In One Day
If you have limited time in Washington, D.C., and would like to have a full-fun experience of several landmark attractions (rather than a rushed experience of many), then this is the itinerary for you.
Start: Metro on the Blue Line to the Smithsonian stop on the National Mall.
1 Washington Monument
People often ask: Which is taller, the Washington Monument or the Capitol? The answer is the Washington Monument. Panoramic views stretch for miles (20 miles on a clear day!) from inside the Monuments observation tower. Order free tickets in advance or be prepared to stand in line for admission. And if the monument isnt open? Then stand back and consider the fact that this 555 foot, 5 1/8 inches-high obelisk, D.C.s version of a skyscraper, is one of the worlds tallest freestanding works of masonry.
Walk up 15th Street and cross Independence Avenue to get to the:
2 Tidal Basin Paddle Boats
Rent a paddle boat for an hour and skim the surface of the Tidal Basin, sightseeing as you go: Jefferson looks on from his memorial at one end, Martin Luther King presides from the other side of the basin, and the Washington Monument stands tall over all. If the weather isnt permitting or boat season (mid-Mar to mid-Oct) is over, continue on to your next stop.
Return to and cross Independence Avenue and follow it west until you reach the:
3 Lincoln Memorial
There is joy to be had in visiting this templelike memorial to contemplate the inspiring life and spirit of the nations 16th president. Citizens of the world surround you, reading aloud the words inscribed on its walls: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal . . . Stand at the top of the memorials steps and face away from Lincoln to take in the sweeping view, from the Reflecting Pool below you, all the way to the Capitol nearly 2 miles away. In the middle distance is the National Mall, and thats where youre headed next.
Follow the path that parallels the Reflecting Pool, continuing past the National World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument, cross 15th Street, then 14th Street, to reach the:
4 National Mall
Stroll the green promenade or sit upon a bench and watch the Washington world go by: fitness buffs with buzz cuts sprinting back to the Pentagon, office workers playing hooky, and tourists like yourself, enjoying the view. Keep your eyes peeled for your senator or representative trotting past you; a number of congressional members are known to take their daily constitutional along this stretch. Once youve had a chance to catch your breath, its time to hit the museums. What interests you? Native American culture? Aviation? African art? Avant garde art? The natural world? The Smithsonians flanking the Mall cover these and other subjects. If you have time or energy for only one Mall museum, the one Id recommend isnt a Smithsonian at all. But wait, arent you starving?
Proceed eastward down the Mall in the direction of the Capitol until you reach 7th Street and the:
5 Pavilion Café at the National Gallery Sculpture Garden
Order an Italian hoagie or a Mediterranean salad and maybe some sangria, and try to snag a seat at one of the outside tables, in pleasant weather, so you can take in the sights. Be sure to wander through the entire garden to admire all 18 sculptures and a breathtaking mosaic by Chagall, the gardens newest piece. tel 202/289-3360.
Now cross 7th Street to enter the:
6 National Gallery of Art
Yes, I do believe this to be the capitals best museum, despite the fact that it is not part of the Smithsonian family. The East Wing is closed for renovations, which means you can focus on the West Wings galleries of European paintings and sculptures spanning the 13th to 19th centuries. Dont leave without checking out the gallerys special exhibits, which are always amazing, like the and "Italian Prints and Drawings". If youre here on a Friday night in summer, return to the Sculpture Garden to enjoy a jazz concert and tasty cafe items. If youre here in winter, return to the Sculpture Garden to go ice skating. And if youre here on a Sunday evening October through June, attend a classical music concert in the Gallerys Garden Court.
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