YEARS VISITED: 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2025.

In the summer of 2003, Jill and I took a vacation with friends to Puerta Vallarta. We had a fabulous vacation and had no reason to hurry home. Therefore, when the airline asked for volunteers to get bumped from their originally scheduled flight, take a later flight, and in return receive a free flight anywhere the airline fly’s… we readily accepted. Fast forward to Christmas break of the same year, Jill and I cashed in our free flight for a trip to Washington D.C. The weather was amazing for that time of year. It reached a high of 60 degrees one day, and we were able to easily explore the city. In 2006 and 2008 I spent a couple days in the city as I was attending a conference nearby. In 2019 my oldest daughter toured our Nation’s Capital with her middle school history teacher and classmates. Most recently, (2025) my wife and youngest daughter spent spring break exploring the city.

Japan gifted America with over 3,000 cherry trees just after the turn of the 21st century. Therefore, a highlight of the 2025 trip was experiencing the beauty of the spring cherry blossom festival.

There is so much to see you can’t possibly see it all. I have never left feeling like I had done it all. When making a trip to Washington D.C., I would highly suggest planning ahead. While the Smithsonian Museums are free, they now require a timed admittance ticket. Which means you need to map out the monuments, museums, and tours you want to do most. Walk up tickets are possible, but extremely difficult to get. Also, stay on top of safety and security measures as they change regularly. Nearly all sites are free, the city is easy to walk, and the Subway (Metro) is relatively easy to navigate. Here is what we have experienced in Washington D.C.

HOTEL/APARTMENT: The only time we stayed in the city limits of Washington D.C., we stayed at the Watergate Hotel. This was the location of the 1972 Democratic National Headquarters and the infamous break in that led to Richard Nixon resigning the Presidency. This 5-star hotel is one of the nicest hotels we have ever stayed in. All other visits we have stayed in the neighboring states of Maryland or Virginia.

EXPERIENCES: We have been lucky enough to visit the White House on two separate occasions. Tours should be requested through the office of your Congress person, and you can submit requests up to 90-days in advance.

Our first visit came in 2005, and our second was in 2025. Following both visits I left in absolute awe that we had actually entered the most secure residence in the world.

Following four exterior security checkpoints, we entered the home of the 1st Family. In 2005 we were given a guided tour and in 2025 we were allowed to explore at our own pace.

Both visits were fantastic. Highlights were the Red Room, State Dining Room, Oval Rooms, and Grand Staircase.

Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, standing inside the White House is a true honor. The White House Visitor Center is also located on Pennsylvania Avenue, merely one block from the White House. We weren’t overly impressed, but we did wander through the exhibits. Highlights for me were seeing the desk President Roosevelt sat behind while conducting his fireside chats, the fine china place setting for President Ford, as well as the the Golden Eagle positioned above the flagpole at the White House.

Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery maintained by the federal government. It is over 600 acres and more than 400,000 people are buried here. Walking the grounds and seeing thousands of gravestones (service members from every American conflict are buried here) is extremely humbling.

Top attractions are President John F. Kennedy’s eternal flame gravesite, the mast of the Battleship Maine, the Space Shuttle ‘Challenger’ Memorial, and of course the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The tomb is guarded 24/7 – no matter the weather. The ceremony is extremely moving and takes place every half hour, spring through early fall. I am proud of the fact in 2019, my oldest daughter was selected to participate in the wreath laying ceremony.

The history of the property, and the fact it was seized from Robert E. Lee and his wife (the great granddaughter of George Washington) during the Civil War, is fascinating. We have toured the United States Capital twice.

It is a free tour and can be arranged through the office of your Congress person. Highlights are the Rotunda and the National Statuary Hall.

In 2025 we were fortunate to have our nephew give us a 1 on 1 tour, where we were permitted to see much more. We met him at his office in the Rayburn Building and proceeded to walk through tunnels to the Capital.

We walked the floor of the old Senate Chambers, saw the original Supreme Court, walked the gallery area of the Senate, and even toured the floor of the House of Representatives.

The week we were in DC, Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey broke the record for longest filibuster. It lasted 25 hours and four minutes. The previous record had stood since 1957. Additionally, we got to be on the balcony of the Speaker of the House’s office.

