While often overshadowed by some other American cities, I think Washington, DC is one of the coolest places for tourists to visit. The Smithsonian alone is well worth the trip, plus there are lots of other cool attractions and historical sites to see. I’ve visited the city several times, and still have a lot I want to do. I do go to New York City a lot, and it’s easy to combine it with a stop in DC, as it’s just a couple hours away by train.
On This Site…
While Washington is seen more often on the news than in films, you’ll find several filming locations in the area. Featured on my site are locations from The Exorcist, National Treasure, Forrest Gump, and The American President.
Don’t Miss…
There are a lot of things to see and do in Washington DC. I’ve had the chance to visit the city numerous times, and I’m going to give you a few that I consider highlights.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History is one of the most fascinating museums in Washington, DC. It features a number of important artifacts from US history, including Abraham Lincoln’s hat from the night he was shot. They also have a collection of dresses worn by First Ladies for the inaugurations and one of the original flags, with 13 stars representing the colonies.
The museum also has a pretty vast collection of pop culture items on display. I have written a full article on it, which you can find here. Keep in mind that the display features only a small portion of the museum’s collection, and it’s often changed and rotated, so you never know what you’ll find. I’ve been several times, and the few things that are generally always on display are the Ruby Slippers, Archie Bunker’s chair, Star Wars items, and a collection of Muppets.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
My personal favourite museum is the National Air and Space Museum. They have an incredible amount of unique and historic aircraft on display. The museum is actually divided into two different locations. The main campus is located in downtown Washington DC, along the National Mall. This location has smaller aircraft, including the Wright Brother’s first plane, The Apollo 11 Command Module, and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis airplane. They also have a model of the Starship Enterprise, from Star Trek: The Original Series.
The second location is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. This location houses a lot of large aircraft that can’t be moved into downtown Washington, DC. Here you’ll see the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Enola Gay, a Lockhard SR-71 Blackbird, an Air France Concorde, and many more unique and historical aircraft.
Ford’s Theatre
Ford’s Theatre is a historic theatre in downtown Washington DC. It opened in 1963 and is located at 511 10th Street NW, just a few blocks away from The White House. The site is park of the National Park Service.
Despite it’s long history, the theatre is most well known for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. On April 14, Lincoln and his wife attended a performance of the play Our American Cousin. While seated in a suite, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Booth jumped down from the suite to the stage, and then ran out of a side door to make his escape. Lincoln was brought across the street to the Petersen House, where he died the next day.
The building went through various uses over the years, but now is back to operating as a theatre. It is also open for public tours if you wish to visit.
The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most recognizable sites in Washington DC. Located at the west of the National Mall, on the shores of the Potomac River. A tribute to President Lincoln, the memorial opened in 1922. It features a large statue of Lincoln sitting in a chair, and is houses in a large marble building surrounded by 36 large columns. The memorial is pictured on the back of the US Penny and the $5 bill.
The memorial has been the site of many events. This includes 4th of July celebrations, Military rallies, and various protests. The most closely associated is Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech as part of a civil rights rally. It is estimated that 250,000 people were in attendance at this historic event. There is a plaque in the ground marking the spot where MLK stood to give this speech.
The White House
No visit to the city is complete without seeing the White House. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the grounds are close off and heavily guarded. The street directly in front of the White House is closed to traffic for security reasons, which makes it a great place to see the house.
You can also visit Lafayette Square, right across the street. This park is filled with statues and trees. This is the area where you will often see protesters as well. They are generally harmless but you may find them a bit disruptive.
You can also view the White House from the back, along E Street. This view is further away from the house, making it harder to get photos.
The National Christmas Tree
If you happen to be in Washington, DC during the holidays, stop by and see the National Christmas Tree. It’s located in the area behind the White House, on the Ellipse. While the tree isn’t as big as the Rockefeller Center tree, it’s equally beautiful, it’s less crowded. There are also smaller trees decorated with ornaments from all the states and territories.
Arlington National Cemetery
Just across the Potomac River is Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Virginia. As the national cemetery, it is the final resting place of many notable Americans. Two Presidents, John F Kennedy and William Taft and buried here. There are memorials to the Challenger and Columbia Space Shuttles. You can also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and see the changing of the guard.
Other notable burials here are Bobby Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Astronaut John Glenn, and actress Maureen O’Hara.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Just a short drive from Washington DV, Mount Vernon is a great half-day trip from the city. When I visited, I picked up a rental car, drove to Arlington Cemetery and spent a couple hours there. I then drove out to Mount Vernon for the afternoon. After my visit there, I returned my car to nearby Reagan Airport before my flight home.
Mount Vernon is George Washington’s estate, where he lived for many years both before and after the Presidency. Along with his wife Martha, he was buried on the property. The estate stayed in the family for several generations before being taken over by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, who continues to run it. The estate is open for the public to visit, and includes guided tours of the main house. There are a number of other buildings on the site, and a large visitor’s centre with a museum.
How To Get Around
Driving in Washington DC is relatively easy compared to other big cities. However there’s really no need in the city. The Metro system is a fast and efficient way to get around. The subway has several lines that run through the city and connect it to communities in Virginia and Maryland. There are also lots of bus lines that run through the city as well. If need be, Uber, Lyft, and taxis are easy to access as well.
The city is served by two main airports, Dulles is the International Airport, and Reagan National airport serves domestic flights from across the US and Canada. It’s also easy to take Amtrak to DC’s Union Station. It’s on the Northeast Corridor linking it to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
*Please note I haven’t received compensation for any recommendations on this site. These are my own opinions*
