So you’ve booked your first-ever trip to Washington DC. It’s an exciting time! Seeing the nation’s capital for the first time is thrilling – but it can also feel a bit hectic and overwhelming. After all, there’s so much to do! That’s why we’re here to help. Here are the top 20 Washington DC attractions that should be on the itinerary for every first-time visitor!
Let’s start with the things that bring just about everyone to Washington – the city’s famous monuments and memorials. Of course, there are quite a few, so we narrowed down the list to the ones that absolutely no one should miss.
Perhaps the most imposing monument in all of DC, the Lincoln Memorial looms majestically at the western end of the Mall. Few are unfamiliar with its iconic columns and statue of a seated President Abraham Lincoln. However, there’s nothing like climbing the steps and seeing it with your own eyes. Some of Lincoln’s most influential words are carved in the stone walls for generations of Americans to reflect upon. After honoring this great leader, turn around and enjoy the incredible views back down the Mall toward the Capitol.
Across the Reflecting Pool from the Vietnam memorial lies another haunting reminder of an often-overlooked American conflict – the Korean War. The monument is centered around 19 steel statues depicting American service members on patrol. Some say that no matter where you stand around the memorial, you’ll always be in the line of sight of one of these statues. The site is also rumored to be foggy even on clear DC nights, reflecting the terrain of Korea. Nevertheless, it’s a monument unlike any other that’s certainly worth a stop.
Across the Potomac River from Washington in Arlington, another visitor-favorite memorial honors the Marines, one of the military’s most famous branches. Recreating the famous photograph of Marines raising the American flag over Iwo Jima during World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have died in American wars stretching back to their establishment in 1775. The memorial grounds also afford breathtaking views of the National Mall and the rest of DC.
DC is also famous for its museums – primarily, the extremely fascinating and, better yet, free Smithsonian. But there are also other museums worth a trip during your time in the nation’s capital, each filled with unique exhibits and information you can’t see anywhere else.
If you’re looking for the most popular museum in Washington, this is it. And once you’ve explored its exhibits – from humanity’s origins to geology to incredible fossils and preserved animals – you’ll understand the appeal. With nearly 150 million artifacts in its collection, it’s a favorite of both kids and parents for its fascinating but family-friendly presentation of earth and its varied inhabitants. Even the building itself is a fascinating architectural marvel!
The history of flight is right at your fingertips at this extremely popular Smithsonian. It’s a favorite of younger visitors – along with the young at heart. You’ll marvel at exhibits like the Wright Brothers’ first successful plane, Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, which carried him across the Atlantic for the first time, or the Apollo 11 command module that first touched down on the moon. Aside from the well-known facility on the Mall, the museum also operates the Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia, which offers a chance to view even more famous flying machines, like the space shuttle or the plane that dropped the atomic bomb.
Want to learn about the amazing and exciting history of America through the objects that helped define the nation? Then head over to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. From the original Star-Spangled Banner flag to Dorothy’s red slippers from The Wizard of Oz, everyone will enjoy this look at America’s historical and cultural legacy. Other exhibits focus on transportation, politics, American industry, the First Ladies, and so much more. It’s a great place to start your DC museum adventure.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum may be a sobering stop amid Washington, DC’s fun and excitement. But it’s one of the city’s most powerful museums and memorials and plays a crucial role in shining a light on the horrors of the Holocaust and other modern genocide. Visitors follow the path of the Holocaust chronologically, showing how a political movement slowly developed into mass murder. From replicas of boxcars used to take victims to concentration camps to the soaring Tower of Faces honoring individuals who lost their lives, it’s an emotional and essential experience for any visitor to the nation’s capital.
The monument honoring our nation’s third president may be a bit removed from others along the National Mall, but it’s more than worth the trip. Inside an impressively ornate marble building, you can admire a bronze statue of Jefferson and reflect on passages of his most influential work – the Declaration of Independence – among others, carved into the walls. This breathtaking memorial is located across Washington’s Tidal Basin, a man-made body of water along the National Mall. In springtime, you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of the blooming cherry blossoms along the opposite side of the Tidal Basin, a sight that draws thousands every year.
As you can see, Washington DC has so much to do and see for new visitors. From museums to monuments to other incredible attractions, there’s always something to do in the nation’s capital.
But if your head is spinning trying to figure out how to fit it all in, don’t worry. Private DC Tours has you covered. We’ll help you design the perfect itinerary to ensure you see all of your most-anticipated attractions, and on your schedule – not some one-size-fits-all tour that many people book. It’s truly the best way to see all the best Washington has to offer the way you want to, at your pace.
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