It was an amazing feeling being in the presence of so much United States history. Unfortunately, not all history is good history. On April 14, 1865 our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. He was killed while watching “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater. The theater was restored and re-opened in 1968. Today it remains a working theater, as well as a national historic site.

We toured the theater, where we were permitted to see the actual gun that was used for the assassination. Also on the tour, we were able to walk through the restored presidential booth where Lincoln was shot.

Additionally, we have seen two shows in the theater; A Christmas Carol in 2005, and Sister Act in 2025.

The home across the street, now known as the Peterson House, is where the President was taken following the attack. The day following the shooting, at 7:22 am, the President died in the bed below.

Today the home has expanded into a museum and is definitely worth a visit.

In 1935 the United States Supreme Court (The Judicial Branch) received it’s own building. Prior to that they were housed in the Capital building. We have taken the tour once. Highlights were the John Marshall statue, the Great Hall, and the Court Chamber.

Among other items, The National Archives is most famous for housing the original Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. When we visited, one of four original copies of the Magna Carta was on loan as well. This is a location that I feel has greatly benefited from the implementation of ‘timed ticketing.’ Prior to this ticketing system, lines were extremely long and slow.

The Library of Congress, adjacent to the Capital building, is one of the most ornate and lavishly decorated buildings we toured. While the inside is fancy, at its core it is a library. What makes it exceptional is the fact it houses over 164 million items and is the largest research library in the world. Over two-hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson sold 6,000 books from his personal collection to Congress. It was this collection, in the year 1800, that started the Library of Congress.

A funny adventure worth noting was our Woodrow Wilson House experience. We made the trek out past Embassy Row (adjacent to Georgetown) to see the residence of our 28th president. The brochure said the museum closed at 5:00 pm. However, when we arrived at 4:15 pm there was already a ‘closed’ sign hanging in the window. While I was disappointed, I prepared to make the return trip back to downtown. My wife, refusing to give up so easily, decided to check that it was really closed and tried the entry door. It was unlocked, so she let herself in. In a record five minutes or less, she proceeded to give herself a self guided tour while I acted as the ‘look out’ outside the residence. Rest assured we left it in better shape than when we found it!

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul in the City, commonly known as the Washington National Cathedral, is the 2nd largest cathedral in the United States. President Woodrow Wilson is interred here and the funerals for President(s) Eisenhower, Reagan, Ford, and Bush were all held at this location as well.

Interestingly enough, there are 112 gargoyles (including one of Darth Vader) and 215 stained glass windows.

RESTUARANTS: There are many great restaurants and bars in Washington D.C. Below is a list of establishments that we have visited:

• Old Ebbitt Grill – Is located across the street from the White House, and is advertised as the oldest saloon in Washington. The movie, “In the Line of Fire” was filmed here and Presidents Grant, Johnson, Cleveland, Roosevelt, and Harding have all eaten here.

• The Monocle – Has been in business since 1960 and is the closest restaurant to the Capital. As a result, it is common to see members of Congress and staffers eating here.

• Ben’s Chili Bowl – Ben and Virginia Ali opened their restaurant in 1958. It has been in their family ever since. President(s) Clinton and Obama have both eaten here.

• Vue Rooftop DC – The Vue is located on the roof of Hotel Washington. The views of the DC skyline are worth the visit alone. The dining room overlooks the White House as well as the Washington Monument. Plus, the food and the cocktails are excellent.

• Off the Record – Is located in the Hay-Adams Hotel and has been open since 1928. Walking in feels like you are entering another era. Their website describes it as, “a power drinking spot with the crowd to match.”

• Martins Tavern – Is a Georgetown landmark and has been operating since 1933. This is where JFK proposed to Jackie and according to their website, “every U.S. President from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush, has come to dine, discuss, and relax while shaping the nation’s history.”

• Georgetown Cupcake – Opened in 2008 and by 2010 the shop was featured in the TLC reality show, “DC Cupcakes”. While there are now multiple locations, we visited the original. Who doesn’t like fancy cupcakes?

• Hard Rock Cafe – No vacation is complete without eating at a Hard Rock Cafe. It is located to Ford’s Theater and we have eaten here twice.

• Jackie – Located adjacent to Nationals Park and vibrant Navy Yard. Their website describes Jackie as, “timeless tradition meets modern hospitality.”

