Washington, D.C. is a must-see American city. It’s historical important, culturally vibrant and visually striking. Are you ready to find out why?!

They say politicians and diapers are a lot alike. They should be changed, changed often…and for the same reason!

All jokes aside, no matter what your political beliefs are, we can all agree that Washington, D.C. is a must-see American city. It’s historical important, culturally vibrant and visually striking.

Scroll to the bottom of this page or CLICK HERE to watch our travel guide video for Washington, D.C. fun.

An Expert Guide for Escaping to Washington DC

Founded on July 16, 1790, Washington, D.C. is unique among American cities because it was established by the Constitution of the United States to serve as the nation’s capital.

D.C. stands for District of Columbia and was named after the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.

Did you know D.C.’s Metro is the second busiest subway system in the US? 9 million people ride this handy service on an average weekday. Use this to your advantage to easily get around the city.

1. The White House

We recommend starting the day here. No stop to our national’s capitol is complete without a visit to the most famous house in the world. If you have the time, take a tour inside…or simply walk by for a picture in front of the President’s home.

There are 132 rooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 35 restrooms, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, 6 levels and 3 elevators.

Oh and two alligators. No seriously – Presidents John Quincy Adams and Herbert Hoover both had pet alligators that called the White House their home!

Here’s a fun fact – the original phone number for the White House in 1878 was simply the number 1. Can you imagine dialing this number and speaking directly to the President? 

2. The Washington Monument

Abraham Lincoln was at the 1848 cornerstone ceremony which kicked off the building of this impress engineering marvel. Did you know the marble blocks used to build the monument are held together by simple gravity and friction? No mortar was used in its building.

The Washington Monument rises an impressive 555 feet, making it the world’s tallest obelisk. 

When the monument first opened in 1884, it was the tallest structure in the world, however the Eiffel Tower in Paris quickly took over that honor a few years later in 1889.

3. The Cherry Blossoms

There’s about 4,000 cherry trees along the National Mall and close to 20,000 within Washington, D.C.. You can’t really pinpoint a perfect “bloom date”, but a visit in late March through mid April should give you an amazing experience with the whimsical cherry blossom trees.

The first two cherry blossom trees were planted in D.C. in 1912 and they thrived. These first trees are still blooming today. This could be because Washington, D.C. gets more rain than Seattle!

Here’s an important tip: look but don’t touch! While photographing the cherry blossoms is encouraged and welcomed, it’s against the law to pick the cherry blossoms in D.C.. If you’re caught picking them, you may get a fine.

4. Little Ethiopia (in the Shaw neighborhood)

After so much sight-seeing at these popular destinations, we recommend a stroll away from the grind of tourist traps. A visit to Little Ethiopia is perfect for the foodie in your family.

Not to be confused with Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles, this Little Ethiopia is a cultural community in the historically significant African-American Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C..

Known for its numerous Ethiopian businesses and restaurants you can find this charming area around 9th and U Street Northwest. D.C.. Locals flock to the area to enjoy delicious Ethiopian cuisine. With fresh vegetables, colorful curries and hearty portions of spicy meat, you can’t go wrong trying the traditional food of Ethiopia. 

5. The Lincoln Memorial

Our final recommendation is the Lincoln Memorial. 

It’s been fixed now, but did you know originally there was a typo in the etching of the Lincoln Memorial? On the north wall of the memorial, the word “future” accidentally started with the letter “E” instead of “F”. Search for the mistake, and you can still see the typo if you look closely. 

The Lincoln Memorial is not just famous for honoring Abe Lincoln, it’s also where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. It’s an awesome feeling to stand in the exact spot where this great leader once delivered his famous words.

CONCLUSION

End the day at a fine restaurant or bar. Folks in D.C. love their wine…in fact, D.C. citizens drink more wine per capita than any US state.

Well there you have it, our guide to visiting Washington, D.C.. Do any of these places sound fun to you?

If you’ve been to D.C. and have travel tips to share with us and others, be sure to leave a comment. We’d love to hear what your faves are!

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