Top 10 Things to do in Washington DC

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Thank you TimeHop for reminding me that this time last year I was deep in the throes of planning the “Ultimate Summer Road Trip” with my bestie, Libby! The first destination of our fabulous road trip was Washington DC and I have been itching to go back ever since I started watching House of Cards! HA! I had never been to DC until last summer and I’m already wishing I could go back again.

There is so much to see and do in DC that today I thought I would put together a fun list of my top 10 things to do in Washington DC! First things first I will tell you that my very favorite way to get around big cities like DC is by a hop on/hop off tour bus/trolley. Most big cities have them…you pay a fee and are able to hop off the trolley whenever you like, see what you want to see, and then hop back on and go to the next stop. The trolleys usually come around every 15 – 20 minutes or so and it’s just a nice way to cover a lot of area.

So let’s get to it…here are my Top 10 Things to do in Washington DC!

ONE. The White House. I realize this sounds incredibly cliche but you really have to go there if you are in the city. I was lucky enough to be able to get to tour the inside and take photos, the photo restriction was passed the week we were there! So exciting!! You can check out that post and my photos here if you want.

TWO. The Lincoln Memorial. I have a special place in my heart for President Lincoln. We are birthday twins and I think that bonds us somehow. Any time I see a portrait or statue of Lincoln I have to get a selfie with him!! HA!!

THREE. The Washington Monument. I clearly remember the Washington Monument being on the cover of my third grade history book and to see it in person was kind of like meeting an old friend. You can go all the way up to the top if you want but we didn’t, we just admired from the ground. Keep in mind that this sucker is HUGE and even though you can see it from far away doesn’t mean you can reach it easily. I think we walked for a good hour to see it up close because we kept thinking it wasn’t that far away…HA!

FOUR. The Library of Congress. This was another place I was lucky to get a guided tour through. I love history and learning about the building and we even got to go through the tunnels underground that connect it to the Madison Building and the US Capital Visitor’s Center. Plus the architecture is amazing!!

FIVE. A Smithsonian Museum. There are so many Smithsonian’s to choose from and I wish we had time to pop into every single one of them but we didn’t. Sad day. We did the Air and Space Museum and I loved it!

SIX. The Holocaust Museum.I have heard to save this as the last place you go for the day because it leaves you depressed and we actually did leave it for last but only because we forgot to jump off the trolley! OOPS! It did leave me feeling kind of blue but it was definitely a must-see.

SEVEN. Arlington Cemetery. Some people think it’s weird to visit a cemetery but this one is truly an experience. It’s so large and you can see monuments dating way back and there are so many different things to see here like the Eternal Flame, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, etc.

EIGHT. The National Archives. I am still geeking out over the face that I got to see the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. I am sad you can’t take pics but I think that also makes it pretty special.

NINE. The U.S. Capital Visitor Center. This building is across the street from the Library of Congress and holds some really cool exhibitions about our nation’s history. Presidential Inaugurations are held on the lawn of the Capital.

TEN. Thomas Jefferson Memorial. To me this building is very quiet and serene. It’s right on the water and the perfect place to relax and catch your breath in the middle of a busy day!

And that’s it!! My top 10 things to do in Washington DC!!

Have you been to Washington DC??
What is on your must-do list??