Museums, monuments, gardens and government buildings. As a tourist destination, Washington, DC opens the treasures of our country for all to see - for free! No matter where you're from, you will pay no admission to visit the Smithsonian Museums, the United States Capitol building, the Library of Congress, the US Botanic Garden and other wonderful places.
The Capitol Building is a "must-see" for anyone visiting Washington. The guided free tour takes you into the halls and corridors that you cannot visit on your own. Outside of the tour, the exhibit that describes the Legislative Branch is well done and interesting. A cafe on the ground floor provides a variety of choices from grilled burgers and hotdogs to a large salad bar, sandwiches, and entrees with side dishes.
When you've finished your visit in the Capitol Building, you can take the tunnel connecting the building to the Library of Congress. When it comes to architecture, I love the inside of the Library of Congress. Marble, mosaics, art and artifacts give this building a palatial feel while touring the exhibits or using the library (with a pre-arranged visitor card). The interior is dramatic! I could spend hours studying the intricate details of the interior architecture. But, there are so many more places to visit.
The Smithsonian Museums line the National Mall on both sides. Admission to the museums is free, but special exhibits, such as IMAX theatre experiences, do charge a fee.
Children will love the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. The Natural History Museum has a live butterfly exhibit (admission fee), as well as exhibits on mammals and ocean life. Gems, such as The Hope Diamond, are also on display. A cafe on the ground floor has many healthy and tasty choices for lunch. The sandwiches, such as turkey on a whole grain baguette, is large enough for two people to share.
The Air and Space Museum is filled with aviation and space fun! Lindberg's Spirt of St. Louis airplane is there as well as space capsules, early airplanes and loads of information. The IMAX and planetarium shows and the flight simulators may be enjoyed for a fee.
The United States Botanic Garden and Conservatory are also along the National Mall, near the Capitol. For gardeners especially, hours can be spent wandering through the paths of the native gardens, the butterfly habitat, the rose garden and the many sections of the conservatory. The Conservatory houses rare and exotic plants, orchids and jungle plants.
White House Tours require a six month reservation that must be arranged through a member of Congress. However, you can walk outside the fence at the White House that includes a view of the vegetable garden and bee hive on the lawn. President Obama and family were supposed to be leaving for a vacation to Martha's Vineyard. However, I snapped a zoomed photo (not shown here) of a dog crate being carried into the White House! Could it be that Bo, the First Dog, was inside that crate?
There is so much to see and so much to do. I could easily spend a week in Washington, but I was in DC for only two days as I was also taking in the Old Town of Alexandria, Virginia and George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Words and photos by Freda Cameron; Location: Washington, DC; August 2009
14 comments:
It's a great place to visit with kids...we saw a wonderful fireworks display over the reflecting pool when our son was a little guy! Glad you're back! gail
We had a great time, though the rain on Saturday was big! The humidity was unlike anything that I'd experienced here in NC. That Hurricane was playing with the weather for sure.
I didn't realize until we got home tonight that one of my zoom photos shows a staff member carrying a big dog crate out of the back of a black van and into the White House. Amazing what you get on a zoom and don't even know it.
The Botanic Garden is really nice. It was a pretty quiet weekend in DC, so no crowds, no traffic (although we took the Metro in from Alexandria) and plenty of empty parking spaces.
Mount Vernon was really great today. The gardens are so nice and the house is great, too. This was my first trip to Mount Vernon.
Cameron
I enjoy seeing the sights in DC. This weekend's weather was a bit out of the ordinary though wasn't it?
Great shot of the Botanical Garden. I saw it in the fall, so different in the summer.
It is a nice trip. Lots to learn and experience. One of my treasured memories is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Great shots Cameron! One of these days Jamie and I will be out seeing the sites!--Randy
I just barely touched on things to do -- this is just what we did in DC on Saturday and Sunday. Many more monuments, memorials and museums, plus just hanging around the different neighborhoods.
We can drive there in 4.5 hours, so we will go back again sometime.
Cameron
Great photos, Cameron. I've promised myself an entire week to tour the Smithsonian...someday soon. The political buildings I don't care as much about but the library of congress will be on my agenda.
Marnie
It's somewhere I want to go.
coincidentally we've just said goodbye to some wonderful guests from Washington.
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Cameron
I've never visited DC. Funny too considering how many European cities I've visited. I need to remedy that sometime. I think it would be fun! That garden picture interests me a lot more than the capitol and I'd love to see the Smithsonian!
I've not been to Washington but perhaps when my latest journey ends it could be a consideration.
I love visiting Botanical gardens anywhere! Your first image garden is stunning!! Great camera work..must have been taken at the "right" time for NO GLARE!! :) NG
Wonderful entry. I found your blog on a search through blogged.com on DC since I reside in the area and blog about the things to see and do in the region.
You've captured a visit beautifully! I'm going to put the Botanical Gardens on our 'to do' list. We've walked by, but have never stopped in...
Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon are two of my very favorite places in the area (Did you get to see the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothocary? I do hope so!).
Terrific entry!
Your shot of the Capitol Building is fantastic, Cameron!
We spent a week taking in The Smithsonian museums, monuments and Botanic Garden in September 2003, and what a wonderful week it was! We loved every minute of it.
There's so much more that we didn't have time for, including The Capitol Building and Library of Congress. We also wanted to see Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery but couldn't fit it in.
The Botanic Garden is wonderful, and we also loved all the gardens here and there throughout the mall. What a lot of wonderful sights to see! We hope to go back one of these days.
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