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13 Things you can’t miss while visiting Washington DC

Guide tour and Travel guide Washington DC

the pink travel society March 18, 2020

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13 Things you can’t miss while visiting Washington DC

The National Mall is the center of most sightseeing visit in the city, some people get confused and think is one place in particular, but it the hole are that is house of most of the monuments and places in this list.

What to visit in Washington DC this 2023:

The White House

Without a doubt one of the most popular places in the USA and known around the world.

House of all the presidents of the United States (except Washington), the funniest thing is that it wasn’t what I was expecting, personally it was much smaller than I imagined and because of all the bars and security it looks quite far, but you can’t miss the photo.

The George Washington Monument

The famous obelisk is surrounded by 50 flags representing the states of the USA, it was inaugurated in 1885 and until the Eiffel Tower arrived, it was the tallest building in the world.

A structure that looks great in the reflective pool commemorating the first President of the United States. If you want, you can enter and go up to get to know it inside.

Don’t miss: One day in Washington DC

Reflective pool

Right in front of the obelisk you will see the “Reflecting Pool” that connects to the Lincoln Memorial on the other side.

This rectangular pool is a place of many important historical things that have happened in the USA.

WWII memorial

One of my favorite places! since it is not only a beautiful sight, but in the summer you can pay tribute to the veterans by putting your feet in the water. A good place to contemplate and chill out.

Lincoln memorial

On the other side of the obelisk is a marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln that is surrounded by 36 columns representing the states that existed at the time of Lincoln’s death.

A place with incredible murals and the setting for a series of historical events, such as the famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin

This monument to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is based on the Roman Pantheon, its low dome supported by 54 Ionic columns.

Inside is a statue of Jefferson and around it are engraved excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and other writings.

The monument is located around the lake called Tidal Basin, which reflects the monument on its surface, and around the water’s edge there are cherry trees which were a gift from Japan.

Every spring many people gather to see these trees and celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Monument

To get to this monument you have to go around the lake and you will also find the Franklin D. Roosevelt Monument and the history of several years of the USA under his guidance in the Great Depression and World War II.

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

You cannot miss the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial that is on that same road.

There you can find “The Stone of Hope” that symbolizes the Mountain of despair and it contains a line of King’s speech “I have a Dream”

Arlington National Cemetery

You have seen this place in several American movies. The Arlington National Cemetery is full of monuments to US history and the men and women who were part of it.

The most famous tombs are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, that of President John F. Kennedy and the Navy War Memorial.

In an impressive ceremony, the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier changes every hour from October 1 to March 31, and every half hour from April 1 to September 30.

Although the cemetery is not in the city, both the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail system and Metrobus have stops near the door.

Georgetown

This historic Georgetown district is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque in the city. Perfect to find a restaurant or a cafe to hang out.

Something that I love about this city is that all the buildings are quite reasonable in size, what makes this city so special and what makes the biggest monuments stand out.

It also has the stairs where the Exorcist was filmed. A cool spot for the movie junkies out there.

The Capitol and the Library of Congress

The best part of these two places is that they are very close to each other so do not hesitate to visit them.

First of all, The Library of Congress is beautiful, it’s worth visiting every exhibit and room they have. You can see their events here.

It is located in 3 buildings on Capitol Hill, the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 1st Street SE), the James Madison Memorial Building (101 Independence Avenue SE) and the John Adams Building (2nd Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street) .

This library houses more than 164 million items, from books to photos, pictures, maps and audios. Of course, you cannot miss the Reading Room where one of the largest libraries in the world is located.

All buildings in the Library of Congress are free to enter.

Schedule:

The Thomas Jefferson Building is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. at 5 p.m. The building is closed every Sunday and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

From there he walks to El Capitolio, headquarters of the US legislative chambers. To enter, go to the Visitor Center, where there is an exhibition hall that you can visit without reservation.

So far its dome is the highest in Washington, and the truth is that it looks very pretty in every corner of the city.

How to get there:

The easiest way to get to the Library of Congress and then head to the Capitol is via Metrorail or the Metro Circulator’s Union Station-Navy Yard Metro route.

The closest subway stop is Capitol South Station on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines. Walk two blocks north on First Street SE.

The Union Station-Navy Yard route stops at First Street, taking a short walk to the Library of Congress buildings.

National Mall at night

If you stay the night in Washington, something that I highly recommend is visiting the entire National Mall at night, it is very beautifully lit, there are few people and it is a completely different experience than when you go by day. Don’t miss it.