The tiny area known as the District of Columbia is a combination of historical sights and world business.
Washington packs a lot to see into a very small area. The city name is most often shortened to “D.C.” or “the District” with “Washington State” being that other Washington. The District of Columbia is a hub of government and history. No only is it the seat of the US Government, but the city also houses headquarters for some of the largest international banking and trade organizations in the world.
Getting around can be tricky, as you sometimes have to leave D.C. and drive through bits of Maryland or Virginia before you can get to the part of the district to which you were traveling. An extensive network of trains and buses not only provide transit options in the city center, but to other urban areas nearby. Travel via train is possible to D.C. from most of the Eastern seaboard.
For historical sights, there are tons of museums and monuments. Some of the most well-known national memorials are in Washington, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. Remember that really well-known sights can be very crowded during peak travel and vacation times.
The Smithsonian is one of the best-known museums, and can make for a great day trip for the entire family. Including the National Air and Space Museum, the national museums for American and Natural History and more, there’s something for everyone at the Smithsonian.
A trip to D.C. is best in the spring when you can skip the freezes of winter and the heat full summer. Summer can be very humid, with lots of thunderstorms. Fall can be nice, but on rare occasions, tropical hurricanes make it as far as D.C.
