Top 10 Attractions in Washington, DC

From outdoors activities and zoos, to museums and thrill rides nearby, here are the Top 10 Washington, DC attractions.

1. The White House
   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
   Washington, DC   20500
   202-456-2200
   

   While the name may be a little lackluster, the residence is anything but - as home to our biggest celebrity, this may be the most famous house in the country, if not the world. Now you can stammer down to Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC to witness the residence of every president to take office since the year 1800. Learn about our national history from the inside-out, and see the world through the eyes of the most powerful man in America.

2. Ford's Theater
   511 10th Street NW
   Washington, DC   20004
   (202) 347-4833
   

   Witness the location of one of the most tragic tales in American political history. Ford's name will ring a bell to the ear of any American history buff or amateur as the deadly theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head during a post-bellum dramatic act. Yes, this is where venerable Lincoln met his demise; but the building has yet to fall, and visitors can witness the very seat where the end of a presidential era met its catalyst. Amazingly, the theatre is still completely operational.

3. FBI Building
   935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
   Washington, DC   20535
   202-324-3447
   

   They've been watching you. Isn't it time you watched them? Take a look at this mysterious federal institution's headquarters and let your imagination run wild with postulations as to what's going on behind the lacquer exterior that shields the public from the country's most sensitive information. Or throw your wonder out the window and take a tour of the FBI building. Who knows? - you might just come out of the experience with some top secret information.

4. Holocaust Museum
   100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW
   Washington, DC   20024
   202-488-0400
   

   Perhaps the most horrible tale the world has ever witnessed is retold at this memorial honoring the suffering which millions underwent during the ‘30's and early 40's in Europe under Herr Adolf Hitler. Permanent exhibitions lay out the grotesque chronology in vivid terms, and temporary displays make even the most avid visitor unsure of what he's going to miss. A sober destination, but well worth it, as viewers will walk away feeling inspired to live and teach tolerance for generations to come.

5. National Air & Space Museum
   Independence Avenue at 6th Street, SW
   Washington, DC   20560
   202-633-1000
   

   It's a bird... it's a plane... it's a... space shuttle? Whatever it is, it definitely isn't superman at this massive collection of airborne vehicles. Aspiring aviators will be intrigued and inspired by the exhibits on display, and architects both renowned and amateur will be amazed by the structure's state-of-the-art architecture.

6. Smithsonian Institution
   Funded by US dollars, the Smithsonian institution is dedicated to the preservation of... well, pretty much everything. Over 17 museums in the Washington DC area provide visitors and residents alike a chance to view almost anything from behind the glass: from art to industry, to African American History, travelers sampling the Smithsonian are sure to find at least one vein of interest. Probably many.
   
   
7. John F. Kennedy Center
   2700 F Street NW
   Washington, DC   20566
   202-467-4600
   

   While its architecture remains an impressive feat, visitors to Washington, DC will want to visit the John F. Kennedy Center for its extensive list of entertainment venues. Containing several stages, such as the Family Theater, Terrace Theater, Theater Lab, and Millennium Stage, as well as the Eisenhower Theater and the Opera House, guests who aren't impressed with that list can sit in on a classical movement at the Concert Hall.

8. Washington Monument
   Constitution Avenue and 15th Street, SW
   Washington, DC   20024
   202-426-6841
   

   A landmark of epic proportions both physically and historically, the Washington Monument is among the most recognizable icons associated with our country. Revel in the selective shade of its sheer size: at 555 feet tall, it's nearly a quarter-mile in height and ranks among the world's most lengthy masonry structures.

9. Washington, DC Memorials
   Washington DC is about change - it's where all the major political shifts of our country's history underwent their finalization. But this city is also about remembering, and a milieu of memorials serve that effect. Ranging from political figures - The Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt Memorials - to the combat-related, such as the Vietnam Vets and Korean War Memorials, the visitor to Washington DC is sure to find something to remember in these concrete reflections of what was.
   
   
10. The National Zoo
    301 7th Street SW
    Washington, DC   20001
    202-673-4800
    

    The only free zoo we know of, this animal haven for the enjoyment of humans is dedicated to education. A closeby affiliate in Virginia is closed to the public and is utilized primarily to breed and study endangered species, but at The National Zoo guests can feel free to gape in wonder and amusement at our animal relatives.

[Back to Top]