My husband's boss will be visiting Washington, DC from Switzerland next month, and has asked for our suggestions on some local activities. I gave her such a comprehensive letter, that I wanted to be sure to share it with my readers and clients. Feel free to comment if I missed your favorite!
I am sure you would love to see the monuments. They are very interesting, but many are even better at night when they are all lit up. You can walk from the Lincoln Memorial past the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials for some pretty dramatic effect.
Be sure not to miss the Thomas Jefferson and FDR monuments, as well as the newer memorials to MLK and WWII -- these are all good for daytime. And there's a pretty cool sculpture of Einstein near the National Academy of Engineering. Easy to pass by when you're near the Vietnam Memorial.
You might get lucky to see the cherry blossoms that surround the Tidal Basin -- it will be fabulous if the timing works out. An early bloom would be March 20 and a late bloom would be April 10. Strolling around this area is a wonderful way to spend the day. The actual Cherry Blossom Festival will take place March 20 - April 17, 2016, and the city does see large crowds during this time. I recommend booking your hotel ASAP if you haven't already.
Speaking of hotels, have you started researching? What's your budget? If you want to stay in the center of town, the rooms will be a bit pricey. I am just checking my sources and see some pretty nice options in the $200-$350/nt range. I would be cautious with options that are pricing lower than that. There is no reason to rent a car provided you want to focus your activities on the main attractions within the city. The metro is a perfect way to get around; and be sure to pack excellent walking shoes.
The Smithsonian is an enormous institute of free museums mostly clustered around the National Mall (between the Capitol and Washington Monument). Depending on your interests, the best ones are the National Air and Space Museum (note that there is a second location way outside of the city near Dulles airport that houses additional artifacts, but it isn't easy to reach), National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, and the Hirshorn (Art) Museum. A quick metro trip on the red line will take you to the free Smithsonian National Zoo if you are interested in seeing pandas and other creatures.
One of my favorite experiences as an American is visiting Ford's Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It's worth taking the tour to hear about some of the interesting events of the day.
I have never been, but the International Spy Museum and Newseum are supposed to be interesting. I would skip the wax museum and crime museums.
Also pass on the National Cathedral and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, as you have access to much more interesting churches coming from Europe.
My other favorite activity is to go to Southwest DC (Waterfront metro stop) where the seafood market is serving up fresh Maryland steamed crabs and hot New England clam chowder. It's worth a stop there for a snack and to see all the fresh catch of the day.
If you fancy a stage performance, the Kennedy Center is an amazing venue. Not only do they have free performances daily at their Millennium Stage, but you can see wonderful Broadway shows, concerts, opera, ballet, and other amazing theater. It's worthwhile to visit just to go to the rooftop and see some neat views over the city. I recommend buying tickets ASAP if there is something that strikes you on the calendar.
No visit to Washington, DC is completed without a tour of the Capitol building and White House. If it is important to you to get INSIDE, you should research and request that ASAP.
For a real American experience, go see a Washington Nationals baseball game. The stadium is easy to reach on the metro, and it will be a lot of fun.
I hope you have a wonderful trip to one of my favorite U.S. cities!
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