MONUMENTS & NATIONAL MALL: A majority of the monuments are located around the National Mall. Traffic is notoriously bad in D.C. and parking spots come at a premium; not to mention expensive. Therefore, I would suggest not renting a car. Rather we have walked, biked, and purchased tickets for the Old Town Trolley. All are great ways to navigate the Mall and experience these iconic monuments.

• Albert Einstein Memorial – Is located on the grounds of the building of the National Academy of the Sciences.

• Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial – Is located in front of the Department of Education, across the street from the National Air and Space Smithsonian. There are multiple statues and quotes honoring the late military leader and President.

• Thomas Jefferson Memorial – Is located along the Tidal Basin, facing the White House. Cherry blossom trees line the shore, which makes this an extremely popular destination in the spring.

• Korean War Veterans Memorial – Is on the National Mall, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial – is located adjacent to the National Mall and the Tidal Basin.

• Reflecting Pool & the Lincoln Memorial – is a shallow body of water in front of the Lincoln Monument. It is designed to create a mirror-like reflection. The Lincoln Memorial is on the western end of the National Mall.

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial – is located in the West Potomac Park along the Tidal Basin. It was dedicated in 1997 by President Clinton.

• Washington Monument – is an obelisk built to honor our 1st President, George Washington. It stands in the middle of the National Mall and can be seen from nearly anywhere in the district. We have attempted to gain tickets to the viewing deck on each of our visits. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful every time.

• Vietnam Wall Memorial – is located just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. Seeing the massive amount of names of men and women who served, and were killed or missing in action during the Vietnam conflict, is absolutely overwhelming. This is the most visited memorial on the National Mall.

• World War II Memorial – is located adjacent to the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It was finished in 2004 and consists of 56 granite pillars.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: I have attended multiple Washington National’s baseball games. The first was in 2006 (Padres vs Nationals) at RFK Stadium.

The coolest part of that game came in the 3rd inning when we discovered that President George W. Bush was in attendance.

In 2008 I attended my 2nd Nationals game. This was the inaugural season in their new ballpark, Nationals Park. In 2025, I attended my 3rd Nationals game with my wife and youngest daughter.

The stadium is located on the shores of the Potomac River. The day I was there in 2008, I was able to get a glimpse of Marine One flying into downtown.

If you select certain seats down the right field line you will have a direct view of the US Capital building. Due to construction, I am not positive this is still true today.

The combination of baseball and American History makes this one of my favorite MLB Stadiums. Additionally, the oversized Presidential big heads race in the 3rd inning. By far, this is my favorite in between inning activity at any MLB stadium!

SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS: There are seventeen Smithsonian Museum’s in Washington D.C. We have visited five of them. My personal favorite is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which is a partner facility to the National Air and Space Museum. Ironically, it is not located in Washington DC. Rather it is in Virginia, adjacent to the Dulles Airport.

This museum was highlighted in the 2009 movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Exhibits I enjoyed the most were the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Space Race Gallery, the Spirit of St Louis, the Space Hangar, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the Space Shuttle Discovery.

We have also visited the National Air and Space Museum. It is located on the National Mall, across from the Department of Education. When we visited in 2025 a majority of it was under construction. As a result, we enjoyed ourselves but certainly didn’t get the full experience.

The Old Post and Clock Tower is often times an overlooked destination. It is now the Waldorf-Astoria and is a beautiful and historic building.

The view from the Clock Tower is amazing. I would definitely recommend putting this destination on your list of places to visit, especially if you can’t manage to reserve observation tickets for the Washington Monument.

As you can probably imagine, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is an extremely somber place to visit. It is of paramount importance in educating society as to what occurred so people don’t forget. However, it doesn’t change the fact the topic is depressing. While we visited, we cut our visit in half as it just became too much to take in while on vacation.

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, or National Zoo for short, is one of the oldest zoos in the country.

We spent a half a day here exploring and loved our time. The Giant Panda exhibit is by far the main draw – make sure to arrive early. We also enjoyed seeing Tigers, Bears, and Elephants.

While I am proud of the fact I am an American citizen, I wouldn’t describe myself as overly patriotic. Yet, every visit I have ever made to Washington D.C. I am overcome by a feeling of patriotism. It is simply awe inspiring seeing so many monuments, landmarks, and statues designed to outline and remember great citizens and historical events.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• View from the top of the Washington Monument
• National Museum of Natural History
• International Spy Museum
• Monuments by Moonlight Tour