What to see in Washington DC

Pack some very comfortable walking shoes. There is a lot of walking to do. I racked up almost 35000 steps, or 17 miles! Before you visit ensure you have an idea of what you would like to visit and create an itinerary to help you maximise your time here, especially if it’s short.

The Capitol Building

Located on Capitol Hill this is where Congress has met since 1800 to write US laws. If you have opportunity you can book a tour of the building. Tours take place Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm. Tickets are free but you need to reserve them in advance.

Federal Beureau of Investigation

Located a short stroll from the Capitol Building is domestic and intelligence service for the United States. It has been featured in a heap of films including the X-Files, the Firm and The Wolf of Wall Street to name a few.

The White House

Standing pride of place for over 200 years The White House has stood as a symbol of America’s Presidency. Built in 1800 John Adams was the first President to live in the building.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument is halfway between Capitol Hill and Lincoln memorial. First constructed in 1833 the 600 foot Egyptian-style obelisk commemorates George Washington, the 1st President of the United States. If you look closely at the monument when you visit you will notice there is a distinct colour line half-way up. This is because the builders ran out of funds and had to stop construction. When funds were available construction began however the stone used was of a marginally different colour.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Built in 1939 the Jefferson Memorial is located in an iconic sand coloured dome. Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809).

Korean War Memorial

Constructed in 1995 the Korean War memorial features 19 statues to represent an ethnic cross section of America. They include 14 soldiers, 3 Marines, 1 sailor and 1 airman. The troops wear ponchos covering their weapons and equipment which are blowing from the winds of Korea.

Martin Luther King Memorial

Martin Luther King was an African American civil rights leader in the early 1960’s. Constructed in 2011 it is only one of four non-President memorials in Washington DC.

Lincoln Memorial and Reflection Pool

Built in 1915 no trip to Washington DC would be complete without visiting Abe Lincoln on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Certainly one of the most iconic memorials in the city the Lincoln Memorial sits at the west end of the National Mall just on the edge of the Potomac River. Once you’ve taken your picture with the seated marble version of the nation’s 16th President be sure to turn around to take in the gorgeous views of the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument.

Arlington Cemetery

This 639 acre cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 military personnel as well as President John F. Kennedy and his family. An eternal flame marks JFK’s grave. Nearby you can find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where a changing of the guard ceremony takes place every 30 minutes. The cemetery is open daily 8am-5pm and free to visit.

National Archives

To Americans this building is the Holy Grail. The National Archives Museum houses the original Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, plus one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carta left in the world. It’s a great place for history buffs as it’s filled with really informative panels.

Admission is free and no ticket is necessary.

Library of Congress

This is the largest library in the world. There are over 16 million books here and over 120 million other items. Established in 1800 over 3,000 staff help keep this place running. It is the main research centre of the U.S. Congress and is home to the U.S. Copyright Office.

If you have seen the National Treasure films this building is featured where Nicholas Cage is in search of ‘The Presidents Book’. If you have time obtain the many free tickets that allows you to have a self guided tour of the building.

World War II Memorial

The serene WWII Memorial is a tribute to all who served and died fighting in WWII. A beautiful testament to those who worked to protect the United States. The memorial is located across the reflecting pool from the Lincoln Memorial.

Smithsonian Museums

Founded in 1846 the Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum, education, and research complex in the world. There are 17 museums but some of the best are the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum. All Smithsonian museums are free to enter and most are located right along the National Mall.

Take a stroll into Georgetown

Georgetown is a historic neighbourhood that used to be a transit point for farmers selling tobacco in the 1700s. It’s home to the oldest house in DC (built in 1765 and appropriately called the Old Stone House), as well as Georgetown University (one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States).

Today, the area is known for its fantastic shopping, waterfront harbour, dining scene, and nightlife.

Georgetown is also famous for the 1974 film ‘The Exorcist’. A short walk beyond the waterfront you’ll discover the steep 75 steps that make up the ‘Exorcist Stairs’. Ascend the stairs to the street above and discover the house that was also featured in the film. Here’s a link to that scene.

How to get about

Washington DC is best done on foot. Bare in mind the monuments are all spread apart so you will definitely get in those steps!

That said there are heaps of eScooters and eBikes you can hire for a charge to cover the distances. Now anybody who reads my posts know I do enjoy a good eScooter but I found Washington DC rather tricky to navigate as there are very few cycle lanes available meaning most of your scootering or biking will be on the main roads which can be fairly busy.

That said I did try, albeit briefly, an eScooter using the ‘Lime’ app (Android version below). Just complete the details on the app and you will be offered a map that shows the locations of all the eScooters and how much charge they hold.

Places to eat

If your time is short, like mine, I spent most of the day just having bottles of water and trekking on to the next site. That said, I did allow time to sit down from the humidity and snack and eat. Here are the places I visited.

The Dubliner – www.dublinerdc.com

Located at 4 F St NW, Washington DC 20001 just a short walk down from Union train station . A typical Irish pub serving wholesome food and drinks.

Clydes of Georgetown – www.clydes.com/location/georgetown

Located at 3236 M St NW, Washington DC 20007 is an American restaurant that serves hearty food, drinks and cocktails. I tried the cheese and bacon burger with lemonade and a local pale ale.

Penn Quarter Sports Bar – www.pennquartersportstavern.com

Found at 639 Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC not too far from the National Archives museum is a lively sports bar that offers the usual BBQ chicken wings, ribs and burgers with a great great selection of beverages.

Final Thought

Washington DC isn’t particularly huge and can be navigated on foot providing you have yourself a good pair of walking shoes. There is certainly lots to do and see and the vast majority of tours are free. The city has this powerful air about it but for me it lacked a bit of character. Most buildings are certainly architecturally stunning but are all constructed of the same coloured cream marble that gives the city a very “same” feeling, lacking in personality. That said, I definitely would revisit Washington DC again and would encourage anyone who hasn’t been before, to visit.