Travel for the Soul: Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, is a place of history. A trip there is a continuous learning experience. It offers an incredible amount of points of interest and non-stop activies. With all its museaums, monuments and memorials, one is sure to need a few days there to be able to see and experience the most popular attractions. It all starts with the National Mall.

View of the Mall Lincoln Memorial The U.S. Capitol

The National Mall is a large, open area in the center of the city, with the Lincoln Memorial at one end, the U.S. Capitol at the other, and the Washington Monument in the center. Some of the landmarks along the National Mall which are a must see include:

Lincoln Memorial (my favorite)
The Washington Monument
Jefferson Memorial
Smithsonian Institute
National Museum of American History
National Museum of National History
National Gallery of Art
National Air and Space Museum
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Vietnam Veterans Memorial

There are many places very close to the Mall which are worth the visit. The Library of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court building are just east of the Capitol. The White House, the National Archives, the Old Post Office, and Ford’s Theater (where Abraham Lincoln was killed) are just north. The Jefferson Memorial, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are to the south. Note: The Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of the most powerful and moving places I’ve been to; the exhibits are gut-wrenching and heavy; not to be missed.

The White House                        Holocaust Museum                           Ford’s Theater

                                                Photos by CCPerez. Copyright © August, 2007 Connie Perez. All rights reserved.

Aside from the landmarks on and around the National Mall, there are other places of interest that are also a must-see. Like Arlington National Cemetery – where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day; The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – which is the largest Roman Catholic church in the U.S. and North America; and Mount Vernon Estate and Garden – the home of George and Martha Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759 until General Washington’s death in 1799, and the most popular historic estate in America.

Tomb of Unknown Soldier                     Mount Vernon Estate and Garden

Photo by CCPerez. Copyright © 2007 Connie Perez.         Photo by CCPerez. Copyright © 2007 Connie Perez.
All rights reserved.                                                       All rights reserved.