Washington DC - The National Capital in One Day
There is no denying that if you would actually like to explore a city, you need to give it time and energy. Even the smallest of cities could take a week to fully absorb. A big urban center could actually take weeks. But, time is a luxury that you may not always have. What if you end up in a city with just a few hours in hand. It could be a work trip, layover, or weekend getaway! If you are a traveler you would still find avenues to explore and learn.
We were in a similar situation recently where we were in Washington DC for just a day. During this time, we did our best to cover the very basics of the city. We were further restricted in planning our excursions because of the infant in tow. So here are the top 6 places to visit in Washington DC that we recommend for someone with limited time in the city.
Top Six Places to Visit in Washington DC
Washington DC is the national capital and has innumerable monuments and museums spread across the city. Almost every other building in the city has some history. However, we have restricted our list to the absolute minimum that can be covered in one day. So, read on and see if the list seems exciting.
1. The White House and the Visitor Center
This is probably the most famous building in the world. The White House is the official seat of the Presidency and symbolizes the epitome of power. The building houses both the office and residence of the President of the United States. The building is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the District of Columbia and has been a residence of every US President since the 1800s. As one would expect, Secret Service leaves no stone unturned to secure the building. Hence it is difficult to get a closer look at the building. Visitors can get a good glimpse of the White House from the National Mall.
Visitors also have the option to book a tour of the White House. Guided tours are conducted as per the pre-determined schedule. However, it isn't an easy online reservation to book the tour. US residents need to approach their local congressional representative's office to have the tour booked for them. Foreign nationals need to approach the White House tours office through their embassy in Washington DC. Though we did miss the opportunity, we have heard that the tour is worth making the effort.
Visit the official site of the National Park Service for details at President's Park - The White House
2. United States Capitol
The dome-shaped building that we are all familiar with from several political shows is the second most powerful building of the US. The building accommodates the two houses of the legislature - the Congress and the Senate. Located on one end of the National Mall, the imposing building highlights the supremacy of legislature in the American system of governance to some extent.
The Capitol administration conducts guided tours of the building at regular hours. These tours are much easier to get into compared to the White House tours. We were able to book our slots online much in advance of our visit. We also saw people being able to get walk-in tickets. However, that involved quite a bit of a wait as there were many tourists looking for the tour. We sailed to the counter, showed our reservation receipt, and proceeded to our group for the tour.
The tour includes visiting the Crypt, the Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall. The guides provide an overview of the paintings in the Dome shaped central hall called Rotunda. The crypt is kind of a base with barren pillars in open view. The National Statuary Hall houses statues from across the states. Each state sends two statues to the Capitol. The 90-minute tour takes you through the history of the building.
Visit the Capitol portal provides more details on the tours and helps plan a visit.
3. The Washington Monument
This 555 feet marble tower with square cross-section was built in memory of the first President of US - George Washington. The first president is known as the father of the nation and was a hero in many ways. There is an observation deck at the 500 feet height. Prior reservations and same-day tickets are available for climbing up the monument.
The observation deck is accessible through a 70-second elevator ride. Strollers and large bags are not allowed but wheelchairs can be taken. Visitors can only visit the monument during the timed slot mentioned on their ticket. The observation deck provides a bird's eye view of the city which is definitely worth the ticket.
4. National Mall
Unlike its name, National Mall is not a shopping arcade but a huge park. The park extends across the most prominent locations in the city and houses a number of monuments around its expanse. The park has the US Capitol on one end and the Washington Monument on the other. While it is a connecting link between monuments, it is also a site for family get-togethers and picnics.
Lines of trees don the entire park along with bike trails and walkways. The park also hosts several events throughout the year. The National Mall brings together the past, present, and future and offers something to everyone. It is a celebration of America's history and brings it to the future generation. Visiting the National Mall for the first time is a humbling experience. For additional information, the official NPS webpage for the National Mall is - https://www.nps.gov/nama/index.htm
5. Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln is to the US as Mahatma Gandhi is to India - he is revered as the savior of the American Union. Lincoln was the 16th President of the US and maneuvered the country out of the civil war in 1965. Congress approved the development of the memorial in honor of the great leader. The memorial serves as a living story of the great contributions of Lincoln and celebrates them.
6. Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States is located across the Capitol and is the temple of justice. The highest echelon of the justice system in the country is the site of last hope for victims of systemic crimes. Each judgment of the institution becomes law in its own sense. The imposing building does perfect justice to the institution.
Navigating the City - Ideal Itinerary
A day could be too short but if that is all you have in the city we would recommend below itinerary. Most of the monuments in our list are in the two clusters across the national mall. Visitors should cover one cluster during the forenoon depending on the tour they are able to book at the Capitol and the White House. A walk across the National Mall would be good during the lunchtime. There are a number of food trucks available through the park and hence would be a good lunch destination. Further, after some rest on the lawns of the park, you could target the other cluster. The map below shows a numbered list of monuments in order of how you should approach. You can easily reverse the order based on the tours.
If you need more help planning a visit to Washington DC - Visit the tourism portal at https://washington.org/
Read about other United States destinations at
Destinations in the United States
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