Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

One Day in Washington

If you have a day or less (and even a dollar or less!) in D.C., your sightseeing strategy is simple: take the metro to the Smithsonian stop and explore the area around the Mall. You'll be at the undisputed heart of the city -- a beautiful setting in which you'll find America's greatest collection museums, with the city's spectacular monuments and the halls of government a stone's throw away.

As you face the Capitol, to your left are the Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives. To your right are the Museum of African Art, the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, and more. Head the other direction, toward the Washington Monument, and you're also on your way to the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and more monuments to America's presidents and its past. A lover of American history and culture could spend a thoroughly happy month, much less a day, wandering the Mall and its surroundings.

If you're here first thing in the morning: You can hit monuments and memorials early. They're open 24 hours a day and staffed beginning at 8:00 AM. The outdoor sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn opens at 7:30, and the Smithsonian Institution Building (the "Castle") opens at 8:30. In the Castle you can grab a cup of coffee, watch an 18-minute film about D.C., and see examples of objects from many of the 18 Smithsonian museums.

If you only have few hours in the evening: Experience the beauty of monuments at dusk and after dark. Many people think they're even more striking when the sun goes down. National Park Service rangers staff most monuments until midnight.

Five Days in Washington

Day 1

With more time at your disposal, you have a chance both to see the sights and to get to know the city. A guided bus tour is a good way to get yourself oriented; if you take one of the hop-on, hop-off tours we recommend under "Day Tours & Guides" in the "Essentials" chapter at the back of this book, you'll get genuine insights without a lot of tourist hokum.

Because you can get on and off wherever you like, it's good idea to explore Georgetown and the Washington National Cathedralwhile on a bus tour; neither of which is easily accessible by metro. For lunch, consider the café at the National Museum of the American Indian, where they serve creative dishes inspired by native cultures.

Day 2

Devote your next day to the Mall, where you can check out the museums and monuments that were probably a prime motivation for your coming to Washington in the first place. Keep in mind the National Air and Space Museum is the most crowded. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of American History (when it reopens in summer 2008) are very popular as well. If you visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, plan on spending two to three hours.

Take time out for a walk from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and around the Tidal Basin, where you can see the Jefferson Memorial and the FDR Memorial, and take a leisurely paddleboat ride around the cherry trees. If you're with kids on the Mall, take a break by riding the carousel.

Accomplish all of this and you'll have had a very full day. If you like a quick, "just the highlights" approach, you can take it all in. If you'd rather linger at the museums and soak up the culture, there are a couple of strategies to consider: narrow your focus to one or two museums; visit the monuments and memorials in the evening; or give the Mall and vicinity a second day on your itinerary.

Day 3

Make this your day on Capitol Hill, where you'll have the option of visiting the Capitol, the U.S. Botanic Gardens, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Call your senators or congressional representative in advance for passes to see Congress in session -- a memorable experience. Likewise, check the Supreme Court's Web site (www.supremecourtus.gov) for dates of oral arguments. If you show up at court in the morning, you can gain admission for either a short (three-minute) visit or the full morning session.

Day 4

Head to the National Zoo and say good morning to the pandas. If the weather's bad, you can still enjoy the numerous indoor animal houses. Then hop on the Metro to Dupont Circle for lunch. Walk west on P Street NW to Georgetown, where you can shop, admire the architecture, and people watch through the afternoon.

If you got a good dose of Georgetown on your first day, consider instead hitting the International Spy Museum, which tends to be less crowded after 2 PM. From there you can walk over to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, which stay open until 7.

Day 5

Spend the morning at Arlington National Cemetery, one of the Washington area's most moving experiences. While you're there, don't missing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which takes place every hour or half hour, depending on the time of year. A short detour north of the cemetery brings you to the Marine Corps War Memorial, a giant bronze rendering of one of the most famous images in U.S. military history.

After your quiet, contemplative morning, head across town to spend the afternoon in the neighborhoods of Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle, both of which have unusual shops, restaurants, and clubs. Lunch at one of Adams-Morgan's Ethiopian, El Salvadoran, or Mexican restaurants, and take in the Dupont Circle art scene -- there's an assortment of galleries, as well as the renowned Phillips Collection.