Washington D.C. is more than the U.S. capitol city. With its museums, historic buildings and monuments, the district is also the repository of our national memory. Along the National Mall, you can visit monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and FDR and memorials to Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. All the monuments and memorials are outdoors, free and open year round.
Use a map to plan a route to visit all the monuments. The National Mall runs 2 1/2 miles from the Potomac River to the Capitol, so having a plan will save some sightseeing time.
Decide what other Washington sites you want to see. For example, if you visit the White House, you can easily see the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument the same day. If your schedule allows, try to schedule an evening visit to the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. These two are close together and are very impressive at night.
Get a metro ticket. The Metro subway system is the best way to get around the city. If your hotel is outside the district, find the nearest Metro station and the route to the National Mall. The most convenient stop to the monuments is the Smithsonian station.
Take a tour of the monuments. Most have self-guided tours, and some have staff on site. The advantage of a tour is that you won't miss any features of each monument. For example, you can explore the Legacy of Lincoln museum in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial, or climb the steps of the Jefferson Memorial for the view of the Tidal Basin and the White House.
