What are the Best Places to Visit in Washington DC?

Washington DC is a fascinating place. It’s a city of monuments, museums, and history. Its bustling energy, distinct architecture, and strong political presence make it a great place to live in and to visit. Whether you’re a DC local looking for new places to explore or a tourist just coming to town, here are the best places to visit in Washington DC.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks

Washington DC’s most iconic landmark, the National Mall and Memorial Parks, is the perfect starting point for any Capital tour. This 2-mile-long park consisting of open spaces, museums, monuments, and administrative buildings is the centerpiece of Washington DC. It stretches from the Capitol in the east to Abraham Lincoln Memorial in the west and features many of America’s most treasured landmarks. These include the iconic Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, The White House, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Highlighting American history from pre-colonial times to the present day, these sites offer lasting insights into the US’s deep and complex past.

Smithsonian Museums

A visit to the NYC Museums is a must while in Washington DC. This national system of museums and galleries are peppered throughout the city and are some of the leading cultural institutions in the United States. Stretching across 19 museums and galleries across the Mall area and out into the surrounding Smithsonian Institution Building, this vast system contains some of the most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts ever assembled. Famous institutions such as the Air & Space Museum, American Indian Museum, and Sackler Gallery come together with lesser-known gems like the Anacostia Community Museum and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery to create one of world’s greatest cultural experiences.

Newseum

Also known as the Freedom Forum’s News Museum, Newseum is an interactive museum dedicated to helping visitors explore history through media and press. Set within an iconic building on Pennsylvania Ave., Newseum overlooks both Capitol Hill and the White House, making it one of the most well-positioned attractions in DC. With an impressive array of artifacts related to journalism, media and communication, visitors will get a unique insight into America’s contemporary political landscape. Visitors can explore breathtaking galleries like Headlines throughout history, Power of Persuasion or a 9/11 Gallery which documents media coverage of world-changing events like 9/11.

United States Botanic Garden

Located within the Conservatory complex diagonally across from the Capitol Building is The United States Botanic Garden. Whether you’re looking to spend a sunny afternoon or escape a wet weather day, this beautiful garden is provides perfect respite amid lush scenery. This garden offers a variety of walking paths winding among its tropical plants, cacti, and bonsai trees. It also houses educational exhibits highlighting plants from across the world and educational art installations about plants found in DC’s National parks such as Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Holocaust Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a sobering yet important assessment of one of history’s darkest moments which will no doubt give visitors an unforgettable experience. Located at the National Mall in between the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, this museum offers insight into Nazi Germany’s occupation during WWII as well as broader themes associated with war crimes as knowledge critical for asserting human rights today. Combining permanent and temporary exhibits with testimonies from holocaust survivors, visitors will gain a wide view of some of humanity’s ugliest moments.

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum provides intriguing insight into espionage over the past century with interactive displays highlighting declassified missions, gadgets and cultural artifacts pertaining to espionage activities during the World Wars. Housing over 20 interactive exhibits featuring real pieces of espionage history and real accounts from professional spies throughout the years, this is an exciting visit action buffs and novice spies alike.

Washington DC Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

The Washington DC Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Crawl adds to Washington DC’s rich history in an uncommon manner – the tour is a local’s favorite spot for creepy haunted stories. During this three hour tour through some of DC’s bars and pubs participants are entertained by professional storytellers and costumed actors as they animate sinister stories based in Washington DC’s eerie past. In between drinks at each venue visitors can explore infamous graveyard bubbles as well as unnamed alleyways as they try discover offbeat dark secrets about DC nightlife.

Whether you’re visiting Washington DC for pleasure or business there are countless places to explore, each offering unique insights into America’s past and present. From iconic monuments, sprawling galleries, outdoor parks and interactive experiences, Washington DC provides endless opportunities to explore our country’s past while taking in the beauty which lines our nation’s capital streets. Don’t forget to Schedule your Washington Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Crawl, for a truly unique experience of Washington Dc’s historical sights!