Washington DC is one place that I have never been to, but have always wanted to visit. It is full of so much history. There is so much to do and see it would take several trips to do it all.
Each year my sister and I plan a trip to get away for a few days.
This year I am hoping for a trip to Washington, DC.
To find out the best places to visit, I spoke with several friends who have visited the city and one who lived there for several months.
10 Recommendations of Things to Do in Washington, DC
Recommendations from friend Joli O’Byrne:
1. FDR Memorial- Being outside, it is a beautiful view. Joli loved the waterfalls in each of the four sections of the memorial. The rock walls and stone memorials were intriguing; and Joli said she was able to see everything without having to be there a long period of time.
2. Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House – It really brought everything home, the history, the tragedy, it all gave you a sense of what happened. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guards are definitely worth seeing. (Photo by Joli O’Byrne.)
Recommendations from Russell Walter:
3. Eat at Foggy Bottom Pizzeria – For a meal off the beaten path, Foggy Bottom Pizzeria is a delicious treat. It’s a hole-in-the-wall spot located down a long hallway.
It is small and cannot accommodate a large number of people, but it is locally run and full of the city’s culture.
4. Lincoln Memorial – Being Russell’s favorite president, he especially enjoys visiting this monument. You can almost image Lincoln himself speaking from the steps. At the bottom of the steps there is a plaque showing where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech. This memorial truly brings history to life in more than one way. It is an amazing thing to stand in the same place as so many great leaders. (Photo by Joli O’Byrne.)
5. Korean War Veterans Memorial- This memorial depicts the soldiers actually walking through a field. The statues are so precise and detailed it gives an almost eerie feeling as you walk among them.
Both Russell and Joli recommended this tour:
6. Night-time bus tour- While on a typical bus tour you can see the entire city, while the bus does not stop at every location, you are able to see the traditional tourist spots. However, at night time, the monuments themselves come alive since they remain lighted as the city around them darkens. While on the bus, the driver narrates the ride giving the history of the city’s attractions.
Recommendation from friend Will Morrissey:
7. Catch a game at Nationals Ballpark – As Will loves to be outside, he really enjoys a good American Baseball game, especially in the beautiful new park.
8. United States Botanic Gardens – Will described them as being very quiet and peaceful, a nice change in pace compared to many attractions in the big city. It is full of rare plants and arranged by different climate zones. Like a giant greenhouse, it is full of vegetation and creeks. Extremely natural, you truly feel transported to someplace free and wild. Photo by Andreas Praefcke
9. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian – This new addition to the Smithsonian provides an outside area that depicts traditional native gardens. These gardens portray what kind of food the individual tribes grew and how they produced them.
10. Gardens between Smithsonian Museums – There are beautiful gardens located between many of the museums. These walkways are surrounded by lush, green vegetation. The gardens themselves are full of flowers and fountains. Benches are located throughout the gardens for people to rest and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Will found himself escaping the noise in these hideaways often during his visit to the city.
Where is your favorite place to visit in Washington D.C.?
Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.
This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.
Why not check out these other posts by Taysha “;.