 11 elegant guest rooms in a completely restored, beautiful center-hall colonial home built in 1902. However, if you want to step away from the busy metropolis of D.C. for a night, try The Colombia Inn at Peralynna in Columbia, MD. It is a 20,000-square-foot European château offering 18 luxury suites surrounded by a panorama of rolling hills.
Washington's better-known attractions offer an unforgettable experience and are not to be missed. In fact, they are not to be brushed over with merely a glance either. But our nation's capitol is a vast landscape offering so much more.
Take your time and experience all that makes D.C. so incredible. As soon as you arrive in this great capital, head down to the National Mall and take in all the sights, sit for a while beneath the 200-year-old American elms that line the park, and reflect on what it means to be surrounded by so much history. Then branch out and experience all the other great gems hidden throughout Washington, D.C.
by Kyle Whitecotton
