We only gave ourselves just over 24 hours to explore Washington, which in hindsight was definitely not enough time to check out this fantastic city. We were pushed for time to squeeze everything in on our trip to the States, but felt it was important to include the Nation’s capital!
Our flights landed at 4.00pm and we disembarked to a freezing 2 degrees and made our way to our hotel. The taxi driver pointed out a couple of sights along the way and it was easy to realise that there was a lot to see and do… so what was to be our plan of attack as our time was short?
The new ‘Big Bus’ was recommended to us and seemed to be the perfect option and a great way to take in all of the sights. The concept is ‘hop on/hop off’ so you have a ticket and transportation where a bus comes through each stop at 20 minute intervals and you hop on and off as you please so you are free to roam and do things at your own pace, but you are generally heading in the right direction of the sights. A two day pass would have been perfect but one would have to do, so off we set.
Washington is very similar to our capital – Canberra. A city that is dedicated to government/politics and designed and built to suit. Washington is steeped in history and tradition, and it is a historian’s paradise filled with national treasures!
First stop – Capitol Hill – was just around the corner from our hotel. The massive white structure sits on top of a hill and looks over all of Washington and dominates the skyline for miles. Here you can see where Congress sits and the US Government meets and check out and learn all about the Constitution – one of the world’s most famous documents.
The tour then heads towards the Smithsonian area which offers an amazing number of museums to visit – all of which are free entry! We spent time in the “Air and Space Museum” which is one of the most popular and it was fantastic, well worthy of a visit. There is also the American Indian Museum, the Bureau of Engraving & Holocaust Museum, the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Archives and National Art Gallery. You could easily spend days checking them all out and they are all really interesting… not too big and not too small.
Tour past the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin D Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Memorials, the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and WWII Memorial – the list goes on! A stop at the Lincoln Memorial is a definite highlight and the views from this are amazing, so it’s the perfect spot to also have lunch before continuing on.
It takes a couple of hours to walk through the Arlington Cemetery as it is quite hilly, and this is where thousands and thousands of soldiers are buried. It is also the resting place of many of the Kennedy’s and other famous people.
View the massive Pentagon area which is on the other side of the river and there is a huge shopping centre also in this area if you want to shop and take a break from all of the sightseeing!
Last stop on the main route is The White House, a spectacle to see, and home to the President of the United States. It felt quite surreal to be standing outside of The White House, one of those icons that we are all familiar with!
After your day of sightseeing you will be exhausted, but “Gallery Place” is the place to go to so that you can wind down. Close to the Convention Center and Chinatown it is a modern area filled with restaurants/dining of all types to suit all budgets, shopping areas and there is plenty of entertainment too – including a cinema complex and Lucky Strike Bowling. Next door is the Verizon Center – home to the NBA Washington Wizards and the NHL Washington Capitals; and around the corner is the Hard Rock Café which is always a great place for a bite to eat.
Whether you are a history buff or not, Washington is very worthy of a visit and it’s easy to spend a few days in this great city. We wished we’d had more time as there was so much to see and so much to keep both adults and children occupied. Most of us know a lot about America from the movies etc. but to see the sights firsthand and learn about some of the most famous treasures in the world is a great experience. So if you are visiting the East Coast of the States don’t miss Washington as it’s a brilliant stop for your itinerary!