Article by Erik Braunitzer of the National Museum of Crime & Punishment part of DC Attractions
Spring is nearing an end, but tourism in Washington, D.C. isn’t slowing. With the passing of great events like the National Cherry Blossom Festival, DC tours and attractions continue to thrive.
Our nation’s capital is one of the most spectacular places to visit because of the enveloping aurora around its monuments and landmarks. There’s a substantial amount of history and knowledge to be uncovered by visiting Washington and viewing some of its greatest attractions. As Memorial Day approaches, parks are blistering with festivities and exhibitions. Some of the greatest events occurring on or around Memorial Day are as follows:
- PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert, opening at 5 p.m. on the West Lawn (Sunday, May 30th)
- National Memorial Day Parade, beginning at 2 p.m. and proceeding from Constitution Avenue and ending at The Whitehouse (Monday, May 31, 2010)
- Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally, departing from the Pentagon at 12 p.m. (Sunday, May 30th)
- GI Film Festival (May 12-16th)
- Arlington National Cemetery Tour, beginning at 11 a.m. (Monday, May 31st)
- Navy Memorial, beginning at 11 a.m. (Saturday May 29th)
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial, beginning at 1 p.m. (Monday, May 31st)
- WWII Memorial, beginning at 9am (Monday, May 31st)
- Air Force Memorial, beginning at 9 a.m. (Monday, May 31st)
The Memorial Day festivities are just a sliver of what you can find in D.C. Other than simply visiting let’s say, The Washington Monument, or Lincoln Memorial, there’s a large amount of activities and/or tours to engage in. This includes Ford’s Theatre Tour, Ghost Tours, Lincoln Assassination Tour, and Old Town Alexandria Tour; all of which are walking tours. You may also want to check out places like The Capitol Visitor Center, Whitehouse Visitor Center, or The U.S. Capitol Building; all of which are highly popular amongst tourists.
Washington also has a plethora (over 150) of museums. Some of their most popular include The Smithsonian National Museum(s), The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Newseum, Mount Vernon estate and Gardens Museum, and The National Museum of Crime and Punishment, which exhibits excellent depictions of historically famous crime scenes. There are also some newer establishments/museums that may be of interest including:
- The German-American Heritage Museum
- Ford’s Theatre
- The Capital Visitor Center
- The National Museum of American History (renovations)
- Lincoln’s Cottage
For a thorough list of things to do in DC, feel free to check out http://www.thedistrict.com, where you can find detailed information on everything from government buildings to parks and recreation! Also, be sure to check out the rates for accommodations and travel. A trip to Washington, D.C. may not be the most lavish of all your vacation expenditures, but it’s certainly one that you will not forget.
