Washington DC City Guide

The city's most obvious attractions are concentrated around the Mall and Capitol. You can visit Federal government buildings - including the Capitol, go to the Library of Congress or visit the top-quality Smithsonian Institution which operates fourteen large museums and the National Zoo. For those who enjoy the fine arts there are exceptionally good galleries such as the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of American Art, the Corcoran Gallery, the Hirsh horn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Phillips Collection. Nine of the Smithsonian museums, including the ever popular National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Hirsh horn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Sackler Gallery, are located on the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol. The city and its surrounds are full of wonderful places to enjoy outdoor activities. The Potomac River's Great Falls are spectacular, and there are sites along the river offering biking and hiking trails, boat and bicycle rentals. Rock Creek Park, running down through the Maryland suburbs and the centre of DC has picnic space, walking trails and horseback riding. The city also boasts professional ice hockey, basketball, baseball and football teams.

Washington has a strong theatre scene, big mainstays like the Kennedy Center, the National, the Warner, the Ford Theater (the site of Abraham Lincoln's assassination) and Arena theatres, but also in smaller-scale, less expensive venues scattered around the city. Many smaller theatres have discounted previews or pay-what-you-can nights, and the Kennedy Center offers short, free performances in the Great Hall 365 nights a year. The Wolf Trap Farm Park offers programs in an open-air rural setting during the summer which include concerts, opera, ballet, musicals and drama of a high standard.

The city also has dozens of historic churches and elegant former homes of the famous and semi-famous, and a ring of interesting Civil War forts. Alexandria and Georgetown's historic streets contain some of the region's oldest buildings. Within 30 minutes of home you will be able to visit historic battlefields from the War of Independence and the Civil War, Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon - the home of George and Martha Washington and Potomac Mills - a large outlet mall (the most popular tourist destination in Virginia!). Within 1 hour of home you can visit Annapolis, the Capital of Maryland. Annapolis is an 18th Century waterfront and is the site of the United States Naval Academy; Baltimore and its National Aquarium, art galleries and museums, waterfront shops and restaurants. Historic Frederick - brimming with antique shops and fox and hound territory in Middleburg. Between 2 and 4 hours from home you can visit Philadelphia and New York, Jamestown (the first permanent English colony in America), the Shenandoah, Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, the beaches of Maryland and Delaware and the "Eastern Shore" of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay (renowned for its tranquillity and crabs).

There are many good quality restaurants throughout the greater Washington DC area. Restaurants of all standards and cuisines can be found throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Publications containing details of the restaurants located throughout Greater DC can be readily accessed online or purchased at book stores.

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