Construction began on the new Visitor Center for the United States Capitol in 2000. The Visitor Center was opened to the public in December 2008 and provides a climate-controlled space for visitors waiting to tour the U.S. Capitol building. Previousl…
Washington Metrorail, or Metro, as everyone calls it, is the subway/rapid transit system serving Wshington, DC and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Metro is an excellent, clean, and safe transit system and is the best way for the traveler to get ar…
No experience of Washington, DC, can be complete without seeing the annual Cherry Blossom display. Each spring since 1912, the Japanese cherry trees have bloomed along the Tidal Basin. The original 3,000 cherry trees were a gift from Japan. A few of … This review was featured on Saturday March 15th, 2008
The Lincoln Memorial, dedicated in 1922, honors Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the sixteenth President. The Lincoln Memorial, with its commanding view of the National Mall and Reflecting Pool, is one of the most iconic images of Washington.
Lincoln…
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, dedicated in 1940, honors Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.
The Jefferson Memorial is my own favorite among all the memorials and monuments in W…
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has been called “America’s Attic.” The museum on the National Mall definitely exhibits an eclectic collection of artifacts dealing with American political, social, and cultural history.
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The Newseum is one of Washington, DC's newest museums and attractions. It's a museum of--News. The story of news and current events past and present and how journalists covered those stories and bring news stories to you today.
The Newseum is larg… This review was featured on Saturday September 6th, 2008
The National Portrait Gallery displays images of individuals who have shaped the United States and its culture. Men and women are depicted here who have made contributions and had an impact, for good or ill, in politics, performing arts, the sciences…
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) shares the same building with the National Portrait Gallery. They represent two separate but complementary collections. As they are housed together, you often can't tell exactly which collection you are obse…
Tha National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the most comprehensive art museum in the Nation's Capital. The National Gallery is located along the National Mall and is housed in two connected buildings. The West Building is the original structure…
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opened in 1993. It serves as a memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust and as a research and documentation center.
Visitors encounter the sculpture Loss and Regeneration at the entrance to th…
The Library of Congress is the national library of the USA. It is a library, and a vast one, with all sorts of books, maps, photos, films, music, musical instruments, folk music recordings, manuscripts, personal papers and more in its collections. It…
When Barack Obama took the Oath of Office as 44th President of the United States, he placed his hand on the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used at his inauguration ceremony in 1861. The Lincoln Inaugural Bible, as it is known, is in the Rare Books c… This review was featured on Friday January 23rd, 2009
Mount Vernon was the home and estate of George and Martha Washington. It’s long been one of the major sites to see when visiting the Washington, DC, area. Locals like to visit it, too. Mount Vernon is located in southern Fairfax County, Virginia. I…
The United States Botanic Garden is a wonderful display of plants, flowers, and other flora. The Conservatory is located between the National Mall and Capitol Hill, adjacent to the United States Capitol. Many parts of the collection are descendants o… This review was featured on Thursday December 27th, 2007
Union Station in Washington, DC, recently celebrated the centennial of its compeltion. Since 1908 the railway terminal has served as a transportation hub for the national’s capital. Upon exiting the station, the sight of the US Capitol looming at t…
Often I'll observe visitors to Capitol Hill--groups, families, individuals--looking for somewhere to find an inexpensive, familiar, and quick place to eat. The food court at Union Station is an easy alternative to the resaturants along Independence a…
Gunston Hall, on Mason Neck in southern Fairfax County, VA, is the home of George Mason. “George who?” you may ask. Not as well known as his neighbor, George Washington, George Mason nevertheless played an important role in American independence.…
Fort Washington, Maryland, was a Seacoast Defense Fort built to protect Washington, DC, from attack by enemy vessels sailing up the Potomac River. The fort was completed in 1824, but did not become operational until 1846. During the Civil War, Fort W… This review was featured on Wednesday October 24th, 2007
George Washington, as you probably know, was the first President of the United States. But, did you know he also distilled whiskey and milled flour? Those were two of the important industries at Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation. Today, you can …
The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a landmark in Northeast Washington. The very large Catholic church is not a cathedral or a parish church. It was begun as a center for Catholic worship in the USA--a national church--and as a shrine…
The Nissan Pavilion is a popular outdoor rock, pop, and country music concert venue for the greater Washington, DC, region. Every summer between May and September the Nissan Pavilion hosts major bands and solo artists as their Washington, DC, tour st… This review was featured on Sunday September 14th, 2008
The Birchmere is a popular club/concert venue in the Washington, DC, region for folk, folk-rock, jazz, and pop music. It styles itself a music hall. It’s a legendary venue in music circles and the careers of many bands and performers have been laun…
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter train system linking communities in the Northern Virginia suburbs with Washington, DC. VRE trains operate along two routes with several intermediate stops.
Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Washington, DC.
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The illuminated National Christmas Tree has been a Washington, DC, tradition since 1923. Since, 1978 the same live tree, a Colorado Blue Spruce planted on the Ellipse, has served as the official National Christmas Tree. The President switches on the …
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